It’s hard to believe it’s already been a month since The PPAI Expo returned January 10-13, represented a renewed opportunity for distributors to get their hands on the latest and greatest merch from industry suppliers, and naturally every year certain products earn a fair amount of buzz.

For a statistical look at what was hot during the industry’s largest and most important trade show week, we went to PPAI’s technology partner, SAGE, to find out which products and product categories were hottest in searches as compared to their average search volume over the 52 previous weeks.

The results suggest some interesting revelations. Maybe it’s not surprising, for instance, that the category of trade show booths saw a 76% relative upswing, with the major show signaling a return to more in-person events this spring.

Naturally some products making it to the top of the list were not more essential than ever before—such as forks, which experienced a 1,649% relative upswing—and may be explained by a handful of searchers seeking out products for a particular campaign or two. (Though we’d like to think that the 120% increase in hockey puck searches came from distributors in attendance at the Vegas Golden Knights’ matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs at T-Mobile Arena, just down the strip from Mandalay Bay Convention Center, on Jan. 11.)

SAGE and PPAI Media also identified some of the particular products with the highest relative search gains compared to the previous 52 weeks.


A classic look like the Port Authority Silk Touch Performance Long Sleeve Polo Shirt is always in style, and with milder temperatures coming in spring, it’s a versatile option for a wide range of temperatures, easy to layer, but also easy to roll up the sleeves so recipients can get to work.
SanMar / PPAI 110788, S16 / www.sanmar.com


Small enough to carry in your pocket and equipped with a magnetic clip that allows the user to place it on a metal surface for easy mounting while working with both hands or when not in use, the Pocket Work Flashlight (10 SMD) is lightweight, easy to use and potentially really important to have when spring storms knock out the electricity.
Starline USA, Inc. / PPAI 112719, S10 / www.starline.com


Flashlights come in just about all sizes, of course, but one of their most useful purposes is as a keychain accessory to make it easy to find a keyhole on your car door or your home’s front door when it’s dark. Few people would ever think to buy such a gadget for themselves, making the Bright Shine LED Key Chain an effective promotional product.
Ariel Premium Supply, Inc. / PPAI 161650, S10 / www.arielpremium.com


Being one of the first major professional events each year, The PPAI Expo has the benefit of setting trends for the entire calendar of conferences and trade shows in the year to come. Catching the eye of some distributors serving that market was the Durahyde Tech Padfolio, a tablet holder with a nifty interior organization panel featuring stylus or USB memory ports.
PCNA / PPAI 112361, S13 / www.pcna.com


With temperatures set to rise in the coming months and more people taking up outdoor activities than before the start of the pandemic, a key trend at The PPAI Expo was the emergence of functional outdoor gear and apparel, such as the On-The-Move Touch-Thru Activity Waist Pack, which comes equipped with a water resistant zippered pouch to protect (and allow the use of) a smart phone.
Ariel Premium Supply, Inc. / PPAI 161650, S10 / www.arielpremium.com