It is the industry social event of the year. With thousands of pre-registered attendees and 900 exhibiting companies, there’s no better time to schedule a meeting, grab dinner with a vendor or attend a stadium party. With ideas and camaraderie fueling every conversation, The PPAI Expo 2023 in Las Vegas is the first stop to a dynamic and profitable year.

A new year starts with The PPAI Expo. Ryan Cady, brand manager at Minnesota-based distributor Imprint Engine, is ready to kick off his 2023 with the industry’s largest and longest-running trade show.

“This event is always a crucial time to launch the new year and leave with your creative juices flowing,” he says.

Who Said Talk Is Cheap?

It’s the most important week of the year for the promotional products industry. What’s seen, heard and talked about at The PPAI Expo 2023 will shape every industry business.

With several other industry companies hosting events and PPAI debuting a new event called “The Pitch,” there’s plenty to be excited about.

But it’s talking with other distributors that Cady is most looking forward to. He says, “I’ve always told our new employees and first-time attendees that some of the best conversations and learning comes from the conversations, with both distributors and suppliers — at morning coffee, after show events, educational days, and of course, the bars.” 

Today, The PPAI Expo Conference will bring together experts to share career-moving professional education. At 9 a.m. on Tuesday, the trade show opens. Early-bird attendees can visit the product pavilions – New, Green, Made In The USA and 1st Time Exhibitor – starting at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

Rich Graham, chief imagination officer at Texas-based distributor Biggerfish, hasn’t been to The PPAI Expo since 2019. “I’m seeing real people again. It’s been too long. Sure, we have local and regional events, but it’s not the same.”

Stephen McFadden, president of North Carolina-based distributor Perfect Promotions & More, says it’s cliché but true: “Being able to connect with others is, by far, the thing I look forward to most. I can’t wait to have some laughs, drinks and fun with our team, partners and peers across all spectrums of the industry.”

For Nadav Raviv, senior national account executive at Ohio-based distributor GBS Corporation, being amongst peers is the best.

“Trading war stories (good and bad), discussing campaigns and what we have done for our client partners, and what we have in store is awesome,” he says. “I love talking shop and learning from those around us. For the larger distributors, the show is more about the camaraderie than products.

“We are fortunate that our top vendors come and see us often and keep us informed of all the new and/or relative items for our client list. We also utilize the regional shows to bring our clients to talk to our vendors and really soak in a ton of product in a short amount of time, so we can really focus on other aspects of our craft when we attend PPAI.”

“Intentional” Is The Word Of Year

Heading to The PPAI Expo 2023, distributors have a game plan.

“Expo gives us the unique opportunity to set up meetings with service providers and our supplier partners to discuss our upcoming projects,” McFadden says. “We also love browsing the show floor to keep our eyes out for that special item/partner that would add value or provide a great solution for our customers.”

McFadden is taking a more “intentional approach” to Expo this year.

“From an owner perspective, the past few weeks I have been looking at the overall functions of our business and figuring out if there are any service providers that could provide some value to our processes and setting up meetings in Vegas,” he says.

“From a sales perspective, we have been actively meeting with our customers to discuss their upcoming projects and creating a more focused search parameter. Instead of just ‘looking for good ideas,’ we are looking for specific solutions for specific projects while keeping an open mind about what our partners will have to present. We think this will lead to more productive conversations and a more successful Expo,” says McFadden.

Cady’s word for 2023 is “intentional.”

Cady says, “That means being more focused on doing all things with intention. Creating a plan prior to attending The PPAI Expo is crucial in the success of the show for us. We have our reps utilize the app and map out the suppliers they want to, for sure, see while also not missing the new/smaller suppliers as we walk the show.

“For myself, it will be about not getting sidetracked with a supplier. While their products and services are certainly great, they don’t have the products my client would ask for.”

The Plan Is To Leave Better   

Registration numbers continue to grow and exceed expectations, setting the stage for a monumental event.

Raviv says he’s looking for the latest and greatest for his partners while making time for lunches, dinners and drinks. “Of course, our biggest hope is to come away with some incredible ideas and products for our partners but reaffirming our strong bond with our vendors is important as well.”

At The PPAI Expo 2023, today’s idea will be tomorrow’s opportunity.

“I’m really hoping that after the show I leave energized,” says McFadden. “We always look forward to Expo. It’s the perfect combination of strategy, meetings and late nights that will get me excited about the year ahead!”