PPB August 2018

When the doors to the Atlantic City Convention Center closed on the final day of Expo East 2018, distributors were still strolling the aisles of the show floor, wrapping up last-minute business. An estimated 2,000 distributors were expected at the largest show on the East Coast, many driving in from nearby cities and surrounding states for the three-day event. “Having a strong show in the Northeast is valuable for all members,” says PPAI Board Chair Dale Denham, MAS+, chief information officer for Geiger. “I spoke to several exhibitors who shared the value of this show bringing distributors in a single location for meetings that would have otherwise cost them significant effort to visit the attendees at individual locations. All were pleased with the timing of the show returning to the summer and the quality of attendees that Expo East attracts.” The most attended summer show in the industry is the result of teamwork between PPAI, producer of The PPAI Expo, the largest trade show in the promotional products industry, and the Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY), the largest regional association on the East Coast. Although final attendance figures are not yet available, Darel Cook, PPAI director of exhibitions, says he is confident the show exceeded its 2017 attendance. SAAGNY President John R. B. Cudahy, CAS, says, “This is one of my favorite events of the year. Three days of education, networking and meeting with the best companies in the industry. We saw a revitalized show in 2017, and based on the conversations I have had with many SAAGNY members, this year was even better.” A continued emphasis on quality education also added to the show’s value. New this year were one-on-one sessions where attendees received personal assistance from PPAI’s professional development team with PPAI Certification, Promo Connect and online learning. Attendees also participated in Connections Corner, a series of interactive roundtable discussions on key topics and led by industry professionals. Professional development sessions designed within eight learning tracks were also offered in session rooms and on the show floor. “In response to member feedback, we expanded on nontraditional education opportunities that allow for informal interaction and networking,” says Paul Bellantone, CAE, PPAI president and CEO. “We also added to the sessions that were offered on the show floor, to allow for easier access and more organic integration with the trade show. The Northeast is such a unique and vibrant market, and attendees were excited to see the assortment of trending products brought by their exhibitor partners.” Nancy Barr, sales and marketing coordinator for Reading, Pennsylvania-based distributor TSI Associates, Inc., says, “We came for educational day, which was very helpful. We went to five different sessions, and all the presenters were great. We’re looking forward to sharing the information with the rest of the sales team. Meeting face by James Khattak Expo East Moves FromStrength To Strength In Atlantic City Expo East 2018, held at the Atlantic City Convention Center in June, attracted quality distributors from across the Northeast who came looking for mid-year introductions and product ideas, coupled with opportunities for professional development and networking. 78 | AUGUST 2018 | CONNECT