And so, 2023 draws to a close. Truly a year for the record books, the last 12 months have seen significant changes to not only the promotional products industry and the companies in, but to PPAI and its engagement with its community. And PPAI Media was here for all of it.
PPAI Media’s editorial staff have selected the standout stories of 2023 that best embody the industry and its year, and what PPAI Media wants to provide to the Association’s members.
Jonny Auping
News Editor
What Promo Companies Need To Know About Solar Panels
A May story about solar panels was the product of months of reporting. Rather than simply pat a few companies on the back for doing something good for the environment, the piece aims to give a sense of why a company should consider installing solar panels, as well as what they need to know if they are going to go down that route.
PDX Drives PPAI’s Tech Committee Agenda
In August, PPAI’s Tech Committee converged on the PPAI HQ in Texas to discuss PDX, among other topics. These types of collisions among industry leaders are common results of PPAI’s facilitation, and PPAI Media wants to be able to give a snapshot of why they are happening and what is discussed.
Special Report: Promo’s Economic Outlook Divided
The entire economy stood in a confounding state in August, which created a divided outlook from promo’s leaders concerning not only whether there might be a recession, but what that means for this industry. Including the insights of many of promo’s brightest voices, this special report broke down the uncertainty of our economy in 2023.
John Corrigan
News Editor
What Makes A Record Year For Promo?
PPAI data indicates that the promotional products industry reached a record $25 billion in 2022. While that statistic alone should make critics reconsider their dismissal of the market as ‘cheap trinkets and trash,’ Jonny Auping’s report features insights from some of promo’s most influential people on how the industry was able to achieve such growth. It’s refreshing to see business leaders acknowledge macroeconomic factors rather than simply chalking up their success to their own doing. Published in April, it’s also interesting to see how the 2023 predictions and expectations have turned out.
Sustainability: A Journey, Not A Destination, Summit Speakers Say
Rachel Zoch and James Khattak’s entire coverage of the 2023 Product Responsibility Summit deserves mention, but I’ve chosen their report on the third and final day because it centers on sustainability and supply chain transparency – arguably the two most important issues in the industry this decade. If you couldn’t attend Summit, their coverage is chock-full of education and insights from the top players in the ESG/CSR space. As the industry collectively tries to erase the ‘brandfill’ reputation that it has unjustly earned, it’s vital for members to pay heed to the strategies and actionable steps shared in this report.
Promo Pros Struggle With Student Loan Debt
I had more than $30,000 in student loan debt when former President Trump froze payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. And even though I was determined to pay it all off regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision in the summer, I figured there had to be promo pros who wouldn’t be as fortunate and who were praying that President Biden’s forgiveness plan was approved. I was right and am grateful that a couple of them trusted me to tell their story – a common one for many Americans. The goal of this report was to inspire industry leaders, who are adamant about recruiting young people, to offer assistance that their future employees will greatly benefit from.
Josh Ellis
Publisher and Editor-In-Chief
The first annual PPAI 100 was a labor of love – no slight emphasis on the labor part. It is the largest project I’ve worked on in my entire career, and dozens of people across PPAI contributed to its success. I am most proud of how the PPAI Media staff pulled together to make this thing a hit. On top of all the planning and research, countless hours went into building the unique pages for each company, the feature articles on so many of the winners, and later the benchmarking reports on industry Responsibility, Innovation and Growth. We learned so much through this project, including ways we can make it even bigger and better next year. Coming Feb. 1: Full details on what to expect with the 2024 PPAI 100.
PPAI exists to serve its members. Our mission is to be the voice and force to advance the promotional products industry for the benefit of our community. What better way than to highlight business services firms that provide solutions to the unique challenges faced by distributors and suppliers? We continue to fill out this subsection of the PPAI Media site – hopefully it’s a go-to source of information no matter what your need may be – and have plans to make it an even more complete resource in 2024.
Their Time Is Now: The 2023 PPAI Rising Stars
The latest crop emerging leaders has a long way to go to match the number of pageviews we received this summer from the old 2017 Rising Stars article (our August traffic spike was not real… if you know, you know). But the 2023 group is every bit as impressive. This annual PPAI Media project may be my favorite, because it allows us a chance to meet the people who will define our industry in the years ahead. Get to know them now; one of them may be your boss someday.
James Khattak
Deputy Editor
The 67 Greatest Companies To Work For
The annual Greatest Companies To Work For feature makes clear how fortunate we are to be part of the promo industry. There are so many leaders in our field that have built not only a successful bottom line, but fantastic communities within their organizations. This year’s ranking is particularly impressive, considering the significant changes since the pandemic to how offices are run and what workers want from them.
For an industry so often defined by one-to-one relationships, promo wrestles with weighty, high-level trends in business, regulations and the economy. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a good example. Promotional products companies at every level are going to have to reckon with PFAS regulations affecting the goods they sell. It’s just this sort of serious, complex issue that PPAI Media is here for, to inform and equip industry professionals to respond effectively.
Joshua White: Have You Considered Not Being Awful?
Promo is innovative in so many ways, and better for it. And sometimes a nudge can help. I’ve always appreciated what Joshua White brings to PPAI Media in the columns he writes, and in this one he shakes up what is, in many corners, an established business practice. Shining a spotlight on new ideas and new ways of doing things is fundamental to PPAI Media’s mission, and Joshua’s column is a fantastic example of that mindset.
Rachel Zoch
Associate Editor
The Long March: Promo’s Ongoing Retreat From China
China has long been – and remains – a dominant source for the promotional products industry, from raw materials to finished products. This well-researched story explores efforts in promo to develop a more diverse supply chain and why, illuminating several key issues for the industry, including ethical materials sourcing, corporate social responsibility, sustainability and transparency.
This year saw plenty of labor news, from unionizing efforts at Starbucks and Amazon to a potentially devastating strike by UPS workers, as well as a prolonged strike by Hollywood writers and actors. This guest piece from Affinity HR Group, a PPAI affinity partner, dissects several of the key labor trends in the U.S. and the underlying issues fueling them. It also offers practical advice on how to survive and thrive in a tight labor market.
Poorly Printed Philadelphia Eagles Merch Has Fans Calling Foul
When a disappointed customer took to social media to vent about a crooked number on a Philly Eagles jersey she bought as a gift for her boyfriend, her post set off a larger conversation about quality that illustrates the perils of providing subpar branded merch.
