The PPAI Expo’s 18th year in Las Vegas has all the indicators of the best show yet with record-breaking pre-registration of more than 13,000 distributors from more than 4,300 companies and 30 countries, a sold-out show floor and many new and exciting ways for attendees to engage and connect.
Over the past 12 months, PPAI staff and leadership have been creatively working to take the Expo, the industry’s largest and longest-running show, from a great show in 2019 to an extraordinary show in 2020. With over 1,200 exhibitors in more than 3,100 booths, new interactive experiences and 110 education sessions throughout the week, the stage is set for success.
“More exhibitors mean attendees have more opportunities to find new creative marketing solutions for campaigns and new vendors, in addition to visiting with countless other suppliers who are here year after year,” says PPAI Chair Brittany David, MAS. “And with more distributors pre-registered, there will be plenty of opportunities for ideation, collaboration and collisions that just might lead to the next big thing for you and your business.”
Over the next four days, the show is prepared to deliver a full sensory experience with plenty of opportunities for attendees to immerse themselves in the best sights, sounds and tastes of the industry.
Last year’s show-floor pop-up events (remember the puppies?) sparked so much interest that organizers expanded on the concept this year with more pop-ups, including those that play off the show’s marketing theme: a feast for the senses. Yes, the puppies are back at 11 am on Tuesday and new this year are donuts at 10 am and live music at 12:30 pm. On Wednesday, head to the bacon pop-up at 10 am and cuddle with more puppies and goats at 11 am. And who can’t use a breath of fresh air during the show? Stop by the oxygen bar pop-up in the main lobby and breathe it in. A roaming photobooth and strolling magicians are planned to add unexpected layers to the vibrancy of this show.
If it’s a hot trend, you’ll find it at Expo—and that includes goat yoga. Those sessions, offered Wednesday and Thursday mornings, are sold out, but watch for photos that are sure to show up this week on social media and in this publication.
Apparel is consistently the top-selling category of promotional products. Find out what’s trending—and what the Expo models are wearing—by catching the new fashion show on Wednesday at 2:30 pm and again at 4 pm on the Expo Live Stage adjacent to booth 2445.
When a quiet moment is needed, the Expo has that covered, too. There’s a new mindfulness room located in Banyan E on Level 3 from 8 am – 5 pm daily that offers a brief respite from the hustle and bustle of the show floor.
The Product Pavilion, located on the show floor, is an Expo favorite, bringing together hundreds of products organized by category for easy browsing. New this year is a Giving Back pavilion that showcases socially-conscious products where all or a portion of the proceeds are donated to a charitable cause. This sixth pavilion joins perennial favorites: New Products, Express Ship, 1st Time Exhibitors, Green Products and Made In The USA.
For attendees who want professional development but find it hard to break away from the show floor—this year the sessions are coming to them. Sixteen free professional development sessions will be presented Tuesday through Thursday on the show floor in a unique classroom learning environment—inflatable domes. Some of the sessions offered in the domes are part of the Expo’s new Trending Now track which explore industry-leading ideas, trends and issues, and innovative processes and technologies. Look for the domes located at the back of aisle 900 and check the schedule for sessions and times in the SAGE Mobile app (available for free download in the App Store).
The popular show floor Beer Garden is back this year, and it’s joined by a backyard-themed concession area with food truck facades and charging stations.
Darel Cook, PPAI director of expositions, is ready for the doors to open on Tuesday morning. “PPAI is excited that The PPAI Expo 2020 will deliver on our goal of extraordinary experiences. We have transformed the registration lobby to be experiential and a place to relax; added new elements to our show floor pop-ups and created new show-floor educational and dining experiences. Registration has been strong, and the show floor is sold out. We expect the Expo to deliver one of the best shows ever.”
David adds, “I expect the show floor to have a lot of energy and buzz coming out of a strong 2019 and carrying the momentum forward. Expo is all about relationships—both nurturing existing ones and creating new ones—and finding ways to work together to be mutually successful and have a killer 2020.”
