The return of the PromoEQP HAPPY HOUR(s)

In partnership with Regional Associations, PromoEQP will be operating 5 in-market HAPPY HOUR(s) events.

A Distributor’s most important local partner is A Regional Association…

Which is why PromoEQP has created our Regional Initiative Program.

This initiative will allow us to continue building Social & Networking PromoEQP — while supporting the work being done at the Regional Associations level.

PromoEQP’s April & May Event Schedule

SAGE PromoLive

Thursday, April 15th — 9am to 5pm

www.sageworld.com/events/promolive
PromoEQP Speaking at 2:10pm CT
- Join PromoEQP’s Nadia Freitag on the SAGE Speakers Stage

San Antonio HAPPY HOUR(s) Social Networking following HPPS Texas Spring Swing

Houston Promotional Product Association (HPPA)

Wednesday, April 29th — Immediately Following Texas Swing Event

Shrine Auditorium — Wrap-Up and Networking
- Drinks and Appetizers

*** NOTE: Distributor entrance to the PromoEQP event begins AFTER the end of the Texas Spring Swing Event at 1pm CT. ***

Austin HAPPY HOUR(s) Social Networking following PPAS Texas Spring Swing

Promotional Products Association Southwest (PPAS)

Thursday, April 30th — Immediately Following Texas Swing Event

Brix and Ale — Wrap-Up and Networking
- Drinks and Appetizers

*** NOTE: Distributor entrance to the PromoEQP event begins AFTER the end of the Texas Spring Swing Event at 1pm CT. ***

Casino Night at Blackhawk

Rocky Mountain Region Promotional Product Association (RMR)

Friday, May 22nd

Social Gathering & Networking
- Drinks and Appetizers
Location, Dates and Times TBD

Aside from that, the EXPO Happy Hour was simply an incredible and energetic event! It sparked vibrant discussions, engaged networking, and positively put the nature of “RELATIONSHIPS” front and center in our Relationship Industry… And, when you create something that incredible, it deserve to happen more than once a year.

What is the PromoEQP Regional Plan?

Glad you asked!

The plan is to partner with Regional Associations to create 5 total Out-in-the-Market event for 2026. The first two are listed (PPAS and the Austin Texas Swing, and RMR’s Casino Night at Blackhawk), then the other 3 are right now in discussions to be finalized.

All of our plans and Event Updates will be communicated on the following places:

PromoEQP Event Calendar: www.getpromoeqp.com/events
PromoEQP Login Page Events Page: https://dashboard.promoeqp.com/
PromoEQP Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/promoeqp

Regardless… PromoEQP goes where our distributors tell us to go.

The goal with our Regional Initiative is to (1) Highlight a Regional doing good work… and (2) Connect with You. So don’t be shy… Let me know where I need to go to accomplish BOTH of these goals!

The goal is build… always with a focus on how we can best support and serve our distributor network. Ideas and suggestions are always welcomed.

Thanks again…

Jeremy Chacon

PromoEQP

jeremy@promoeqp.com

Insider Information

Over the years, our industry has been hit from every direction, and yet in 2025, we posted a record number of over $27 billion.

That speaks to exactly who we are. Our industry is strong, special, and resilient, and time after time, we have shown that we will overcome.

Is it easy? No. It takes being smarter, more proactive, more creative, more unique, and delivering amazing service and solutions to our clients every step of the way. The exciting part is that those things are in our control.

What we do matters. More than that, what we do is effective. And making sure our clients hear that message is imperative, especially as we continue crossing some rough terrain.

And, furthermore...

Upcoming Supplier Webinars

And now for something new

Short Story, Big Picture:

Expand Client’s Understanding of Eco-Friendly

Earth Day is one of the best times of year to help clients think differently about promo. But “eco-friendly” should not be loaded and political any more than it should be an over-priced fad. In reality, these resources must be viewed as a forward facing opportunity that helps customers identify sustainable products “stories” that fit their brand, support their message, and still leave room for healthy profit.

Today’s SHORT STORY is a piece to help you achieve your long-term goals, aka the BIG PICTURE.

Distributors who win with eco-friendly programs usually do three things well:

They educate… They narrow the scope… They position the value.

Educate clients on what eco-friendly really means

Many buyers use the term “eco-friendly” loosely. Some want recycled material, some want reusable products, and others simply want to check off a corporate jargon bingo card. Your job is to broaden that understanding so clients make better decisions and stop treating sustainability like a single product type.

Key Tactics:

Explain the difference between recycled, reusable, biodegradable, compostable, and sustainably sourced
Unload the “loaded” and shift the conversation from “green” to “responsible.”
Use Earth Day to START the story — not tell the whole story.

Curate a tight, profitable, eco-friendly assortment

You are making a mistake by presenting too many “green” options. That creates confusion and often pushes the buyer toward price shopping. A better approach is to build a curated assortment of proven items that are easy to explain, easy to decorate, and strong enough to protect margin.

Key Tactics:

Focus on a few high-performing categories
Choose products that tell a story that YOU connect with
Build tiered options to match different budgets

Position sustainability as a branding advantage

Earth Day is not just about the product; it is about the story behind the product. If you can help clients see sustainable swag as a branding tool, not just a purchase decision, you create a stronger reason to buy and a better reason to spend more.

Key Tactics:

Connect the product to the client’s values
Sell the campaign, not just the item
Offer supporting ideas that make the order feel complete

_____________________________

The best Earth Day programs are not built around the cheapest item with a recycled label. They are built around useful, well-positioned products that help clients communicate responsibility in a way their audience can actually feel.

For distributors, that means expanding the client’s understanding of eco-friendly, narrowing the product set to smart options, and presenting sustainable swag as a premium branding opportunity. Done well, Earth Day becomes more than a seasonal sale…it becomes a profitable way to build trust, add value, and protect margin.