MiPPA’s Promotions That Roar! Show Hits New High

MiPPA's 2016 Promotions That Roar! show drew more than 1,200 distributors and clients.

The Michigan Promotional Professionals Association (MiPPA) brought industry distributors and suppliers together September 28 at its Promotions That Roar! Show. The annual members only, end-buyer  fall booth show was held at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions, in downtown Detroit.

The day began with a keynote presentation, “Coloring Outside The Lines: Creating a New Promotional Products Experience,” featuring Jeff Tobe M.Ed, CSP, that drew an audience of more than 320 attendees. Following the presentation, MiPPA Executive Director Paul Kiewiet, MAS+ surprised the crowd with a special giveaway of four authentic NFL items autographed by current Detroit Lions players.

Jeff Tobe M.Ed, CSP's keynote presentation, “Coloring Outside The Lines: Creating a New Promotional Products Experience" drew a crowd of more than 320 attendees ahead of the show-floor opening.

Also at the morning session, MiPPA introduced the five finalists for its “Great Lakes Supplier Rep of the Year”—Kent Getsee, Preferred Lines Marketing; Brian DeBottis, Starline; Kerry Schmock, Doyle Group; Andrea DeBottis, Flying Colors Imprinting; and winner Kurt McGovern, McGovern Marketing—and shared the accolades from their distributor nominators. The association also shared the results of its board election and recognized its current board members.

MiPPA’s current and incoming board members were recognized during the show, including (from left, back row) MiPPA President-Elect Paul Zafarana; Jim McCollough, Edwards Garment; Sue Kinch, Kitchen Happy; RAC Delegate Valerie Hayman Sklar, Corporate Speciaties; Immediate Past President Dave DeWitt, Advanced Marketing Partners; Patrick Kelleher, Headfirst Printing; MiPPA Executive Director Paul Kiewiet, MAS+ (from left, front row) Lisa Bascom, Amerifoam; Board Secretary Sarah Merrill, Mercury Promotions and Fulfillment; and Marci Schwartz Taran, The Bradley Company.

The show floor opened at 11 am, with the event shattering all previous trade show attendance records for the association with more than 1,200 distributors and their clients attending the show, which featured 112 booths, 94 companies and 113 exhibitor personnel. Several distributors also hosted clients in hospitality suites with views of the stadium.

MiPPA Immediate Past President Dave DeWitt and President-Elect Paul Zafarana pose with Scott Conover, Detroit Lions offensive tackle, 1991-1996

Lions mascot ROARY entertained attendees and visited booths during the show, while Detroit Lions cheerleaders were on hand for photo opportunities around the show. Adding to the experience, former Detroit Lions players Scott Conover and George Jamison visited the crowds, signed autographs and posed for pictures. They also signed footballs as a fundraiser for the show’s special cause, The Children’s Center of Detroit. The organization helps children and families through times of crisis. Donations of samples and the football project helped raise more than $1,500 in cash plus hundreds more in product donations.

Stefanie Poe and Cody Miller from SAGE get a photo with Detroit Lions' cheerleaders and the team's mascot, ROARY.

Throughout the day, tours of the stadium took guests to the press box, corporate suites and the locker rooms. Many distributors had clients’ names placed over the lockers as a surprise during the day. Due to a renovation project, visitors were not allowed on the field, but through the use of green screen technology, all attendees could get a photo of themselves “on” the field.