PPB March 2020

Europe’s PSI ShowDraws Global Audience, Presents A Snapshot On Industry’s Health In Europe The PSI Show, Europe’s largest promotional products trade show, was held in Düsseldorf, Germany, on January 7-9. The show featured 720 exhibitors and drew 16,367 visitors this year. Attendance was down slightly from last year—17,602 visitors in 2019—which show management attributed to worsening market conditions for some industries that have been major buyers of promotional products, such as the automotive sector. “PSI is the global ‘melting pot’ for a whole industry. It moves people, markets and billion-euro sales on a global scale. This is what makes it unique worldwide,” says PSI Managing Director Michael Freter. Sustainability was a sizable trend at this year’s PSI Show and has moved to the top of many exhibitors’ and attendees’ priorities. It was particularly visible on the show floor in the selection of materials, manufacturing processes and in the upcycling and recycling of products. PSI Director Petra Lassahn says, “There is a significantly greater willingness on the part of advertisers in the industry to dig deeper into their pockets for sustainable promotional products.” | MARCH 2020 | 123 CONNECT