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Recognizing What Makes
Industry Shows Possible
Throughout the year, the promotional
products industry is served by numerous
trade shows, exhibitions and conferences
produced by PPAI, regional associations,
industry companies and other organizations.
They inform, educate and build connections
among practitioners in the field, and each
event represents considerable work and cre-
ativity by volunteers and professionals alike.
Well run, innovative, perfectly
organized regional shows have become
an accepted part of our industry. Sure,
we routinely thank our regional directors
and PPAI staff. We recognize and
acknowledge the complexity and details
inherent in arranging, managing, and
coordinating.
Or do we? This year I had the
opportunity—the privilege—of being
one of many who took turns manning
the registration desk for the GAPPP
[Georgia Association of Promotional
Products Professionals] end user and
distributor show. Oh, my gosh! The
detail that goes into the behind-the-
scenes to simplify the process of quickly
welcoming guests and distributing
badges is startling.
And that’s but one element of the
many moving parts to ensure everyone is
in the right place, to coordinate the sup-
plier booth set-up, meals, distributors
with their numerous guests, pre-market-
ing, arrangements and volunteers. Oh
yes, and the boxes of incoming merchan-
dise from badge holders (and badges of
varying colors for easy identification) to
notebooks, pens and bags for distribu-
tors, class attendees, and guests.
Why had I never considered the
intensity, the need for and impact of
dozens of volunteers, and most of all, the
remarkable graciousness with which they
served? I am naïve no more! And if Lisa
Bibb [MAS], our outstanding, hard-
8 •
PPB
• APRIL 2015
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