The British Promotional Merchandise Association (bpma) is bringing together education, trade-show and networking opportunities next month at the 2016 bpma Show.
The bpma Show opens with an education day on September 13 at Whittlebury Hall, near the trade-show site at the Silverstone Racetrack. The 13 speakers on the day’s agenda include authors, subject matter experts and industry figures from the UK and the U.S. Popular motivational speaker Nigel Risney returns for a second appearance at the show, while Kelvyn Gardner, managing director of the UK division of the Licensing Industry Merchandisers Association, is slated to share his insights into the opportunities that licensing can bring to distributors’ client base.
Among the show’s U.S. speakers are Marty Lott, owner and president of apparel supplier SanMar (UPIC: SNMR), and distributor Boundless Network’s Vice President of Customer Success Chris Piper. Finishing off the day will be PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE, and PPAI Chair Tom Goos, MAS, who will discuss creating success in an era of transformation.
On September 14, the bpma Show’s tradeshow floor opens with 90 exhibitors from across the UK’s promotional products industry. While the event is restricted to members and select prospective members, end users are also permitted as long as they are accompanied by a distributor. Special sections of the show floor include a branding zone, a Christmas products display, a British Made product feature, more than 100 promotional product designs from university students, and a supplier product competition built around a “Winning Formula” theme. The day ends with the bpma Annual Awards Dinner, to be held at Whittlebury Hall.
Throughout the week, the bpma is also supporting Pancreatic Cancer UK as part of the UK’s Promotional Products Week. The themes this year are “Blow your own trumpet” and #promoteyourbrand.
