Top 40 distributor BrandVia Alliance Inc. (asi/145037) knows how to leverage its showroom.

The proof is in the hundreds of clients who have attended Reveal’19, the company’s annual open house held at its Swag Studio. More than 400 clients scheduled sales appointments over the last four weeks, touring the boutique-style showroom, networking with executives and exploring the freshly cultivated collection of products, trends and new-to-market retail brands. The overwhelming response led to BrandVia extending Reveal’19 an extra week past its initial March 9 end date to fit in more requested appointments.

“Client feedback has been tremendous,” Sam Brown, director of corporate marketing, said in a press release. “It’s great to see our community growing as clients invite colleagues to share in scoping out our latest discoveries and to talk about trends.”

The popularity of Reveal, which has grown in attendance by more than 30% every year since launching in 2017, signifies the increasing demand for face-to-face interaction in the digital age, executives say. Frustrated by communication over emails, phone calls and automated responses, more customers are seeking a personal touch from brands, they say.

BrandVia said it has tapped into that desire by creating its 1,500-foot exhibit space in San Jose, CA. The Swag Studio showcases a curated collection of industry and non-industry products and ideas. Updated in February and September, the space features corporate swag, gifts and gift experiences. The showroom gives first-time customers, as well as loyal clients, the ability to see and touch products, fueling a variety of unique promo solutions, while fostering and strengthening connections, BrandVia maintains.

A shout out to all our supplier partners, without whom #Reveal would be but a pipe dream. Grateful for you! #greatpartners #family #swag pic.twitter.com/POSCktXO9z

— BrandVia • CREATING BRAND ENGAGEMENT (@BrandVia) March 5, 2019

“Having a physical studio gives clients and prospects an opportunity to see well-executed campaigns that have been delivered for others,” Jim Childers, president of BrandVia, told Counselor. “It’s a space where enterprising individuals can come together. Clients find that their visit and conversations prompt fresh ideas, which can’t help but bring about even more engaging and innovative projects. We benefit too when our clients and prospects request new gift ideas. It’s a virtuous circle.”

With reported 2017 North American promotional product revenue of $55 million, BrandVia Alliance ranked 31st on Counselor’s latest list of the largest distributors in the industry. Other accolades that BrandVia has received in recent years include being named to Counselor’s Best Places To Work list and garnering Counselor’s Best Social Media Promotion.