PPPC Communiqué | Community South Of The Border PPPC successfully kicks off the new year with The PPAI Expo 2024 in Las Vegas. By Margaret Williamson Batuszkin THE PROMOTIONAL PRODUCT PROFESSIONALS OF CANADA headed south in January to Las Vegas to participate in one of the industry’s most anticipated events, The PPAI Expo. This year’s Expo provided the perfect kick-start to the New Year for many of PPPC’s members by enabling them to reconnect with their U.S. counterparts, colleagues and clients to network, do business and have some fun. Day 1 provided a number of formidable conferences and professional development opportunities. One of the most noteworthy and topical was the session titled “Starting Your (Realistic) Sustainability Journey” highlighting how companies want to be sustainable and addressing how they can realistically start. The session was led by Elizabeth Wimbush, PPAI’s director of sustainability and responsibility, and featured PPPC members Reba Joy, director of environmental and social impact for Genumark, and Brianna Mazze, EP, St Regis vice president of compliance and sustainability. (EP stands for Environmental Professional, a certification awarded by ECO Canada.) On Day 2, our supplier members got to showcase the latest promotional wares for 2024 to attendees, including a number of our PPPC members. The show floor was abuzz, and PPPC also featured a booth welcoming members and potential members who wanted to learn more about PPPC membership and our long-standing strategic partnership with PPAI and SAGE. In the evening, PPPC held its annual and member exclusive VIP party in partnership with PPAI and SAGE at the Border Grill in Mandalay Bay. Over 200 guests showed up to the “Great White North” themed event and enjoyed a festive night complete with complementary drinks, a taco bar and delicious nachos and various dips. Supporters of the night included NC Custom, Stormtech, Faro, Buff and Soft Stuff Promotions. Members continued to network on Day 3 and learn about the many new trends and innovations in the North American promotional products industry. Many also had the advantage of chatting with some international counterparts to learn more about what’s trending across the pond promotional product-wise in Europe. The day ended on a high note with PPAI’s annual party, held at the Mandalay Bay, which offered a fun and unique circus theme complete with cotton candy, carnival fare, jugglers, circus performers and a band. The PPAI Expo also provided members with the perfect precursor to PPPC’s TOPS+ event, Canada’s longest running and most successful five-city promotional trade show tour that commenced in Montreal on February 13, followed by stops in Toronto, Winnipeg and Calgary before finishing in Vancouver on March 1. According to Jonathan N. Strauss, PPPC’s president and CEO, The PPAI Expo is the ideal way to start off the New Year and marks the official start of event season for members. He noted that PPAI is a valued partner, and it is important that we support each other's events and help our members grow their businesses and profiles on a national and international level. Williamson Batuszkin is PPPC’s marketing and communications manager. PPPC past chair Sandra Harssar, MAS, Bright Ideas, joins PPPC’s bilingual association coordinator, Marina Muvira, at the PPPC booth. PPAI • MARCH 2024 • 83
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