The Promotional Products Association International Expo is how we kick off the year! Now that the promotional product industry’s largest trade show has wrapped up for 2023, our team reflects on how PPAI Expo will continue to benefit them and our clients through the year.
Todd Mawyer, Chief Executive Officer
“For our clients, furthering the relationships with our preferred vendors and continuing opportunities to provide value was key.”
Why did you attend PPAI Expo this year?
“This was my first attendance at PPAI Expo in three years, but it’s generally something I try to keep on my radar. This year, I wanted to be part of the team effort as we feel responsible to attend the largest conference in the industry.
I’m transitioning from less day-to-day sales activities to more of a visionary role and wanted to spend more time connecting with Premier Group suppliers and those in the industry. I wanted to learn about their successes, failures, anything they had to share, and look more at the big picture. We’re starting to take less of a product specific approach, and more solution approach.
At PPAI Expo, it’s easier to meet all in one place instead of trying to schedule time with all our suppliers throughout the year. The energy is inspiring, and it’s good to hit the ground running first thing in January.”
What Were your Favorite New Products or Services of PPAI Expo?
“Gemline had several great products, including Out of the Ocean branded tote bags. Out of the Ocean cleans bottles out of waterways and their products are 100% recycled ocean plastic. A similar concept, Out of the Woods, uses washable paper made from tree cellulose. This extra durable paper can be sewn into totes and lunch bags. We have an ever-growing selection of products that are improving the issue of waste instead of being part of the problem.”
“Alphabroder/Primeline and Beth Belich had new Columbia apparel, like fleece zip jackets and beanies. People really like co-branding their logo with a name-brand logo since it adds to the flavor of the piece. It’s a fun way to elevate your company’s own brand.”
“Chameleon Like had great, new packaging! Packaging is often an overlooked part of promo products, but it can make all the difference. Do you want your items in a custom box or in individual polybags? How do you want to deliver products to multiple employees working from home? We’re starting to see packaging can be part of the solution and we can navigate that for our clients.”
What vendor from PPAI Expo deserves a shout out?
“Beth Belich at Alphabroder/Primeline. She scheduled a group lunch and we connected more with her team, which has significant opportunities for us on the horizon. She invested a lot of time educating our staff on products and collaborating on new projects. Alphabroder/Primeline is invested in us from relationship standpoint and a value standpoint.”
How will your PPAI Expo experience benefit yourself and your clients?
“Personally, time with the team was invaluable. Also, meeting different members of Premier Group for the second or third time allowed us to connect beyond the surface level.
For our clients, furthering the relationships with our preferred vendors and continuing opportunities to provide value was key. We pass that along to clients for better services and better prices. For example, during the show, one of our clients reached out to us wanting tote bags. Three different Premier Group vendors responded back to us with pricing within 24 hours. Having the right team and relationships makes all the difference.”
Jessie Cox, Sales Executive
“We want to be experts for our clients, and it’s important to invest that time to learn as much as we can about the industry. PPAI Expo gives you much more than what you can see from your computer screen each day.”
Why did you attend PPAI Expo this year?
“I attended to hit the ground running this year! I wanted to see vendors and reintroduce myself as part of the TK Promotions team. I also wanted to see new products since I haven’t been to PPAI Expo since before 2019. I needed to go in order to kick off a great year.”
What Were your Favorite New Products or Services of PPAI Expo?
“I’ve noticed soft items are becoming more and more popular lately. Branded products like blankets, towels, and robes. Other home goods, like charcuterie boards and bluetooth speakers have been popular too, but there’s a big emphasis now on cozy, plush items.”
“There were also a lot of accessories for tech this year. My favorite was the Flipstik from Ariel. It’s like a Popsocket, but it works as a stand with a sticky surface. You can stick to your phone directly to a wall or other vertical surface for Zoom calls, watching shows on an airplane, or recording a TikTok!”
“I also really like the belt bag or the fanny pack trend right now. We have a few suppliers that sell custom bags that have the style of a Lululemon bag.”
What vendor from PPAI Expo deserves a shout out?
“HPG’s booth was really great. They have so many brands and the whole booth flowed well, versus feeling like you’re stuck in a corner. Their team brought great energy!”
How will your PPAI Expo experience benefit yourself and your clients?
“As part of PPAI Expo, I attended Commonsku University, which featured insider tips and tricks about our distributor software. Since I’m new to Commonsku, having that day full of immersed education was really valuable. I got to know the Commonsku team better, which is helpful since I use the software every day now.
As for our clients, I came to get educated on new products. We want to be experts for them, and it’s important to invest that time to learn as much as we can about the industry. PPAI Expo gives you much more than what you can see from your computer screen each day.”
Bill Rusnak, Sales Executive
“Building better trust with suppliers means we have the ability to find quality products and provide more value to our clients.“
Why did you attend PPAI Expo this year?
“The biggest things were having the chance to connect more with the TK Promotions team and our vendors. Since I work remotely, PPAI Expo is also the best way to get hands on with products.”
What Were your Favorite New Products or Services of PPAI Expo?
“Two items from ETS Express were my favorites, a 32 oz Terrain mug and 40 oz Denali mug. The Denali mug is a competitor to the 40 oz Stanley Quencher mug, which is very popular right now. ETS Express has great service, great prices, and quality products.”
“There’s also a new line from Alphabroder/Primeline, called Swannies Golf! It’s a great high-end line of products to compete with Peter Millar.”
“Beacon with HPG carries Stanley items, even a double-walled, stainless steel beer stein! Their booth at PPAI Expo was also really fun. You could line up to pull a giant, fake slot machine that would give out new samples”
What vendor from PPAI Expo deserves a shout out?
“Alphabroder/Primeline’s booth was, by far, one of the biggest at the show and Beth Belich always treats us well and makes us feel respected. Their company even rented out the entire House of Blues for a preferred partner gathering!
How will your PPAI Expo experience benefit yourself and your clients?
“Just the fact that I could get hands-on with products was so important. One take away I had from PPAI Expo, is that drink ware is a big part of my business. There is a huge difference in each company’s idea of a double wall, stainless steel tumbler. You don’t always get the full sense of a product’s quality from a computer screen. Building better trust with suppliers means we have the ability to find quality products and provide more value to our clients.”
Elizabeth Perkins, Sales Executive
“It takes a lot of work to pull all of that together and TK Promotions acknowledges that PPAI Expo is vital to our growth and presence to the industry. Suppliers also understand that we’re vital to the industry. Symbiotic relationship is key.”
Why did you attend PPAI Expo this year?
“I absolutely love PPAI Expo, which is the largest trade show in the industry. All of our suppliers are under one roof which allows us to deepen relationships, gather new ideas, educate ourselves about the industry, and take classes for personal growth. There’s one-on-one time with suppliers and colleagues to bounce ideas off each other, where we’re solely focused on that for a concentrated amount of time.
The show helps us plan projects, allows us to reflect on the previous year, and gets us prepared to make the current year a success. I’ve gone to PPAI Expo almost every year, which has been about ten times now. It takes a lot of planning personally, but it’s a commitment that’s worth it. The show itself has definitely grown and people are seeing the benefit of putting their products in the space.”
What Were your Favorite New Products or Services of PPAI Expo?
“Vendors are focusing on packaging! There are so many experiences clients can have with promo products, and the industry is acknowledging that packaging makes a statement. A lot of vendors were capitalizing on drop shipping for teams that work from home and more thoughtful experiences at events. You can use methods like laser engraving and leather embossing on custom boxes. This makes common items feel more special and companies are willing to pay for that experience for customer retention or client appreciation.”
“Ocean Bottle, which is a retail brand with premium, eco-friendly products. Each Ocean Bottle takes a thousand bottles from waterways, plus the company pays people to collect all the plastic. They’re helping communities, cleaning up our environment, and delivering a beautiful, brandable bottle.”
“Dirty Cookie was a really cool, unique product. They make edible, cookie shot glasses that can hold milk, iced coffee, or other sweet beverages! They can be packaged in sets and even include an edible label with your logo. There was a huge response to them at the show and they generated a lot of buzz.”
What vendor from PPAI Expo deserves a shout out?
“I enjoyed visiting Gemline. Our sales representative, Bjorn Rheborg did a great job of showing us around the booth, showing us new ideas, fresh products, and case studies. Gemline carries many different brands, and many of those brand owners were also hosted at the Gemline booth to discuss their products. They were very thoughtful about educating us on how they choose their items, and why.”
How will your PPAI Expo experience benefit yourself and your clients?
“PPAI Expo is the largest trade show in the industry and efficiency is important to me. Before PPAI Expo even begins, we make sure we know what our clients need and what projects are coming up. I go in with a calculated agenda and I’m able to execute that efficiently, so when I come back, I can begin laying out new products and virtuals. It jump starts the year!
I can also educate myself to be an expert in the industry. It’s a great way to connect with new suppliers and find what clients are asking for. New product knowledge is essential, and you can touch and see new items while bouncing around solutions with other distributors.
It takes a lot of work to pull all of that together and TK Promotions acknowledges that PPAI Expo is vital to our growth and presence to the industry. Suppliers also understand that we’re vital to the industry. Symbiotic relationship is key. You’re focused for an entire week to better yourself and your clients, and that’s very valuable time.”
Wayne Vaughan, VP of Sales and Marketing
“We do research prior to attending PPAI Expo so we understand current goals and upcoming projects. It’s a great environment to find a certain product that meets those needs.”
Why did you attend PPAI Expo this year?
“Generally, I attend because it’s an excellent opportunity to connect with industry professionals, continue education and learn about new trends. We use PPAI Expo to find new ideas and products for clients that are relevant to their brand needs and marketing goals.”
What Were your Favorite New Products or Services of PPAI Expo?
“One of my favorites was new products from Return.me. They’ve made branded items specifically for golfers and their new bundle includes a Return.me tag for your golf bag and a Return.me for your keychain.
They even have stickers that stick to your phone or on the shaft of golf wedges. Return.me products work like improved luggage tags and each product includes a service that will ship your found item back to you for free, anywhere in the country, for the first year.”
“The Flex Vega is a collapsible, carry-on suitcase. It’s nice if you plan on doing shopping while on vacation and want to bring a bunch of items home with you.”
“Custom-made ice cube molds, which always make me smile! When I see fun ice cube molds on sale, I pick them up for my granddaughters and they really look forward to seeing the different shapes. It’s a fun product to find in the promotional product industry too.”
What vendor from PPAI Expo deserves a shout out?
“Alphabroder/Primeline and our sales consultant there, Beth Belich. They hosted us in their trade show booth and treated us to dinner, which was a great opportunity to connect and update. Later in the week, Alphabroder/Primeline leased out House of Blues and did a live concert for their preferred distributors. Beth also won PPAI’s Sales Representative of the Year.”
How will your PPAI Expo experience benefit yourself and your clients?
“It’s always a real opportunity to attend education seminars and connect with our team. For clients, we do research prior to attending PPAI Expo so we understand their current goals and upcoming projects. It’s a great environment to find a certain product that meets those needs.”
Each year that we get to attend PPAI Expo proves itself valuable to all of our TK team members and clients. Feeling inspired by the new products and ideas we’ve found? Contact Us to get started on your next promotional project!
