PPAI • APRIL 2026 • 47 The Coolest Stuff in Merch | Must Read Coolest Sneak Peek If you want to be the first to find out which promo firms made this year’s PPAI 100, then you must attend PPAI’s North American Leadership Conference. The unveiling of the annual list has become a highly anticipated staple of NALC, which features engaging sessions and exclusive speakers tailored specifically for top-level executives and industry visionaries. This year’s event takes place in San Diego from May 12-14. Register now! Coolest Wine Mixer (Not In Catalina) In the heart of Washington State’s wine country, Image Source’s Fall Showcase drew more than 500 attendees for an event overflowing with collaboration and inspiration. Guests could sample the latest sustainable materials, explore new retail-inspired apparel, enjoy local seasonal wine and food pairings and participate in hands-on activities like on-site T-shirt printing and fortune telling. “Each and every year the Image Source team delivers, providing its Pacific Northwest clients with new, fresh and trusted branded merchandise coupled with great ideas and a ton of fun,” says Joel Freet, CEO of Cutter & Buck. Coolest Way To Study Abroad France’s largest branded merchandise trade show, Salon CTCO in Lyon, allows visitors from around the world to see the innovations and trends, especially regarding sustainability, coming out of Europe. Because European trade show booths tend to have a larger footprint than their American counterparts, as well as a lounge feel, distributors are more likely to have deeper conversations with exhibitors. Coolest Day At The Racetrack And they’re off! Distributors and their clients galloped throughout the Chesapeake Promotional Products Association’s Fall Expo, held at Maryland’s Laurel Park, which happens to be the home of The 2026 Preakness. As if discovering unique products and making new connections in such a historic venue wasn’t enough, the night before consisted of bowling, apps and cocktails with industry peers. Coolest Boot Camp Without A Drill Sergeant As summer comes to an end, commonsku’s skucamp gathers promo pros for candid conversations and scintillating educational sessions. Last year’s four-day event featured some of the biggest names in the industry discussing the hottest topics, such as AI, tariffs and how to grow your business amid economic uncertainty. “Radical ideas have always been part of skucamp’s DNA,” says Mark Graham, commonsku’s co-founder and president. New Africa / Shutterstock.com
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