Snapshots (11)

The SAGE Show Draws Distributors From Across The Region To Irving, Texas

The fourth annual SAGE Show and Education Day brought the promotional products industry to Irving, Texas’ Irving Convention Center August 31-September 1. The show featured networking opportunities, an extensive education lineup produced in collaboration with PPAI, and a show floor open to distributors and their clients.

The 2016 SAGE Show attracted about 1,000 distributors and their guests to the Irving Convention Center.

SAGE CEO Eric Natinsky delivered the show’s keynote session on the impact of the technological revolution.

SAGE Show attendees browse the more than 225 exhibitor booths on the show floor.

Proforma Annual Convention Recognizes Sales Achievements, Inducts Fran Ford Into Hall Of Fame

Distributor Proforma brought more than 800 owners, sales representatives, supplier partners and support team members together recently for four days of education sessions, motivational events and celebrating their successes at its 29th Annual Proforma Convention & Family Reunion, held at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino.

Proforma Founder Greg Muzzillo (left) and CEO Vera Muzzillo inducted Fran Ford, president of Sparks, Nevada-based supplier Castelli, A Division of Magnet, LLC, (center), into its Hall of Fame in recognition of his role in advancing Proforma’s mission and helping to form and strengthen vital business relationships.

The convention’s technology session was one of a number of education and networking events on its agenda.

HPPA Hot Stuff Expo, SAGE Show Attendees Step Up For Louisiana Flood Relief

Industry members and companies stepped up in support of those affected by the flooding this summer in Louisiana. In August, attendees and exhibitors at the Houston Promotional Products Association’s Hot Stuff Expo in Houston, and The SAGE Show in Irving together donated two pallets worth of items for flood relief. PPAI business partner Group Transportation Services is working with HPPA, SAGE and the Association to transport the pallets to Tammy Cormier, owner of distributor Trinity Promotional in New Iberia, Louisiana, who acted as the point of contact for the product donations and oversaw their distribution.

PPAI staff get supplies donated by HPPA Hot Stuff Expo and SAGE Show attendees and exhibitors ready to be shipped to those affected by the floods in Louisiana.

PPAI’s Seth Barnett Joins PMANC For Discussion On Selling To Millennial Buyers

On August 16, PPAI Diversity Development and Engagement Manager Seth Barnett met with members of the Promotional Marketing Association of Northern California (PMANC) for a discussion on selling to the Millennial buyer. The event was held at the offices of distributor Lahlouh, Inc. (UPIC: IDEA0018) in Burlingame, California.

PPAI's Seth Barnett focused the session on creating generational commonality when selling to Millennials. He shared tools shaped from existing industry sales knowledge and new research to help promote brand and company awareness among younger buyers. He was also joined on stage by a panel of industry Millennials who shared their perspectives on the topic in a Q&A session.

Pioneer Balloon Factory Opens Its Doors To PPAI Staff

PPAI staff members visited supplier Pioneer Balloon’s (UPIC: Pioneer) Dallas, Texas, manufacturing plant in August for a closer look at the process behind latex balloons. Mark Jenkins, MAS+, managing director, promotional products for the Wichita, Kansas-based supplier, and a former PPAI Board chair, led the tour and gave an overview of the facility’s operations.

(From left to right) Mark Jenkins, MAS+; Pioneer’s Dallas Operations Director Carl Hartschuh; PPAI Diversity and Engagement Manager Seth Barnett; Production Manager Octaviano “Tavo” Valenzuela; PPAI Director of Member Engagement and Regional Relations Carol Gauger, MAS; PPAI Vice President, Business Development Alan Peterson; PPAI Major Account Manager-West Melissa Massey; PPAI Director of Finance AJ Hunter; and PPAI Associate Manager of Professional Development Jody Mello. PPB Associate Editor Julie Richie (not pictured) also participated in the tour.

PPAI Leadership, SAGE Join The PPAF Expo’s Education Programming

At the Promotional Products Association of Florida (PPAF) 2016 PPAF Expo, held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE, moderated a panel discussion during the PPAF Expo’s keynote session that explored trends and outlooks for the industry.

(From left) PPAI President and CEO Bellantone, CAE, was joined on stage by SnugZ USA Vice President of Sales Brittany David, CAS; Carpe Diem Sales & Marketing Co-Founder Mike Giordano; JB of Florida, a Division of Geiger, President Wayne Greenberg, MAS; and SAGE President David Natinsky, CAS.