The fourth annual Promotional Products Work! Week (PPW!W) is under way at companies and associations across the industry. Running May 23-27, PPW!W is PPAI’s five-day international event aimed at raising awareness of promotional products’ role in advertising and marketing. Retooled and rebranded this year, PPW!W delivers the message that promotional products work to advertisers, marketers and media buyers.
Artistic Toy’s open house included booths from 16 exhibiting suppliers.
The week-long event brings together the entire industry—large and small companies, regional associations, distributors and suppliers, business services providers and multi-line representatives—in support of demonstrating the power, value and effectiveness of promotional products to those who are making and influencing buying decisions. Industry companies and organizations across the country are finding creative, innovative ways to participate in PPW!W through a variety of programs and events. The industry’s regional associations have also turned out in support of PPW!W, holding events and reaching out to their communities throughout the week.
Ahead of PPW!W, on May 20, supplier Artistic Toy hosted an open house at its Allentown, Pennsylvania, facility. The event drew more than 80 people, including high school students, college professors, promotional product suppliers and distributors, and end buyers, and featured booths from 16 industry suppliers. Artistic Toy also welcomed a visit from U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent. As part of its education component, the open house featured a presentation from Artistic Toy President Jim Socci, CAS, on face-to-face networking, and PPAI Diversity Development and Engagement Manager Seth Barnett spoke on attracting and engaging the Millennial workforce.
Artistic Toy President Jim Socci, CAS (right) and guests at his company’s open house, (from left) PPAI Diversity and Engagement Manager Seth Barnett and U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent.
The Promotional Professionals Association of Chicago (PPAChicago) has scheduled a number of events throughout PPW!W. On Monday, association members toured the facilities of suppliers Dard and Sharp Print, and will visit Shockwaves Apparel’s factory on Wednesday. Today, the association is hosting an education seminar with PPAI Product Responsibility Manager Tim Brown, MAS, on establishing a corporate responsibility program. PPAChicago will close out its PPW!W activities with a member appreciation lunch and charity drive on Thursday.
The Specialty Advertising Association of California (SAAC) has partnered with FreePromoTips.com to hold a PPW!W fun run/walk and happy hour on Tuesday evening in Calabasas, California. Sponsored by Logomark, PrintGear and Pro Towels, the event’s $25 entrance donation benefits the Foundation for SAAC, SAAC’s 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit, and the Independent Living Resource Center.
Advance Corporation National Sales Manager Rena Ashfeld, CAS (center) shows her guests from UMAPP around the supplier’s facility during the factory tour.
The Upper Midwest Association of Promotional Professionals (UMAPP) partnered with Advance Corporation for a factory tour, giving UMAPP members an up-close look at its facilities and operations.
PPAI is also hosting an open house during PPW!W. Industry professionals are invited to the Association’s headquarters in Irving, Texas, for a tour and a presentation on the power of promotional products. As part of a special promotion supporting PPW!W, visitors at PPAI headquarters can learn more about PANTONE and take advantage of special pricing only available next week. (Unable to join us at headquarters? Visit shop.PPAI.org and use promocode: PPW!W2016 to save on PANTONE products on shop.PPAI.org.)
Learn more about Promotional Products Work! Week and how to participate here.
See how other industry companies celebrate PPW!W on PPAI’s Facebook page, and follow their tweets on Twitter using the hashtag #PPWWeek.
