PPB June 2018

by James Khattak PPAI Leaders Visit Hong Kong To Connect WithManufacturers, Industry Leaders In April, PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE, along with PPAI Board Chair Dale Denham, MAS+, and Immediate Past Chair Mary Jo Tomasini, MAS+, traveled to Hong Kong to take part in the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, meet with industry groups and visit companies in the area. Bellantone and Denham presented an education session on the state of the U.S. marketplace and business opportunities. They also highlighted the importance of Asian manufacturers working through the established supplier and distributor channel in the U.S. market—particularly the compliance, safety, value, creative and warehousing benefits it brings—and U.S. industry professionals’ understanding of the market and its trends. “Speaking at the show was a unique experience, with a diverse set of attendees interested in the U.S. market,” says Denham. “We laid out what a great opportunity the U.S. market is, but we stressed the value of our supply chain. I spoke about why distributors, and specifically Geiger, rely on our supplier partners rather than circumventing them. We stressed that safety and compliance is becoming a larger issue, and we explained why buyers rely on distributors and how important the distributor is to the buyer. I think everyone in attendance saw the value in the details we shared and now has a better appreciation for the importance of our supply chain.” Tomasini says, “The fair was a fabulous opportunity to meet with PPAI members and leaders in the promotional products profession from across the world. Our conversations with our international colleagues explored the importance of our While in China, Bellantone and Tomasini visited the offices of quality control and supply chain audit provider Asia Inspection. com, and met with Gemline CEO Jonathan Isaacson (center, below) at the Lawrence, Massachusetts, supplier’s Shenzhen facility. 88 | JUNE 2018 | CONNECT