Best Of Expo
Products that wowed us at The PPAI Expo 2016
Each year it’s hard not to be impressed with the wide array of creative promotional products on display at The PPAI Expo. This year was no different. Our intrepid PPB editors combed the nearly one million square feet of exhibit space and 3,300 booths for products that stood out to us. This month’s Editor’s reveals the products that caught the eye of each member of PPB’s editorial team.
Tina Berres Filipski, Editor
Tina's Picks:
Speech bubble note and flag set These add a little extra fun and conversational tone to a product I use almost every day. Love it!
Logomark, Inc. UPIC: logomark www.logomark.com
Retail-inspired bracelet This is just one of the many beautiful pieces custom designed, hand-cast and manufactured especially for the promotional products industry. It’s a great look.
Diane Katzman Design UPIC: dkatzman www.dianekatzman.com
Body board with write on/wipe off chalkboard surface This would be a great item for a conference or teambuilding event at a beachside resort. We could all present our ideas at a meeting, then hit the waves together.
MBS Promo Boards UPIC:MBSMo267 www.promoboards.com
Multi-purpose pen This pen has it all: a smooth-writing tip, a stylus for my media devices and a pull-out banner (another spot for advertising!) on the side to quickly polish up my phone or iPad screen.
Cosmo Fiber Corporation UPIC: COSMO01 www.cosmofiber.com
The Passage Vertical Messenger bag It’s is super slim but can hold a 10-inch tablet and has plenty of pockets for all the stuff I like to carry around—and it comes in a pretty apple green, blue or black. I also like the quilted detail on the front.
Gemline UPIC: GEMLINE www.gemline.com
Jen Alexander, Associate Editor
Jen's Picks:
Chipolo It’s a Bluetooth tracker that helps you locate anything you often lose by linking it to an app on your phone. As someone who frequently misplaces her keys/phone/office key fob/small child, this would be a godsend for me.
Hirsch Gift, Inc. UPIC: HIRGIFT www.hirschgift.com
Brisbane Duffel This bag is very roomy, durable (flame resistant fabric!) and comes with a rain cover.
Southern Plus UPIC: southpls www.southernplus.com
Dripping paint silicone mug lid These colorful lids are shaped like dripping paint and caught my eye as I breezed past the booth. Super cute!
Sabina UPIC: SABINA www.sabinaonline.com
Wave calendar This 12-month calendar has a full color, 3-D effect—very cool!
Warwick Publishing UPIC: WARWICK www.warwickpublishing.com
Leather book weight I’ve never seen one of these, and I thought it was a very clever accessory.
Dacasso Limited, Inc. UPIC: Dacasso www.dacasso.com
Julie Richie, Associate Editor
Julie's Picks:
Drink Safe Kit Every woman who drinks should carry this product in her purse to test her cocktail for the “date rape” drugs GHB and ketamine. It’s a great product for sororities, bars, concert venues, etc. You can never be too safe these days and this product lets women have a little more control of their environment.
Drink Safe Technologies UPIC: D533361 www.drinksafe.com
Salsa journal This journal’s soft, leather-like feel and unique two-tone design with colored page edges make it a pleasure to hold and look at. The endpages, bookmark, elastic closure and pen can all be color matched. It’s a colorful way to communicate a brand.
The Book Company UPIC: BOOKCO www.thebookco.com
Girl Power at Work Gloves Who says work gloves have to be rough and masculine? These pretty pink gloves bring fashion to function. Plus, the bright color makes them easy to find and they have air vents for breathability.
ERB Industries, Inc. UPIC:erbind www.e-erb.com
Brooklyn Jacket Working out would be much more fun in this flattering, stretchy jacket. I especially like the discreet thumbholes in the sleeves. It’s perfect for those of us with cold hands. And it’s pretty to look at.
Brandwear UPIC: brndwear www.brandwear.ca
Ame & Lulu Easy Tote I can’t get over how cute these retail-inspired totes are! I love the bright, geometric designs. It is like carrying around art that holds all your stuff.
Kati Sportcap UPIC: KATI www.katisportcap.com
James Khattak
News Editor
James' Picks:
Beer-flavored lip balm The word “beer” caught my eye; the lip balm was just a bonus. Who wants dry lips when you’re at an outdoor concert or festival? Plus, it’s made in the USA so that’s good for the country. You can feel good while slathering it on. I wonder which beer it tastes like …
Makana Line UPIC: MAKANA www.makanaline.com
Three-in-one power bank/Bluetooth speaker/flashlight This is just plain handy to have around. Sometimes you need a speaker and power and a flashlight—like during a storm. And this one comes in a high-end gift box so it makes a nice present.
Next Products, Inc. UPIC: nextpro www.nextpromotions.com
Cold and flu kit This kit contains all the basics for cold and flu season in a convenient and reusable case. The new and innovative Curtail Cough Barrier, a hand-held air filtration device designed to direct airflow and trap 99 percent of particulates, is genius. The company’s message is: Keep this cold and flu kit handy because not everything should go viral.
Ready 4 Kits UPIC: KITS www.ready4kits.com
RagBags Made from 15-percent recycled t-shirt trimmings, cotton ragbags are soft, sturdy and absorbent. So after the bag has exceeded its useful life, you can keep using it as a rag for household cleaning, car washing and cleaning up spills. Once it’s time to throw it out, the bag is biodegradable. If it’s reused six times, one RagBag can eliminate the need for an entire roll of paper towels. Cool concept.
Ragbags UPIC: R645167 www.ragbags.com