The Ultimate Convention Checklist for Promotional Product Pros

Your Gateway to Industry Growth

Imagine walking into a vast hall buzzing with the energy of thousands of passionate professionals. Every aisle is a new findy, lined with innovative gadgets, stylish apparel, and creative solutions you’ve never seen before. This is a promotional products convention, the industry’s essential gathering point where professionals connect to find new products, forge powerful supplier relationships, and get a look at the future of marketing.

Whether you’re a distributor from Austin seeking fresh merchandise for tech clients or a supplier looking to connect with new partners across the country, these events are the central hub for business growth. They are the physical manifestation of a vibrant digital industry, offering a tactile experience that no website can replicate.

Major promotional products conventions include:

• The PPAI Expo – North America’s largest show with 10,000+ attendees in Las Vegas
• ASI Shows – Regional events in Orlando, Fort Worth, and Chicago with hosted-buyer programs
• NATCON – Canada’s premier industry event featuring 1,100+ distributors in Toronto
• PSI Trade Show – Europe’s leading promotional products fair attracting 11,000+ visitors

The promotional products industry is valued at a staggering $26.6 billion, and these conventions are the engines that power its growth. They are critical platforms for networking, education, and sourcing. As one distributor noted after attending an ASI event: “I was a little nervous being out of the office for a few days but this was time well spent. The event was educational, informative and highly entertaining. I will be doing business with at least 80-85% of the suppliers I connected with.”

Why attend these events? The benefits are tangible and immediate. You can find unique, innovative products by physically touching and testing them, an experience that’s impossible online. You build real, face-to-face relationships that foster trust and lead to long-term, profitable partnerships. And you gain invaluable insights into emerging trends like sustainability—exploring products made from recycled ocean plastic—and technology integration, such as apparel with embedded NFC chips. In fact, over 75% of distributors surveyed from NATCON 2022 placed high value on attending these industry gatherings for these very reasons.

I’m Luke Sanders, CEO of RiverCity Screenprinting & Embroidery, and over my 15+ years leading our operations in Central Texas, I’ve seen how attending a promotional products convention transforms business. These events have been instrumental in helping us grow our revenue fivefold. For instance, at a recent show, we finded a new direct-to-film printing technology that allowed us to offer vibrant, durable designs on performance fabrics—a major request from our clients in the Austin and San Marcos areas. This connection, made in a ten-minute conversation on the show floor, directly led to a 20% increase in our custom apparel orders that year.

To turn show-floor momentum into measurable growth, go in with a plan and leave with a playbook. Here’s the simple framework we use at RiverCity Sportswear:

• Define 3–5 outcomes before you go (for example: meet 15 qualified suppliers in apparel, drinkware, and tech; source 10 new eco options; capture 50 current price points).
• Pre-book 10–12 appointments using the show’s scheduling tools and map your route to reduce backtracking on the floor.
• Build a “must-touch” product list for your top local clients in the Austin-San Marcos corridor (universities, breweries, tech startups, construction, nonprofits) so every stop is purposeful.
• Collect samples and compliance details along the way (color swatches, material specs, test reports, ASI/PPAI/SAGE IDs) to speed supplier onboarding after the show.
• Schedule 72-hour follow-up sprints with templated recap emails, quote requests, and next-step tasks; track wins and gaps to optimize your next convention.

Basic promotional products convention glossary:

• Supplier: A company that manufactures, imports, or decorates promotional products for distributors to sell.
• Distributor: A company, like RiverCity Sportswear, that works with end-user businesses to source, design, and sell promotional products.
• End-User: The final client or company that uses the promotional products for their marketing, events, or internal branding.
• ASI/PPAI/SAGE Number: A unique identification number assigned to suppliers and distributors by industry service organizations, used for verification and transactions.
• custom logo fleece blankets
• custom logo giveaways
• custom promotional drinkware

Major Promotional Product Trade Shows in North America

When it comes to promotional products convention events, North America hosts some of the most dynamic and influential gatherings in the industry. These aren’t just ordinary trade shows—they’re vibrant ecosystems where innovation meets opportunity. Attending is a strategic decision. Do you need the sheer scale and diversity of a national mega-show, or the targeted, intimate connections of a regional event? Each format offers unique advantages for growing your business.

Think of these events as the heartbeat of our industry. From the glittering lights of Las Vegas to the busy energy of Toronto and the regional power of Fort Worth, each convention brings its own unique flavor and focus to the table, creating distinct opportunities for distributors and suppliers alike.

Convention	Size & Scale	Primary Audience & Focus	Unique Features	Key Dates & Locations (2025/2026)
The PPAI Expo	10,000+ attendees, 1,000+ exhibitors	Distributors, suppliers, industry professionals	The Pitch competition, comprehensive professional development	January 13-16, 2026 – Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay
ASI Shows	Regional focus, multiple locations	Hosted-buyer events, regional connections	fASIlitate networking, ConneX platform, celebrity keynotes	Orlando (Jan), Fort Worth (May), Chicago (Aug)
NATCON	1,100+ distributors	Canadian market focus, PPPC members	Client Day events, Supplier Sip & See Tours	Toronto – Annual event

The PPAI Expo: The Industry’s Largest Event

The PPAI Expo stands as the undisputed giant of North America’s promotional products landscape. Picture this: over 10,000 attendees and nearly 1,000 exhibitors converging on the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas each January. It’s a city within a city, dedicated entirely to promotional products, where you can find everything from high-tech gadgets in the tech pavilion to the latest sustainable apparel in the eco-friendly zone. It’s the Super Bowl and New Year’s Eve rolled into one spectacular industry celebration.

What makes this promotional products convention truly special isn’t just its size—it’s the depth of opportunity. The professional development conference runs alongside the trade show, offering dozens of sessions across tracks like Sales & Marketing, Business Strategy, Corporate Responsibility, and Technology. You can learn anything from mastering social media for your promo business to navigating complex international compliance laws.

Then there’s The Pitch—the industry’s premier competition. Imagine a ‘Shark Tank’-style showdown where seven finalists present their most innovative product solution to a real-world client campaign challenge, live on stage. It’s a thrilling showcase of creativity under pressure and a fantastic source of inspiration.

Ready to join the action? The PPAI Expo 2026 promises to be bigger than ever, and you can register for PPAI Expo right now to secure your spot.

ASI Shows: Connecting the Industry Coast-to-Coast

While PPAI Expo brings everyone to Vegas, ASI Shows take a different approach—they bring the convention experience directly to you. With events in Orlando, Fort Worth, and Chicago, ASI understands that not everyone can make the trek to Nevada every year. This model is particularly valuable for businesses in hubs like Central Texas, as the Fort Worth show brings the national industry right to your doorstep, minimizing travel time and maximizing relevant connections.

These regional events focus heavily on hosted-buyer programs and intimate networking. The fASIlitate networking sessions are a cornerstone of this approach. These are structured, one-on-one appointments where pre-vetted distributors are matched with suppliers for a series of short, highly productive meetings. It’s like speed-dating for business, ensuring you connect with the people most relevant to your needs.

What really sets ASI Shows apart is their blend of in-person and digital tools. The ConneX platform complements the physical event, allowing attendees to schedule meetings and browse exhibitors before, during, and after the show. Combined with a full Education Day and celebrity keynote speakers who bring fresh perspectives, ASI creates a powerful, accessible, and highly efficient business-building experience.

Each location offers its own regional flavor, making it easier to connect with suppliers in your specific market. Register for an ASI Show and experience the difference that regional focus can make.

NATCON: Canada’s Premier Industry Event

Our neighbors to the north know how to throw a promotional products convention too. NATCON, hosted by the Promotional Product Professionals of Canada (PPPC), brings together over 1,100 distributors in Toronto. While large, it’s known for a collaborative and community-focused atmosphere that many find more conducive to forming deep, lasting partnerships.

The Canadian approach emphasizes relationship-building through unique features. Client Day is a standout, allowing distributors to invite their key clients to walk the show floor. This powerful sales tool lets end-users see and touch the products firsthand, changing the distributor from a salesperson into a trusted consultant. Meanwhile, Supplier Sip & See Tours create relaxed, small-group environments for meaningful conversations, breaking down the formal barriers of a traditional booth visit.

NATCON proves that a more intimate setting can foster deeper connections. For U.S. businesses, it’s also a fantastic gateway to understanding the Canadian market, finding unique product lines, and building cross-border partnerships. Learn more about this welcoming event at NATCON by PPPC and find out why so many American industry professionals make the trip north each year.