PPB September 2019

Preparations Are Well Under Way ForThe PPPC TOPS+ Shows T he promotional products industry is a lot like retail in that you must always plan ahead for the next season or the coming year. With that in mind, we are busy planning the first quarter of 2020 for the Promotional Product Professionals of Canada (PPPC). Q1 will be jam-packed with events: first we will kick off 2020 with our booth at The PPAI Expo and host a Canadian industry event as part of Expo for the second consecutive year. Look for more details to come this fall. Plans for our traveling trade shows (TOPS+) have also been under way for some time. In 2020 our TOPS+ tour will stop in Vancouver on January 28, followed by Calgary on January 31, Toronto on February 6 and finally Montreal on February 13. This year we made a significant switch in our trade-show schedule by moving the TOPS+ shows to Q1 instead of Q4. This change was very well received by our members, judging from the strong supplier support at all four shows and the increase in distributor attendance. After the show returned to Calgary following a two-year hiatus, nearly 400 people attended, and in Montréal, attendance increased by 30 percent over 2018. In Toronto and Vancouver, attendance went up 25 percent and 50 percent respectively. Why Exhibit At TOPS+? PPPC’s TOPS+ tour welcomes nearly 1,500 distributors and their clients every year for a Canadian trade-show experience like no other—and now that the association has gained over 400 new distributor members since establishing the strategic partnerships with PPAI and SAGE, and new members are being added weekly, exhibitors have more reach than ever before. Choosing to exhibit at TOPS+ is a smart business move for any promotional products company. Thanks to the various locations across Canada, exhibitors can meet clients face-to-face whom they may not have the chance to meet at the larger shows. More handshakes can translate into more business for your company. Why Attend TOPS+? The great thing about PPPC’s TOPS+ shows is not only do distributors and their clients have the chance to see thousands of exciting promotional products on the market, but it is an important opportunity for members to connect with one another before, during and after the shows. Networking events are in the works for the 2020 shows as well. In addition to connecting with other PPPC members, suppliers and distributors will have the opportunity to visit the PPAI and SAGE booths and attend educational sessions hosted by SAGE, all with the aim of learning how to maximize their membership benefits. If you are in the Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto or Montreal areas, we invite you to join us at a TOPS+ trade show near you. For more information on TOPS+ 2020, visit topsplus.pppc.ca. Jonathan N. Strauss is president and CEO of the Promotional Product Professionals of Canada (PPPC), the national trade association for promotional product suppliers, distributors andmulti-line representatives across Canada. With over 1,300 members, PPPC strives to lead, inspire and advance the promotional products industry through the strength of its participants. PPPC COMMUNIQUÉ by Jonathan Strauss PPPC’s TOPS+ 2019 shows were a huge success thanks to strong supplier support and high attendance numbers. | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 113 CONNECT