Announcement: EXPO 26

**October Discount Code:** **PROMOEQP-S3142**

The plans for PPAI EXPO 2026 are already underway. Here are some important dates to keep a tab on.

Monday, January 12th, 6 pm to 8 pm — PromoEQP at Border Grill

The plans for PPAI EXPO 2026 are already underway — and there is already an important dates to let you all in on.

Monday, January 12th, 6 pm to 8 pm — PromoEQP at Border Grill

PromoEQP is building off the success from last year’s Mixer by booking out Border Grill! This event will run at the end of Conference Day, the night before the floor opens on Tuesday, January 13th.

The design of this event is a social gathering for the Distributors of PromoEQP. Drinks and food (a lesson learned from from the Mixer) will be available. While we are not calling for an RSVP at this moment, we are saying that you will want to plan for this — and put it on your schedules now!

Why lead off Expo with a Social Event?… Obviously our industry operates best when it centers on its relationships. The problem is that we get together ignore what makes us all remarkable. Rather than connecting and engaging, we run events that make you sit and pay attention… That’s not what makes you successful OR what drives PromoEQP.

YOU are remarkable and successful because of YOU — and PromoEQP is simply seeking to be YOUR mirror. Therefore, we choose to engage! We choose to give ourselves the chance to learn more, connect better, speak freer, and actively listen… In essence, we are choosing to embrace what makes our Industry remarkable rather than ignoring it.

More information about this event and the PPAI Expo schedule will be coming out as we move to the end of the year. If you are curious, you can always reach out to me OR follow updates coming from Nadia Freitag on Facebook or LinkedIn.

PromoEQP’s goal to “Do Better” never stops… but it must stay vibrant and subtly tweak to address challenges. This is why PromoEQP will be focusing on doing what’s necessary to “Keep You Working”.

Keep doing what You do best… and keep demanding that PromoEQP gets better at supporting you. The industry needs it… Your client needs it… You deserve it!

Thanks again…

Jeremy Chacon

PromoEQP

312-392-1064

jeremy@promoeqp.com

Insider Information

**Visit the Strategic Supplier page for Benefit Details and Information**

PromoEQP Strategic Partnership

Market focused Content from Strategic partner BAGMakers.

The Cost of Selling Price

Pete Gleason, VP of Sales, BAG MAKERS

I recently attended a large meeting where organizers made some unfortunate cost-cutting decisions that negatively affected the overall experience.

This was an exclusive, annual event people look forward to attending, and many guests were upset about the changes. An industry peer I spoke with summed up the situation perfectly when he reflected that event planners “made a pricing decision without realizing the cost.” The cost in this case? Some very unhappy attendees beginning to question whether to sponsor or attend in the future.

Over the years, you may have seen this sentiment illustrated in ads or memes featuring a broken sidewalk or crooked house captioned with “Sometimes the low bid is not the best option.”

What about the phrase “buy price, buy twice”? As consumers, we have all experienced something similar at one point or another, haven’t we?

As salespeople, we are driven to get the order. When focused on earning the order, do we sometimes make the pricing decision without realizing the true cost? Has that cost been an unhappy—or even worse, a lost—customer?

How do we prevent this from happening?

One simple strategy is to work diligently to create more value for us in the eyes of our customers. This value does not always have to be just a quality product. It might be:

Response time.
Making an alternative recommendation to a customer interested in a product we can’t comfortably stand behind.
Demonstrating a creative approach to solving a customer’s branding challenge.
Choose the right vendor.

Remember, your success is measured by the effectiveness of your partnering vendor… Truly partner with us and use us as a part of your team. Ask us for case histories, ideas, and best uses for our products. Prioritize working with vendors who respond in a timely manner, stand behind their product, and make it easy for you to do business with them.

Slowly but surely, you will find real value in those partnerships, and in doing so, you will have miraculously created more value for you in your customers’ eyes.

PromoEQP has done some of the hard work for you by assembling a diverse group of suppliers who want to tell you their story.

Let us show you the ways to create value…. even if the price is a little higher. Give it a try, ask us. You and your customers are worth it

—
Pete Gleason, MAS
Vice President of Sales, BAG MAKERS

And, furthermore...

Upcoming Wednesday Webinars

And now for something new

Short Story, Big Picture:

Year Review – Audit Your Buyers

We are now in the 4th Quarter! I don’t mean to scare you, but rather excite you to action for a strong finish to 2025 and to plan for 2026. This is the time of year where we start to look back at what we did and audit our performance to make sure the next year is just as strong, if not better! We have all been through an audit in some shape or form; however, when was the last time you audited your buyers?

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

This process is exactly the kind of proactive thinking that separates order takers from true solution providers in the promo industry.

Here are three actionable audits a Promotional Products Distributor can do to better understand buyers’ needs and prepare for a stronger year ahead:

Review Past Orders for Patterns and Gaps
Look for repeat purchases:
- Which products or categories did your buyers consistently order?
- That shows their go-to comfort zone.

Identify gaps:
- Did they focus heavily on apparel but skip tech, drinkware, or sustainable products?
- Examine the purchasing signals that may indicate areas of interest for next year.
Spot seasonal trends:
- Did they order heavy in Q2 for summer events or spike in Q4 for gifting?
- Acquisition data supports identifying predictive patterns.
Evaluate Engagement vs. ROI Conversations
Go beyond the purchase order and ask what actually worked. Were there campaigns where products drove strong participation, retention, or new leads?

Compare quantity ordered vs. quantity used (leftovers can signal misalignment).
Use this insight to pitch higher-impact solutions (e.g., “Instead of 1,000 low-cost giveaways, try 500 premium items that align with your sustainability message.”).
Audit Buyer Habits & Preferences
Communication style: Did they respond faster to email, calls, or in-person meetings?
Buying cadence: Did they place last-minute rush orders or plan months in advance?
Budget behavior: Did they under-spend or max out budgets? Were they more price-sensitive this year than last?

_____________________________

Documenting these behaviors helps you meet them where they are—whether that’s building a planning calendar for proactive buyers or offering curated quick-ship options for reactive ones.

Put all this together in a simple Buyer Report Card (great idea, right? Click to download a FREE template). It positions you as a consultative partner and sets the stage for a more strategic conversation going into the new year.

Believe me… You got this!