The Promotional Products Association of Florida (PPAF) has announced finalists for its two membership-focused competitions, the EXPO Idol and the Brandy Awards.

In June, PPAF launched the Brandy Awards, a competition for suppliers and distributors, recognizing the best in promotional branding. This inaugural competition received numerous submissions for the three categories: Best in Class, Best Self-Promo and the Social Good.

The finalists for the Best In Class Award are Madden Branded Goods, Purple Frog Graphics, Safeguard Business Systems and The Marketing Bar. Finalists for Best in Self-Promo Award are HALO, Kool Stuff LLC, Perfect Imprints, Purple Frog Graphics and The Marketing Bar. The finalists for the Social Good Award are Kwixar, Purple Frog Graphics, Stumpies Marketing Group and Vantage Apparel.

The Brandy Awards finalists will be showcased at the Brandy Awards Ceremony on Friday, August 27, where the winners will be announced.

At its PPAF EXPO, the regional association is reintroducing EXPO Idol. In PPAF’s EXPO Idol, suppliers enter one of their best product ideas for an initial screening by distributor voters. The suppliers that advanced through the first stage gave a show preview webinar presentation on their product on August 19. There were eight finalists that have advanced to the final competition, which will take place on August 26 as the kick-off to the PPAF EXPO. The winner will be named PPAF’s EXPO Idol – Product of the Year. Finalists will give an eight-minute presentation providing real life case studies about their product proving while their item should be named Product of the Year. Distributors attending the event will vote on the different products at the event and the winner will be announced on Friday, August 27, during the Brandy Awards Ceremony.

The EXPO Idol finalists are: Koozie Group, The Bentcil Company, The Chest, Vu Line Direct, IMAGEN Brands, Hirsch Gift, Soardist, and AAA Innovations.