The sense of shock applies equally to the distributors walking through that door. “Admittedly, the display of product when you first come to Expo can be mind-numbing,” says Hank Frisch, president of Team Promotions. “My first few shows were dedicated to finding that needle in a haystack to share with my clients.” Veterans know exactly why they’re going to The PPAI Expo. Even those from large promo companies expecting to accomplish plenty over the course of the weekend are confronted each year with the size of the industry they are a part of. No company can make The PPAI Expo trade show look anything but enormous. “I’ll never get over how many booths are featured on the exhibit floor,” says Borst. “It’s a powerful reminder of not only the size of our industry but also the scope of our impact, creativity and all the possibilities ahead.” Collisions (The Aha Moment) That’s all to say that, yes, The PPAI Expo is very, very big. And first-timers usually need a day (or maybe even a whole visit) to catch their footing. It’s totally normal to feel like you should have been leaving a trail of breadcrumbs around the trade floor. But eventually, attendees tend to discover that what has kept The PPAI Expo on everyone’s calendar every year is more than just its size. Rather, it’s the personal collisions that size enables. The PPAI Expo is about connections – connections between suppliers and distributors, between industry peers, friends and colleagues. According to Expo veterans, this is the undercurrent that keeps the industry running. “What I discovered was, the real treasure of annually attending Expo are the relationships built with supplier partners and fellow distributors. They become your mentors, saviors and friends,” says Frisch, who has volunteered on various PPAI committees and credits the people he met at Expos over the years with changing the trajectory of his career. “The value of Expo cannot be understated.” Toby Zacks, CEO of Zagwear, says that coming Hank Frisch Team Promotions … X Admittedly, the display of product when you first come to Expo can be mind-numbing. … X Taylor Borst American Solutions for Business I’ll never get over how many booths are featured on the exhibit floor. It’s a powerful reminder of not only the size of our industry but also the scope of our impact, creativity and all the possibilities ahead. +Follow The Expo Experience | Must Read PPAI • NOVEMBER 2023 • 77
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