The weather may have been cold outside, but the atmosphere was warm inside during a recent show series.

The New England Promotional Products Association (NEPPA), Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY), Philadelphia Area Promotional Products Association (PAPPA) and Chesapeake Promotional Products Association (CPPA) recently concluded the second-annual Power of District 1 Show Series earlier this month, which welcomed 620 distributor attendees over four days.

NEPPA kicked off the week on Jan. 30 with its Winter Expo at the Sheraton Hartford South Hotel in Rocky Hill, CT, followed by SAAGNY’s Winter Showcase at the Crowne Plaza Suffern-Mahwah in Suffern, NY, on Jan. 31; PAPPA’s Winter Showcase at the Drexelbrook in Drexel Hill, PA, on Feb. 1; and CPPA’s Winter Expo at the BWI Airport Marriott in Linthicum Heights, MD, on Feb. 2.

Tropical-themed swag bags given out to distributors included a tote, journal, sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm and stickers.

The four events, with a tropical “Promos in Paradise” theme, each included exhibits, education in cybersecurity and vacation-themed prizes. Top 40 supplier NC Custom (asi/44900) and Rachel Levin, director of strategic accounts at Top 40 distributor Stran & Co. (asi/337725), won the two grand prize cruise packages sponsored by Promocations, an industry event and networking organization.

Christine Carpenter Gleason, president and show chair for NEPPA and brand marketing specialist at Top 40 distributor HALO Branded Solutions (asi/356000), says booth space sold out and attendance topped last year’s event. “The exhibit halls were filled with people, the energy was tangible and everyone seemed sincerely happy to participate,” she says. “The show and our affiliation with the other regional associations have proven to be so much more than anything we could have expected.”