New eBook!

Inside the Incentive Buyer’s Mind

Trends, Risks, and Realities Reshaping the Incentive Industry

Buyers want substance over spin, performance over promises. This eBook cuts through the fluff and captures what’s actually influencing today’s incentive decisions—direct from the sharpest minds in the room.

This eBook was born from the industry—literally. During a live working session at the IMA Summit, 50 incentive and engagement leaders came together to unpack what’s really shaping decisions this year. Through live polling, breakout groups, and real-time discussion, the session distilled sharp insights into trends, risks, and must-haves. The result? A resource built not on speculation, but on collective experience and direct buyer feedback. It wasn’t just a session. It was a signal. And this eBook is the output.

Who This is For:
  • Leaders navigating incentive program investment
  • Solution providers looking to sharpen their pitch
  • Teams building for scale, precision, and performance
  • Anyone who’s tired of buzzwords and wants the real story 

To download the eBook, please complete this form. By submitting this form, you consent to storage of your information in the IMA database for the association's use. Your information will be used solely for the purposes outlined by the association and will not be shared with third parties.

What You'll Get Inside:

Industry growth metrics of incentives, recognition and loyalty markets
Buyer insights direct from the IMA Summit
Data-backed trends on loyalty, recognition, and channel incentives
The shift from generic rewards to hyper-targeted, tech-enabled strategies
The new metrics that actually matter
What buyers want from providers—and what’s getting vendors cut early

Key Quotes

"Effectiveness is the new table stakes. Measurability is non-negotiable. Sustained engagement is the true north."

"The biggest risks? Bad data, poor communication, and assuming everyone [...] got the message."

"We used to think engagement meant logins. Now we’re asking: what did that engagement actually lead to?"


Welcome to the era of performance accountability. Flash is out. Function is in. If it doesn’t tie to business outcomes, it doesn’t make the cut. Get the inside read—and stay one step ahead. 


 

Sponsored By

For more than 30 years, RepLink/The DataDirect Group has delivered the RepLink System—the incentive industry’s trusted product database—relied on by suppliers, reps, and incentive companies. The system enables suppliers and reps to manage products and create professional sales presentations through RepLink, supports incentive companies with Access RepLink as a comprehensive sourcing solution for incentive and corporate gift programs, and powers incentive platforms with single-point integration through ShipQuick, providing nightly pricing and availability updates from over 100 suppliers and 2,500 brands, along with seamless order placement, management, and fulfillment. Learn more at replink.com.