After two years, Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) decided the show must go on.

PPAI, a nonprofit trade association for the promotional products industry, hosted its annual Expo this week. Beginning with Conference Day on Monday, Jan 10, followed by three days of exhibits at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, the show followed on the heels of ASI’s trade show in Orlando the first week of January.

Attendees head to the show floor on the first day of exhibits at the PPAI Expo in Las Vegas this week. (photo courtesy of PPAI)

After educational sessions on Conference Day, which featured an address by PPAI President/CEO Dale Denham on a new mission for PPAI centered on corporate social responsibility and a keynote by entrepreneur and life coach Simon T. Bailey on strategies for “breakthrough thinking,” attendees spent three days on the show floor alongside exhibitors.

As with the ASI Orlando Show, attendees were ready to get back out there and see people face-to-face, despite the omicron COVID variant sweeping the world. The upbeat feel to the show began early, with a guest appearance by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ drumline to kick things off.

“It’s been high energy ever since,” Melissa Ralston, chief revenue officer of Top 40 supplier Koozie Group (asi/40480), told ASI Media on the last day of the show. “We’re glad to see our customers and friends in person again. Everyone has been upbeat, respectful and excited to see our new products. While attendance was impacted by omicron, we’ve had the chance to spend more time with existing customers and to show potential clients all that we have to offer.”

The final day of The #PPAIExpo is here, and we want to thank all our attendees and exhibitors for making this a once-in-lifetime experience! Make sure to stop by the Nitro Coffee Pop-up this morning and enjoy a coffee on us!#PPAI #promolife pic.twitter.com/FuEVoi9Yuf

— PPAI (@PPAI_HQ) January 13, 2022

While attendees appreciated the health and safety measures PPAI implemented for the event, they’re also looking forward to moving beyond them.

“Masks are moderately uncomfortable and make it more difficult to communicate,” said Craig Nadel, president of Top 40 distributor Jack Nadel International (asi/279600). “But that was offset by the good things. It was nice to see people again. PPAI did a great job of configuring the space so the floor seemed busy but wasn’t crowded. I could spend more time with people and there was never a line to get into a booth. It was also just more relaxing and easier to get around the show and hotel.” 

The smaller group allowed for more constructive time between suppliers and distributors, says Rich Carollo, president of Lion Circle (asi/67620). He appreciated the enthusiasm of those who attended. “Distributors were serious about business,” he told ASI Media. “I noticed small distributors had the opportunity to spend quality time with suppliers who weren’t too busy.”

Ultimately, it was another much-needed morale-booster for the industry following ASI Show Orlando and continuing at the end of the month with ASI Show Fort Worth. “If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that we have to roll with the punches and be proactive at the same time,” said Ralston. “It’s been a nice energy boost to start off 2022. We’ve loved getting out from behind our computer screens and shaking hands or bumping elbows.” 

The 2023 PPAI Expo will be held from Jan. 9 through 12 in Las Vegas.