At Promotions East, Cassandra Hayes found solutions she can sell.

The CEO of Upper Darby, PA-based Bodacious Promotions was among the distributors who said her time was well spent at the Oct. 2-4 regional industry trade show, which was produced by the Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY).

Exhibits opened on Oct. 3 at Promotions East. Photo courtesy of SAAGNY.

Held at Harrah’s Resort & Casino in Atlantic City, NJ, the event featured 187 suppliers exhibiting over two floors, professional education and special happenings that included a golf outing, pool party and guided yoga session. SAAGNY also held its annual awards ceremony, recognizing outstanding work, at the end of the show day on Oct. 3.

The number of exhibiting suppliers at Promotions East was up 15% compared to the prior year, while total square footage covered by the show rose 14%, according to organizers. End-users were able to attend with distributors on the event’s final day.

“It’s a show where there’s a lot to see and opportunities to learn, but it’s not overwhelming; there’s time to talk and make meaningful connections that can help everyone be more successful,” said Meg Erber, co-chair of SAAGNY Promotions East and an educator/sales leader with Top 40 supplier S&S Activewear (asi/84358).

‘Great Talking in Person & Seeing Things Up Close’

More than 1,300 distributors were pre-registered for Promotions East, and Hayes from Bodacious Promotions was one of those hunting the show floor for new products and fresh ideas. One thing that really caught her eye? The photo-realistic full-color print of a section of the Atlantic City coastline that decorated the show’s tote bag, which attendees received when checking in.

Hayes has a casino client that wants to promote a new extension of its building. She felt the client would want to do a similar large print of its building on potentially everything from bags to placemats to blankets. Hayes also liked a snack/sandwich/cosmetics bag with an all-over print from My Green Bag (asi/72679), a Canada-based supplier that produces a variety of bags with what company leaders say are sustainable fabrics.

“I have university clients that this will definitely appeal to,” Hayes said.

This snacks/sandwich/cosmetics bag from My Green Bag (asi/72679) is something distributor Cassandra Hayes says will appeal to clients that include universities.

Dan Grabon is the self-described “head moose” of Woodbridge, NJ-based Roaring Moose Promotions (asi/309241). It was his first time at Promotions East, and he was digging what he described as the many benefits of the in-person experience. For instance, his creative gears really started turning on potential solutions for clients after seeing first-hand decorating techniques from Top 40 supplier Spector & Co. (asi/88660).

“It’s great getting to talk to people in person and see things up close,” said Grabon. “You get a much better feel for things.”

Other distributors gave similar assessments. Jim Rauh, a Pennsylvania-based business development pro with Top 40 distributor Proforma (asi/300094), felt he found a winner in Win Local’s (asi/97233) NFC-enabled digital business card: Share Card. “Realtors, automotive, insurance – I can see all those types of clients being interested in this,” said Rauh.

This decoration isn’t leather. The look from T-Shirt Tycoon (asi/87000) was created with screen printing inks.

Lisa Jocelyn, a sales professional with Top 40 distributor Geiger (asi/202900), also had end-clients in mind as she discovered offerings new to her.

These included a decorating technique featured by T-shirt Tycoon (asi/87000) in which screen-printing inks are used on apparel to create lettering/graphics that appear to be leather. Simulated leather, T-Shirt Tycoon calls the look, and it’s been big with a range of end-users, particularly distilleries.

Jocelyn felt a certain multinational client of hers that operates across a range of industries would appreciate it, too. “I’ll be showing them this,” she said.

Endcaps, Eco & More

As evidenced by the diversity of products that caught distributors’ attention, there was an eclectic mix of items showcased across the two floors at Promotions East.

Some of these were highlighted in endcaps – displays that simulate a real-world setting and feature supplier products that would fit well in those backdrops. The endcaps were themed around concepts such as kitchen, the holidays and tailgating.

“It’s experiential,” said Erber. “It helps people envision how these products can actually be used in the real world. Ideas for clients come from that.”

The tailgating-themed experiential endcap at Promotions East.

S&S and decorating leaders Stahls’ (asi/88984) teamed up to add another experience element to proceedings. S&S was encouraging booth visitors to take a new T-shirt and hat, both produced from recycled plastics, to the Stahls’ decorating station; there the items could be swiftly adorned with prints using presses like the Hotronix Fusion IQ.

Picking up on the sustainability theme, more than a few suppliers were showcasing solutions that they said had eco elements. Drinkware supplier Gordon Sinclair (asi/57800) was going especially big in this regard. The firm already has about 60% of its line made from eco-friendly materials. Items include a tumbler, the 40 oz. LeGrande, which is made from recycled stainless steel and recycled polypropylene.

“As an industry, we have to focus more on sustainability, or we risk losing the spend of eco-conscious end-clients who will transfer their dollars to other mediums, like digital,” said Heidi Urban, Gordon Sinclair’s director of sales.

The 40 oz. LeGrande tumbler from Gordon Sinclair (asi/57800) is made from recycled stainless steel and recycled polypropylene.

Elsewhere on the show floor, distributors were checking out tech products. Preferred Nation (asi/79384) was pulling attention in this regard. Some showgoers were especially keen on the California-based supplier’s Duke, a leatherette journal/power bank with suede lining that features an external pocket where a smartphone can be placed and charged.

Apparel is promo’s biggest-selling category, and there was no shortage of it at Promotions East. Horn Legend, a Texas-based supplier, was featuring items that included dress shirts, polos and quarter zips. Certain of the button-downs had buttons matched to the color/patterns of the shirt, while some quarter zips and shirts had logo patterns decorating the internal collars in a classy, eye-catching touch.

The Wrist Disc from Aakron Line (asi/30270) can be worn as a bracelet/wristband or taken off and thrown like a flying disc.

The Horn Legend items are higher-end, with buyers being everyone from universities to prestigious golf clubs. Distributors with clients interested in an up-market look would find something end-clients would like in the line, said Horn Legend CEO Ash Thakur.

New products with a fun novelty element were on display, too. These included the Wrist Disc from New York-based Aakron Line (asi/30270). Made of silicone, the item can be worn as a wristband/bracelet, taken off and used as a flying disc (it does fly), or scrunched and squeezed as a stress toy. Available in six colors, the Wrist Disc can feature 360-degree imprinting. “It’s an excellent, inexpensive trade show giveaway,” said David Goldfarb, Aakron Line’s northeast regional sales manager.

Erber said organizers hoped the fourth-quarter show helps set both distributors and suppliers up for an excellent final three months of 2023. “Our hashtag is #FinishStrng,” she added, “and that’s exactly what we want for everyone.”

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