You know that feeling when a promising deal suddenly goes cold? It’s not fun. You might hear a polite, “let’s circle back in the new year” or the prospect might tell you that they’re simply too busy to chat right now. Deals can stall for a variety o...

Most of us probably overestimate how good we are at active listening. In a sales environment, it can be especially challenging. As you juggle between different targets and clients, you might find yourself only half listening. As a result, you may mi...

Promo veterans - the ones who really know their way around a trade show - are all prepared to give you a couple tips about how to make it out of The PPAI Expo 2026 without feeling too fatigued. Advice like wear comfortable shoes or drink plenty of w...

One-third of PPAI 100 distributors report increased sourcing from non-industry or direct suppliers, according to the latest data from PPAI Research.Roughly half (52%) of PPAI 100 distributors see no shift, indicating that non-industry sourcing ...

Brian Stahl, co-founder and longtime operations leader at Michigan-based supplier STAHLS’ (PPAI 189660, Standard-Plus), passed away on November 22 in Wilmington, North Carolina. He was 79, according to Andrews Mortuary.Born and raised in the De...

Did you know that The PPAI Expo 2025 was officially a waste-free event with 91% of potential waste diverted from landfills? For an event of that size - with that many people attending and that much product, food and sheer stuff entering the grounds ...

Mentorship gets talked about a lot, but too often it’s treated like another HR initiative. The irony? Companies with mentoring programs, both formal and informal, see profits that are 18% higher than average.Seasoned promo pros have a real oppor...

My company is part branded merch agency and part marketing agency. It’s always interesting to reflect on how the momentum of each side of the business compares each year.In a year when budgets were slashed with economic woes abound, the promotio...

https://player.vimeo.com/video/1145960823?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479%22Find more on this week’s stories:New Bill Would Require American Made Products In National ParksThe PPAI Expo 2026 Keynotes Bring In...