If the buzz throughout the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas today is any indication, The PPAI Expo is poised to come back bigger and better than ever this year, with 900 companies exhibiting over 230,000 square feet of exhibit space this year and thousands of distributor personnel in attendance. The trade show opens at 9 a.m. on Tuesday and runs through 2 p.m. on Thursday, and 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.
Jenny Straub, director of strategic partnerships with Arkansas-based Outdoor Cap, booth 3951, is excited for the show and says she loves the energy and getting to reconnect with customers and fellow suppliers. She recommends making a plan for what and whom you want to see, starting with the new product pavilion.
“Plan, plan and plan beforehand so that you do not feel overwhelmed,” she says. “I also think it is smart to visit the new product pavilion first and take notes, because you think you will remember it all, but that is a challenge even for the most veteran show visitor. Also, your phone is your best friend during the show to take pictures and to use the SAGE app.”
Planning for a show the magnitude of The PPAI Expo always requires a massive effort from PPAI as well as exhibiting suppliers, and the prolonged and unpredictable global pandemic only made it more complicated. Due to the emergence of the coronavirus Omicron variant in late 2021, several large suppliers canceled their participation at The PPAI Expo in 2022, and many international attendees sat out the show to due to lingering travel restrictions and quarantine requirements.
Expo Equals Excitement
This year is different. With 900 exhibiting companies ready to do business when the hall opens tomorrow morning – and more than 9,000 distributor attendees expected this week – the excitement to be back at The PPAI Expo is palpable.
“The energy and excitement are intoxicating,” says Stephanie Garland, marketing manager for Iowa-based Raining Rose, booth 1746. “Everyone is so thrilled to be together, supporting and promoting our industry, catching up with old friends and making new connections – there really isn’t anything else like it.”
Garland says she’s eager to see what’s new and trending among her fellow industry suppliers.
“As a supplier, I still enjoy seeing what other suppliers are doing and focusing on for the new year,” she says. “It can bring inspiration to our team and is a good reminder that we’re all on this wild and crazy ride together.”
Old Friends And New Ideas
Kathy Cheng, president of Toronto-based Redwood Classics Apparel in Canada, says the opportunity to interact with industry friends and partners in person is more important than ever. She’s especially excited for the new event dubbed “The Pitch,” where suppliers will give their best promotional product pitch to win over four industry judges.
“I think it will prove invaluable to both distributors and suppliers, demonstrating in real time how we can best collaborate to create successful launches and marketing campaigns,” says Cheng. “Plus, I so appreciate that the panel of judges have been intentionally selected with diversity in mind.”
As a member of PPAI’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force, Cheng is also a speaker on the panel for the conference breakout session titled “DEI: The Value of Certification” that will cover how diverse business owners (i.e., women, minority, LGBTQ, veteran or disabled) can accelerate their business success by earning and leveraging their certification.
“I believe it is essential to give in order to receive,” she says. “As a PPAI member, it is important to attend the Expo not just to represent my company, but to give back to our industry through knowledge and experience sharing.”
Connection And Conversation
For many, exhibiting at The PPAI Expo is vital to reconnecting with customers and building relationships in person. Many suppliers have not been able to see their key distributors in person since 2020.
Peter Hirsch, president of Houston-based Hirsch (formerly Hirsch Gift), booth 2427, is looking forward to networking.
“It’s the only show that we get the opportunity to meet our customers from all over the country, as well as some from outside, and what better place and time to showcase our new product launches? It’s always a great kickoff to the year,” he says. “We haven’t seen so many people in person from the distributor to supplier to service provider sides for three years, so this is going to be the big reunion!”
For many exhibitors, The PPAI Expo is a chance to jumpstart the year, and in 2023, that objective is even more important.
Adam Stone, vice president of sales for in California-based ETS Express, booths 1332-1333, says he is especially looking forward to engaging with customers and learning about their individual needs in a post-pandemic future.
“It’s a reset button for the new year and an important industry milestone. It’s a great opportunity to connect with customers, say thanks and get reminded that we’re part of an amazing community that adds tremendous value,” he says. “Much has changed over the last two to three years, so we’re really excited to connect and have conversations about new ways to partner.”
