The PPAI Expo 2025, held January 12-15, 2025, in Las Vegas, brought together over 16,000 professionals from across the branded merchandise industry, offering unparalleled opportunities for education, networking, and business development. Nearly 10,000 distributor attendees joined exhibitors in celebrating the energy, professionalism, and sustainability that have come to define the event.

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PPAI Expo 2025 brought together over 16,000 branded merchandise professionals in Las Vegas, NV for education, networking, and business development. The branded merchandise industry is set grow to near $27 billion in the U.S. for 2024. (Photo: Business Wire)

Kicking off The PPAI Expo Conference, PPAI CEO Drew Holmgreen shared preliminary promotional products sales growth numbers between 2.6% and 3.2% in the U.S. last year. The branded merchandise industry climbed past $26 billion in 2023, and PPAI Research’s latest data indicates the industry nearing $27 billion for 2024. The ongoing rise signals the continued growth of professional sophistication in the medium, as does an uptick in the percentage of attendees who attended educational sessions – the largest share in recent memory, according to show organizers.

This year’s Expo not only showcased the best in promotional products but also demonstrated the industry’s commitment to sustainability. In partnership with MGM Resorts, which operates the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, 90% of the waste generated during The PPAI Expo 2025 was diverted into sustainable outcomes. This collaboration highlights PPAI’s dedication to promoting responsible practices within the industry.

Drew Holmgreen, PPAI CEO, shared his impressions:

“I came into my first week with PPAI having a general scale of The PPAI Expo experience yet knowing fully the importance of it to our community. What I discovered was validation of my expectations around the energy, vibe, and mood of our attendees, volunteers, and staff – joy. This community has been incredibly welcoming and shared so many of their moments of joy with me.”

Holmgreen continued:

“As a critical component of any brand strategy, promotional products spread joy globally, because the people who make it happen bring joy to their work and the people they work with. I was impressed with the engagement the PPAI team built, and their success is evident by the hugs and smiling faces observed in Las Vegas. It was a great way to kick off 2025 for the promotional merch community.”

Ellen Tucker, MAS, CAE, Vice President, Revenue & Expositions, highlighted the event’s evolution:

“Over the past few years, PPAI has put a focus on elevating The PPAI Expo. We’ve focused on bringing the right audience together and driving engagement. So, it is rewarding to have heard from so many in our community that the energy at The PPAI Expo 2025 was unprecedented and electric. This has everyone looking forward to a strong 2025, which reaffirms that The PPAI Expo is the place to kickstart your business year.”

The PPAI Expo granted credentials to 22 working members of the media, highlighting the industry’s innovation, trends, and thought leadership. Final audited attendance figures will be released in the coming weeks.

The PPAI Expo continues to be the premier event for promotional products professionals looking to connect, learn, and advance their businesses. Stay tuned for details on next year’s event, scheduled for January 12-15, 2026, in Las Vegas.

For more information about The PPAI Expo and PPAI, visit ppai.org.

Andrew Spellman, CAS, of industry supplier Therabody and Immediate Past Chair of PPAI celebrated the increase in education session attendance.

“Success at The PPAI Expo is not just about what you achieve; it’s about the knowledge you gain and the connections you make. A great trade show is an opportunity to learn, share, and inspire, and The PPAI Expo 2025 was everything and more for me.”

About PPAI Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) is the world’s largest and longest-running international not-for-profit promotional products Association with a 122-year history of serving a community that has grown to some 15,000 corporate members. Through its Promotional Products Work! campaign, PPAI advocates for the branded merchandise industry, valued at $26+ billion in the U.S. alone and made up of over 500,000 professionals. For more information, visit PPAI.org.

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