4 From PPAI Appreciation For Suppliers & Service Providers 7 Creative Calendar Essentials 10 Use Case On The Pitch 14 In Style Bold Prints Are Back 18 Solutions Spotlight Equipment & Machinery Must Read 22 Promotional Products Work Merch For The One-Person Empire Community 48 Buzzworthy Branding Touchdowns 50 PPPC Communiqué Canadian Distributors Spotlight ExperienceDriven Merch 52 Inside PPAI PPAI Volunteer Committee Spotlights For Q1 58 New Members 61 Datebook 66 Perfect Promo CONTENTS 05.26 VOLUME 50, ISSUE 04 America Was Branded From The Start From George Washington’s inaugural buttons to the surge of America 250 products, patriotic merch has long been woven into the fabric of the United States’ biggest moments. 28 Pyramid Awards In Technology The branded merchandise industry continues to embrace digital transformation, and this year’s PPAI Pyramid Award winners prove how smarter e-commerce, mobile tools and web platforms are making it faster and easier than ever for distributors to sell and fulfill merch. 40 Branding Without Borders The industry sometimes relies on its own ecosystems, but collaboration and knowledge-sharing are bridging continents and creating a global voice. 34 28 40 PPAI® 34 PPAI • MAY 2026 • 3
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