Every year, the Association recruits volunteers to travel to Washington to advocate for the promotional products industry, educating members of Congress and their staffers on the industry’s economic impact and asking for consideration on issues that matter most to promo pros. More than 70 members, along with key PPAI staff, are traveling to the nation’s capital this month for the annual Legislative Education and Action Day, better known as LEAD.
“I love our industry, and advocating for it in Washington feels like my way of contributing to its future –ensuring we’re still standing strong for generations to come,” says Dana Porter, MAS, vice president of information services for SAGE and a member of PPAI’s Government Relations Action Council.
“There’s something truly powerful about being on Capitol Hill, walking those historic halls and sitting down with representatives who help shape the future of our country,” Porter adds. “It gives you a real sense of purpose, knowing you’re playing a role in making sure our industry is heard and supported.”
Dana Porter, MAS
Vice president of information services, SAGE
This year, thanks to the Association’s partnership with Thorn Run Partners, a top 10 Washington lobbying firm, PPAI members will have Capitol insiders guiding the way as they visit congressional offices.
“With the Thorn Run team on site throughout the LEAD program, PPAI members can expect full support, including detailed guides to help navigate each meeting, comprehensive training to prepare for discussions and well-crafted talking points to effectively communicate our key messages,” says Chris Lamond, founding partner of Thorn Run Partners. “We’ll be there every step of the way to ensure every conversation is productive, impactful and aligned with our legislative goals.”
Tariffs, Free Trade And Small Business Interests
Tariffs and free trade agreements top the list of issues PPAI members will be addressing in their meetings on Capitol Hill.
Results from a flash survey of members conducted by PPAI Research in February show that more than 85% of PPAI member businesses anticipate cost increases more than 5% due to tariffs, with a third expecting significant financial burdens. LEAD conversations will focus on how tariffs are affecting members, from pricing instability to reduced revenue from absorbing increased costs and decreasing sales.
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“Knowing that the administration’s intent is to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., part of those considerations is that the U.S. is years away from being prepared to handle that manufacturing,” says Drew Holmgreen, PPAI president and CEO. “We don’t have the facilities or infrastructure.”
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PPAI members will also express support for longstanding free trade agreements like the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Generalized System of Preferences. SanMar, PPAI 100’s No. 1 supplier, has been advocating for renewal of AGOA, which is set to expire in September, and PPAI has previously asked Congress to renew the GSP, which promotes economic growth in developing countries and provides benefits for U.S. manufacturers and businesses.
Support for the Modern Worker Empowerment Act, a bill to amend existing federal labor laws to establish a clear and predictable test for determining whether a worker is classified as an independent contractor or an employee, is another issue LEAD attendees will address.
PPAI has taken a public stance against a proposed federal IC rule in the past, arguing that the promotional products industry was unfairly lumped in with other industries in which workers are commonly misclassified as independent contractors against their wishes. Although never enforced, that rule is still on the books and could jeopardize the livelihoods of thousands of promotional products distributors who prefer to be classified as independent contractors.
Promoting The Industry’s Economic Impact
Making sure policymakers recognize the impact of the promotional products industry is perhaps the most important aim of the event. At the forefront of LEAD’s agenda is the crucial task of informing legislators about the undeniable effectiveness of promotional products, as well as the challenges faced by the thousands of businesses in our industry, which employs roughly half a million Americans. Of the nearly 40,000 promo companies in the U.S., some 98% are considered small businesses.
“After attending PPAI LEAD for the past nine years, I’ve gained a deep appreciation for the power of advocacy in educating lawmakers about the true impact of our promotional products industry,” says Carroll Hanley Goggin, MAS, owner and CFO of DBG Promotions and a GRAC member. “As a small business owner and distributor, this event has given me a unique chance to engage directly with my state lawmakers to help them understand the real value our products bring to businesses and the economy.”
Carroll Hanley Goggin, MAS
Owner & CFO, DBG Promotions
As part of our “promotional products work” message to leaders on Capitol Hill, we’ll be sharing several case studies of successful real-world promo projects for federal and state agencies. These stories will help illustrate for lawmakers why promotional products work, as well as show how promo distributors and suppliers drive growth, create jobs and support local economies.
“Branded merchandise brings joy, creates lasting connections, and plays a critical role in the brand ecosystem, driving engagement in ways no other medium can,” says Holmgreen. “At PPAI, our mission is to advance, protect and grow this industry, and that means championing the businesses and professionals who make it thrive. LEAD allows us to share our story, demonstrate our economic impact, and ensure our voices are heard where it matters most.”
Protecting The Industry’s Interests
PPAI will also speak up against proposed legislation that directly targets our industry. Not for the first time, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst has filed the Stop Wasteful Advertising by the Government (SWAG) Act “to end unnecessary spending on government propaganda, taxpayer-funded trinkets, and mascots.”
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In February, a dozen PPAI member companies in Iowa signed a group letter to their senator expressing the value of promotional products and the importance of the industry in the Iowan and American economies. Lamond and Thorn Run Partners have been following up with personal visits to her office, and these conversations will continue with a visit from PPAI member constituents during LEAD.
“LEAD is such an important event for the industry,” says Brian Deissroth, senior director of sales for Edwards Garment, PPAI 100’s No. 19 supplier, and a GRAC member. “It’s our opportunity to educate and act on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of folks who choose this industry as their career. Personally, I can’t think of an event more impactful and powerful event to attend.”
The targeted campaign to educate Ernst illustrates that while LEAD is a major component of PPAI’s advocacy strategy, it’s just one piece of a broader, ongoing effort that includes year-round engagement, grassroots initiatives and coalition-building.
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“The promotional products industry can end up being included in bills or policies that legislators aren’t fully aware of, and those decisions can have a real, negative impact on us,” says Porter. “That’s why being present in D.C., building relationships and establishing direct contacts with key decision-makers is so crucial. Having those connections is invaluable, because when something comes up, it’s those relationships that allow us to have a voice and make sure our industry’s concerns are heard.”
