The Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY) and its members gathered at the Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe on September 14 for the regional association’s first indoor trade show in 19 months.

Donna-Jean Plante, CAE, SAAGNY’s executive director, described the mood as euphoric. “The positive energy was palpable. Exhibitors had smiles on their faces, as if they were children on Christmas morning, as they arrived to set up their booths,” she says.

The day began with an interactive educational session featuring PPAI President and CEO Dale Denham, MAS+, and SAAGNY President Rachel Levin engaging the 60-plus attendees in conversations regarding their businesses, supply chain issues, customer wants and needs, and how PPAI and SAAGNY can help them now and in the future.

The trade show followed in the Grand Ballroom. Knowing that there would be some distributor members who would not be able to be in attendance, SAAGNY arranged to have each exhibitor video their promo sales pitch. Those videos, once edited, will be placed on the SAAGNY website for distributor members to catch up with their favorite suppliers.

“Watching vendors and distributors reengaging, in-person, was incredible,” says Levin. “From our conversation with Dale Denham, to the trade-show floor, we, as a board, were extremely proud of the turnout and are looking forward to our next two end-user shows in October.”