Midwest Regional Wraps Up Holiday Show
Promotional Products Association of the Midwest (PPAM) held its annual PPAM Holiday Showcase to kick off the second selling season. The two-day event began at The Ritz Charles in Overland Park, Kansas, and concluded at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, Missouri. Between both cities, more than 500 distributors attended the event.
“With overall tradeshow attendance down not only in the promotional products industry but also in most other markets, we feel very fortunate that the PPAM Holiday Showcase maintained both attendee and exhibitor numbers compared to last year,” says Kathy Fleming, PPAM executive director.
Each day included not only four hours of exhibits but also a special hour-and-a-half education session, “Real Life—Real Experience—Real Value,” presented by Sherri Lennarson, MAS, senior vice president of business development for Iowa City, Iowa-based Bankers Advertising Company (UPIC: BACADV) and current PPAI Board Chair.
In this MAS/CAS certified course, Lennarson illustrated how promotional products build relationships that make other advertising media green with envy because of the ROI delivered that creates loyal, lifetime clients and sustainable relationships. She also gave attendees a simple method to showcase the power of promotional products and engage buyers by telling their own personal stories that stick.
“The Holiday Showcase was probably the best run and most enjoyable show I have ever attended on a local level,” says Don Lafferre, CAS, owner of Florissant, Missouri-based Priority Promotions (UPIC: PRIOP001). “Considering as how SLASA [PPAM predecessor] started with a small local show, to have had a large show like this one at a convention center is hard to imagine.We have suppliers from throughout the U.S., which reflects the growth of our industry and association.”
A new product pavilion was also added to the lineup—a first for the showcase. Twenty-seven suppliers featured more than 50 items from cool-weather apparel and classic resort wear to updated desk and office items. However, eco-friendly products had the most new entries, such as tote bags made from recycled bottles and notepads printed with soy-based inks.
As an added incentive, distributor attendees were eligible to win a 32-inch flat screen TV. St. Joseph, Missouri-based Frank Still from Newton, Iowa-based distributor The Vernon Company (UPIC: Vernon) was the lucky name drawn in Kansas City, while Maryland Heights, Missouri-based Tom Chuchola from Sterling, Illinois-based distributor HALO/Lee Wayne Corp. (UPIC: LEEWAYNE) was the winner in St. Louis.
Distributors also voted on the best supplier booths. First place in both cities, fetching them $100, was awarded to Fenton, Missouri-based supplier Quick Point, Inc. (UPIC: QUICKPT). Second place in both cities, at $50, was awarded to Roxana, Illinois-based Gemini Industries, Inc. (UPIC: GEMI0001).