This past week, I had the opportunity to attend Promocations as a guest of Bill Petrie and Brandivate—and I can confidently say, it was one of the most worthwhile industry experiences I’ve had the pleasure of participating in.
Promocations isn’t your average industry event. It’s not a trade show floor packed with business cards and buzzwords. It’s something more intentional. This program is built around forging real relationships between distributors, suppliers, and service providers in the promotional products space. Yes, there’s business being done. But more importantly, there’s community being built—and that’s what makes it powerful.
From the very beginning, the vibe was welcoming and relaxed. I brought my spouse as my plus one, and I was genuinely impressed by how inclusive and comfortable the entire experience was for both of us. It never felt like I was rushing off to meetings or like he was left waiting on the sidelines. Instead, we shared conversations, meals, and moments with incredible people—talking business, of course, but also learning about each other’s journeys, challenges, and goals.
As a PPAI board member, I also appreciated the time and space to connect deeply with members of our industry. We discussed not only our individual businesses but also where we see the industry heading. There were honest conversations about what’s working, where we need to improve, and how we can support each other as we all grow. These weren’t surface-level chats—they were productive, forward-thinking discussions that left me energized and hopeful for the future.
What stood out to me most was the balance Promocations strikes. It’s fun—but not a party scene. It’s productive—but not pressure-packed. It’s engaging—but not exhausting. And that’s exactly why it works. In this setting, people open up. They listen. They collaborate. And those are the kinds of experiences that stick.
If you’re a boutique or specialty supplier looking to get closer to your audience, or a distributor ready to break the mold and build a better book of business, I can’t recommend Promocations enough. It’s a place where relationships are formed, business gets done, and the future of our industry starts to take shape—in a setting that feels more like camp than a conference.
Grateful to have been part of it. Thank you Bill and Josh for your intuition and execution of something really great!