PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE, focused on trends in the promotional products industry during his presentation at a WAGE (World Advertising & Gift Federation) meeting.

PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE, focused on trends in the promotional products industry during his presentation at a WAGE (World Advertising Gift Exchange) meeting.

While in Hong Kong for the 2016 Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE; Board Chair Tom Goos, MAS, and PPAI Director of Public Affairs Anne Stone took the opportunity to meet with industry groups and visit factories and testing labs in the area.

In Hong Kong, Bellantone and Goos joined meetings of the International Partnership for Premiums & Gifts (IPPAG), World Advertising Gift Exchange (WAGE) and IGC Global Promotions to speak with their global memberships on the U.S. market and trends in the promotional products industry, including the challenges that arise from dealing with an increasingly global economy.

“The discussions with WAGE and IPPAG brought them up to speed on what we’ve seen driving the U.S. market,” says Bellantone. “We shared how PPAI is working to position our members to deal with factors that affect our businesses, like globalization and technology.”

IPPAG, WAGE and IGC are international networking and business groups that bring their members together to share expertise and collaborate on projects, resources and initiatives.  “Enjoying each others' differences and celebrating our commonalities," was how one IGC attendee described the value of involvement in the group.

The Association’s collaboration and engagement with IPPAG, WAGE and IGC fulfills and furthers the “I” in PPAI, and as the world's largest promotional products association, contributes to the industry’s global direction and advancement. Bellantone adds, “We are recognized as the global leader. PPAI’s work with WAGE and IPPAG goes a long way in defining the industry’s leadership, trends and research, projections for the future and its structure.”

On Monday, Goos and Stone traveled to Shenzhen to wrap up their time in China with tours of factories producing products for the industry.