Growing European Promotional Products Market Fuels 2016 PSI Show

The 54th PSI Show reported a strong performance and increased attendance at its most recent event, which ran January 13-15 in Düsseldorf, Germany. Organizer Reed Exhibitions attributes the show’s performance to an eight-percent year-over-year increase in exhibitors and a 3.7-percent increase in visitors, and on the share of international attendees climbing to 55 percent. Reed Exhibitions recorded 932 exhibitors, up from 878 in 2015; and 16,810 visitors, up from 16,218 last year.

Behrendt und Rausch Booths from European-market suppliers, including Prodir, PF Concept, SENATOR, elasto form, Giving Europe, Pelikan and INSPIRION filled the PSI Show’s exhibit hall. (Photo: PSI trade show)

Behrendt und Rausch The centerpiece of the show’s Textile Area was the catwalk, where models showed off the industry’s latest apparel. (Photo: PSI trade show)

Behrendt und Rausch A new addition to the show for 2016, the Competence Area, concentrated show floor information, networking and technical resources for exhibitors and distributors. (Photo: PSI trade show)

 

IMA Presents Lifetime Achievement Award To Norma Jean Knollenberg

Norma Jean Knollenberg, CIP, CPIM, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award and a lifetime membership by the Incentive Marketing Association (IMA) at a reception in her honor during The PPAI Expo 2016. Knollenberg, former president and owner of Top Brands, Inc., recently sold the business and announced her retirement to spend more time with her husband, Gus, and family. She also recently completed her term of service as a member of the PPAI Board of Directors.

Knollenberg web At the reception honoring Knollenberg’s accomplishments, fellow IMA volunteers Sean Roark, CPIM, owner of PromoPros/IncenPros (left), and Spencer Toomey, CPIM, senior vice president of Luxury Lines by MMSC and president of IMA, joined her in celebrating her tenure with the association.

 

skucon Adds commonsku’s Own Brand Of Education, Connection To The PPAI Expo 2016

commonsku’s second annual skucon was held January 10-11 in conjunction with The PPAI Expo 2016. The two-day event began at downtown Las Vegas’ Inspire Theatre, offering collaborative workshops for industry principals and senior managers. On its second day, skucon moved to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center alongside Expo, where education focused on the best practices of the platform and catered to an audience of sales reps, coordinators, and administration and operations staff.

IMG_5541 web skucon workshop leaders and presenters on stage during the event’s first day at the Inspire Theatre.

DSC_0241 web Workshop participants tackle some of the themes of skucon’s first day, including entrepreneurship, business and personal growth, and elevating the medium.

IMG_6735 web One of skucon’s keynote speakers, Paul Kiewiet, MAS+, spoke on discovering purpose and creating meaning.

 

The SAGE Conference Draws Audiences Eager To Learn

The SAGE Conference, coinciding with The PPAI Expo at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in January, drew distributors and suppliers to view the latest developments in SAGE products and services, learn about industry trends, receive business guidance, attend personal training sessions and more.

SAGE1 web SAGE President David Natinsky, CAS, welcomed attendees at the start of the SAGE Conference.

SAGE2 web2 The conference offered attendees one-on-one consultations on SAGE’s technology and services.