The Workplace Advisors specializes in providing HR assistance to associations such as PPAI and their member companies. Each month, the consultancy answers anonymous questions from companies about a myriad of topics. Below is advice on paid ...

Bring a pair of comfy shoes.That’s the universal refrain among PPAI staffers when giving advice to first-time attendees of The PPAI Expo. Especially staffers who recently attended the largest and longest-running trade show in the promotional pro...

It’s not a beauty contest. Beauty, after all, is in the eye of the beholder. And truly, every company vying for a spot among the PPAI 100 has much to be proud of.Instead, PPAI 100 is an objective measurement of the progress we’re all driving. It...

For 2026, Pantone’s choice for Color of the Year is a dramatic departure from a prior range of expressive colors. Enter Cloud Dancer, a simple white.“Pantone tends to choose bolder shades,” says Liz Tracy, senior product designer at PCNA, PPAI 1...

Every year, entrepreneurs launch about 4.7 million new businesses in the U.S. Not all of these are considered startups, though. A startup, in the broadest sense, is a business in its earliest stage of development. Unlike any new business, like a loc...

Volunteers are at the core of every organization and the industries and audiences they serve. These generous givers take time away from their own businesses to share their expertise toward solving problems, driving growth and helping organizations r...

Storm Creek (PPAI 438091, Gold) PPAI 100's No. 33 supplier has announced the hiring of Jon West as the company's newest president. West comes to Minnesota-based supplier from King Technology, where he spent a 20-year career contributing across sales...

Some would call 2025 a transformative year for the promotional products industry. Others might describe it as volatile. Perhaps both can be true. But just about anyone in promo is more interested in what the future holds for the industry.That’s ...

Sales conversations work best when prospects feel comfortable and at ease with you. If they feel rushed or judged, they won’t share openly and you won’t uncover real buying signals. That’s important. You need trust to get honest answers about their ...

It isn’t just what you’ll see. It’s who you’ll meet.At The PPAI Expo, relationships aren’t just made – they’re transformed. And if business is built on relationships, promo’s largest and longest-running trade show is where the strongest ones beg...