Paul Bellantone is the president and chief executive officer of PPAI. As\na representative of the American promotional products industry, Paul visited\nPSI at the beginning of the year and spoke with us about the differences\nbetween the North American and European markets as well as future trends and\nthe benefit of membership in industry networks such as PSI and PPAI. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul, could you\nplease describe the current situation in the American promotional products\nindustry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The industry in the US continues to grow faster than the economy. More\nand more companies are using physical promotional products to communicate their\nbrand. While digital advertising continues to drive the most spend overall, the\npromotional products allow companies to build stronger one-on-relationships\nwith consumers. Companies are supporting their digital messages with physical\nproducts. Regardless of current trends, promotional products continue to be the\npreferred method of advertising. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Which are the\nsignificant differences between the American and the European Market?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The European market seems to be leading the North American Market in terms\nof design and social compliances, like sustainability, product responsibility\nand corporate social responsibility, overall. As I have walked around the PSI show,\nI have seen more companies here with that focus, whether it be sustainability,\nrecyclables or give back programmes. This has been a focus of PSI and the\nmarketplace is leading by a couple of years. The PSI show is a reflection of\nthat and we are just starting to talk about it more in the US market place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How important is\nthe PSI network for the European industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It is very important, because it gives cohesiveness and a unifying force\nand voice in an industry that consists of many small components. Having a PSI\nhere in Europe or having a PPAI in North America helps creating a strong industry\nout of many single and fragmented parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PSI has about 6,000\nmembers. PPAI has even more than 15,000 member companies. What is the most\nimportant benefit, a member gets from being a part of these networks?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I have always been amazed by this industry: how competitors talk and\nshare best practices. It is the collegiality, the networking and being part of\na unifying organisation bigger than your own. That\u2019s the real benefit. It is\nalso a sense of sharing challenges and opportunities with colleagues, which\nmakes being a part of the network so special. The network provides purpose and\ncommunity. Furthermore, PSI in Europe or PPAI in the States represent our\nindustries to outside organisations and make sure that our members know about\nthings like sustainability, legislative issues and safety issues may affect\ntheir businesses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s talk about\nthe products: There are always those that turn out to be bestsellers and even\nentire categories, which are always ahead. What are the most popular\npromotional products in America?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In our industry apparel accounts for approximately one third of the distributor\norder volume. Drinkware, writing instruments, business accessories and products\nthat support technology, like cases, flash drives or speakers are also the most\npopular promotional products in the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you had to\nmake a prediction: what would be the product trends for the next five years?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As our customers continue to become more aware of corporate social\nresponsibility and ask about safety, compliance or sustainability, I think that\nwill be the big trends that drive much of the product development in our\nindustry. I also see technology taking a larger role in how we reach and talk\nto our customers about products and our industry. To sum it up, I think we will\nsee large investments on compliance, sustainability and technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Would you mind\nsharing with us? What is your personal all-time favourite promotional product\nyou ever got?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I am fairly traditional in the products I use and value most. I\nappreciate good pens and a quality backpack. I use them every day and I always\nrecall the brands fondly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why should\nnobody miss to take part in PSI?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If promotional products are your profession, PSI is where you learn how\nto add value for your customers. Whether it\u2019s PSI or any other of the larger\norganisations or events like PSI: it\u2019s where you go to learn and make yourself\nand your company more valuable to your customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What are you personally\nlooking forward to, when you visit PSI?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n PSI is a leading indicator for what may be coming down the road for us\nin North America. Many of the trends in Europe show up in the States a couple\nof years later. The exhibits here are always impressive and products are presented\nwith a retail feel. Like walking through a retail store. The exhibits at PSI\nseem to be larger and merchandised in a professional manner. It is my hope that\nwe take a lesson from your exhibitors in this area! <\/p>\n\n\n\n PSI network\ncelebrates its 60 years anniversary this year. Is there something you would\nlike to say?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Congratulations on 60 fabulous years of industry leadership. We look\nforward to working with you for 60 more years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Paul Bellantone is the president and chief executive officer of PPAI. As a representative of the American promotional products industry, Paul visited PSI at the beginning of the year and spoke with us about the differences between the North American and European markets as well as future trends and the benefit of membership in industry […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":2876,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,365],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27632","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-promotional","category-psi-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n