Four days wasn’t enough for most distributors who attended PPAI Expo Direct-2-You, January 11-14. This free digital supplement, D2U Encore, makes it easy for distributors to revisit the show with quick access to select exhibitors’ videos, products and show specials. You'll also find a sampling of education sessions with links to all PPAI-sponsored on-demand education programming.
Monday
"Doors" Open On The First Live, Virtual Trade Show For PPAI
Although this year’s show looks very different, its objective remains the same: to engage members and facilitate their ability to do business.
Pop-Ups & More
Uniquely Different
Participants at Expo D2U were surprised and engaged all week with surprise pop-ups in the same style of PPAI's live trade shows.
Monday: Virtual Caricature Artist and Puppy Pop-up
Tuesday: Yoga and Weber Grill Demo
Wednesday: Pet Pop-up and Chair Yoga
Thursday: Virtual Caricature Artist and Yoga
Not Your Normal Workday
Evening Entertainments
PPAI Expo Direct-2-You brought a dose of fun and laughter to the long work week. Tuesday Trivia tested the industry's random fact knowledge with quizzes on pop-culture, Netflix, Vegas and PPAI. Wednesday took the night into a once-in-a-lifetime virtual moment as the audience watched a battle between #middleguy and #middletopguy egged on by two hours of chat messages. This moment was such a crowdpleaser PPAI closed the D2U live broadcast with a dance-off finale.
Education
BDO USA’s Murphy, Collins Discuss Business Recovery Post COVID-19
There’s certainly a recovery period ahead for businesses in a post-pandemic world, and finally, it’s in sight. In the session “How To Prepare Your Business For Recovery,” Sean Murphy and Bill Collins of BDO USA led hundreds of attendees through a 54-minute information-packed session, beginning with what they feel is wrong with the question, “How can you prepare your business for recovery when this crisis is over?”
Eat, Drink And Be Cozy
Product Pavilion Trend Spotlight
The selection of innovative, standout products showcased in PPAI’s Expo Direct-2-You Product Pavilion are categorized under four headings at this year’s show—Green, PPE, Made in USA and New Products—but one of the underlying trends linking them all together seems to be “Eat, Drink and Be Cozy.” Across all four categories are comfortable, feel-good items that end users can utilize at home and take with them on the go.
Education
Small Business Coaches Share Steps To Update Company Marketing
During “Pivoting Your Company’s Marketing Plan,” Sharyn and Hank Yuloff, co-owners of Yuloff Creative Marketing Solutions, presented an updated and detailed marketing plan that can be implemented immediately, helping to reconnect companies to their clients through effective messaging. “A completed marketing plan is as mythical as a unicorn,” says Hank. “Since a unicorn doesn’t exist, your marketing plan is never going to be done.”
Trending On The Show Floor
Eco-Friendly, Personal Safety And Personalized Deluxe Products
The PPAI Expo Direct-2-You virtual show floor was brimming with striking new products that are purposeful, useful, stylish and fun.
Education
Critical Steps For Selling Promo In ‘The New Normal’
Industry veteran David Blaise, co-founder of TopSecrets.com and president of Blaise Drake & Company, Inc., shared a timely action plan during “7 Critical Steps to Sell Promotional Products in ‘The New Normal’” with attendees hoping to re-engage with clients, adapt their messaging, initiate more conversations and sell more promo. “When I talk about the idea of seven critical steps, I really believe that these are the most important things you can do right now to continue to sell promotional products effectively,” says Blaise. “Not just from the standpoint of selling products, but really helping your clients … accomplish their objectives.”
In Their Own Words
Distributors Applaud Convenience, Flexibility Of Expo Direct-2-You
This week’s PPAI Expo Direct-2-You was an opportunity for the Association to step well beyond the boundaries of a traditional, in-person trade show to deliver not only exhibits and education virtually, but also live chats, social and networking events, live interviews and even some unexpected, fun pop-ups.