Estimated Read Time: 6 Minutes

PPAI’s Las Vegas Expo is one of (if not the biggest) tradeshows for the Promotional Products industry.

It takes place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center from January 13-17 and each year it has grown bigger and bigger.

We’ve been attending for so many years, we’ve lost count and each year we see the same thing – a lot of stuff.

That’s the point of this Expo, so that’s not necessarily a bad thing. But when you’re walking through row upon row, aisle upon aisle, you start to just glace down the rows. However, when you do that, you start missing some of the exhibitors tucked away, out of eyesight.

Furthermore, we all know that over time, the products begin to blur, your swag bag gets fuller, and you start to miss your comfy bed.

Before we get started on what makes this PPAI Expo so unique, we’ve put together 5 expo tips – enjoy.

5 Expo Tips

No matter if you’re an avid runner or a couch potato, there is a lot of walking and being on your feet. So, be smart and don’t wear brand new shoes or the extra high heels that you can barely walk in. In this situation, comfort is king.

Some people like to take notes on one of the notebooks they receive. Others like to keep track on their phones. If you’re the type that likes to use tech, here are two ideas:

A) Do you have Snapchat? Did you know that you can take photos of products and then make notes on the photo? Just save your photo and voila! I suggest having the company name/supplier in the photo too so you won’t have to ask around and track down the product later – that is just wasted time.
B) Take photos on your phone. When you come to a booth/supplier you like, take a photo of the company name, and then take photos of the products you like. Take notes on the photo (some phones allow this), take notes in the notes section of your phone, or use your handy dandy notebook, however you prefer. But be sure to keep the pattern of taking the photo of the company/supplier name before taking product photos so you will always know where the product came from when you want to go back and recommend that product to a client. I also suggest getting their contact info in the company photo, but if you can’t then make their contact info the second photo. Now you don’t have to take extra time to research a phone number, email, or website. If they don’t have the usual “contact us” up then just take a photo of that business card you’re probably going to lose in your giant swag bag anyway.

3. Stay healthy.

Drinks are expensive there, so be smart and bring your own to the party. Plus, you’ll be staying healthy and hydrated. If you have dietary restrictions, want to save a bit of money, or want to eat a bit healthier, bring some snacks. You can grab a cab and stock up with snacks and other goodies from the grocery store before the expo starts or bring some on the plane with you, just remember that it’s good to keep your energy up. Stay healthy this Expo.

Many suppliers, like Bruce Fox, allow for mini meetings at their booths. So take the time to meet and chat with supplier partners or suppliers you want to get to know better. Plus, this is the time to network with fellow professionals, so don’t just fly through the Expo without meeting and getting to know others. Be sure to attend meet & greet events, the educational seminars, and the other various opportunities to network.

When attending Expos and other events like these please don’t come in just looking for the latest fidget spinner; instead, you need to keep an open mind. Look for opportunities for your clients. Look at how you can expand your business. Take in what others say - does any of it resonate with you, your sales practices, or your clients? Or maybe you’re asked about disrupting what you do now – spicing things up is not a bad thing in this industry, especially when many are fighting over price. No matter what, please keep an open mind; you never know what you’ll glean from all of these fabulous resources.

Something New for the New Year in Las Vegas

Las Vegas has seen free samples, screen-printing shirts on the spot, and plenty of #instagrammable photo walls.

However, have you ever seen a true craftsman at work? Someone creating a custom piece in front of your eyes?

Meet, Jered. Literally. You can come meet Jered at Las Vegas next week.

At booth 3675, you will see a variety of things.

One of which will be Jered working on a project.

We’re bringing some of our shop from New Albany, Indiana to Las Vegas, Nevada.

We want to show you that we aren’t one of those countless companies in our industry with their manufacturing plant in another country, no, we are right here in the USA.

And we still use many of the forgotten craftsman arts and are craftspeople true to our core.

Want to meet Jered, our VP of Sales and Marketing, and one of our Relationship Managers? You can reserve a meeting time by reaching out or you can just stop by and chat.

Get an insight into how we do things at Bruce Fox by stopping by our booth 3675, near the Beer Garden in the back.

Have a great time this Las Vegas!

Kristina Hublar is your friendly neighborhood Marketing Specialist at Bruce Fox, Inc., which means she is the person behind the keyboard for the social media, emails, the website, and other marketing efforts. In her spare time, you’ll find her bobbing along to music while crafting, spending time with loved ones, or with her nose in a book.