55th Annual PSI Show Wraps With Record Attendance, New Opportunities

The 55th annual PSI Show wrapped last week after bringing a strong mix of exhibitors and attendees to Düsseldorf, Germany. Running January 10-12, 2017, the show attracted members of the promotional products industry from Germany, across Europe and around the world.

Reed Exhibitions, the PSI Show’s organizers, report a six-percent increase in exhibitors compared to last year and a nearly eight-percent increase in attendees. The 2017 event featured 988 exhibitors, up from 932 in 2016, and 18,094 attendees, compared to 16,810 last year. This year, the share of attendees from outside Germany climbed by 57 percent, and 10 percent of its international visitors were from outside Europe.

To help attendees find what they were looking for, the PSI Show’s exhibition floor featured a number of special areas focusing on product categories and specific interests. Among them was the Textile Area, which included manufacturers, wholesalers and finishers, and professional models on a catwalk showing off the latest promotional products. The Technology Forum and demonstration area showcased 3D, screen and digital printing, as well as engraving and laser finishing. Edible products including pastries, beverages, spices and confectionaries were the focus of the Tasting Pavilion. The Newcomer Area displayed the work of first- and second-time exhibitors, as well as that of inventors and young companies.

“An impressive fireworks of creativity was ignited, celebrated almost, at PSI,” says Michael Freter, PSI’s director. “It just gets you in the mood to work even more intensely with promotional products. If you can’t find ideas here, you’ll have a hard time finding them at all.”

The 2017 show was also the first to allow distributors to invite clients to join them. Industry Customer Day, held on the last day of the show, drew more than 1,700 customers of promotional products distributors. The concept was developed by the GWW, the umbrella organization of the German promotional products industry. The trade-show task force membership includes distributors, wholesalers, suppliers, brand manufacturers and the PSI Network.

“We very much welcome that advertisers invited by consultants can see for themselves what kind of a performance our industry is capable of delivering,” says GWW Chairman Patrick Politze. “Because nowhere else does the industry do a better job of presenting itself than here at PSI.”

The PSI Show returns to Düsseldorf January 9-11, 2018.