Exploring Innovation at the PPAI Expo & Inviting You to Join Us

January 19, 2025

Discover the Latest in Promotional Products and Be Our Guest at an Exclusive Showcase!

Last week, Matt and I had the incredible opportunity to attend the PPAI Expo in Las Vegas. For those unfamiliar, the PPAI Expo is the largest and longest-running trade show in the promotional products industry. This four-day event is packed with opportunities to learn, network, and explore the latest and greatest offerings from the industry’s leading suppliers.

The expo kicked off with a professional development conference, which provided invaluable classes and sessions designed to enhance our knowledge and skills. We participated in a variety of workshops that covered everything from innovative marketing strategies to emerging trends in promotional products. The insights we gained will undoubtedly help us continue to provide the best solutions for our clients.

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Once the show floor opened, the real excitement began. With thousands of exhibitor booths and hundreds of thousands of promotional products on display, it was like stepping into a creative wonderland. Suppliers from around the globe showcased their latest designs, products, and ideas, offering inspiration for campaigns and projects we can bring to our clients.

In addition to discovering new products, we took the opportunity to build relationships with both established and new suppliers. These connections are key to ensuring we have access to high-quality products and cutting-edge solutions that make a difference for the brands we work with.

Some highlights of the show included:

  • Innovative eco-friendly products that align with the growing demand for sustainable solutions.
  • Unique customization techniques that elevate branding to the next level.
  • Exploring international brands and gaining insight into global trends.

Attending the PPAI Expo is always an inspiring experience, and this year was no exception. We returned energized, with fresh ideas and a renewed passion for what we do. It’s exciting to think about how these learnings and connections will shape our projects in the year ahead.

Looking ahead, we’re thrilled to invite our clients to join us at one of three upcoming promotional product showcases. These events provide an incredible opportunity to see a wide range of products in person, brought together by our trusted suppliers. Pricing discussions are off the table, allowing you to focus entirely on exploring the latest ideas and innovations.


The three shows will be held during the work day on the following dates - Behind Your Design will cover your entry

  • May 15th in Grand Rapids at the Meijer Gardens
  • July 15th in Lansing at the Kellogg Center
  • September 17th in Detroit at the Lions Stadium


If you’d like to be our guest at one of these events, please reach out to let us know which date works best for you. We’d love to share this experience with you and help bring fresh inspiration to your promotional strategies.

Be Our Guest At A Promotional Product Expo - Meet our Suppliers

Step Up Your Branding with Custom Socks!

October 19, 2026
Looking for a promotional product that's fun, functional and a little unexpected? Custom socks are a great way to put your brand on display! Whether you're looking for employee gifts, event giveaways, customer appreciation gifts or something unique for your next promotion, branded socks are a creative way to make a lasting impression. And with the holiday season approaching, they make a cozy, thoughtful gift that's perfect for spreading a little extra cheer! With endless possibilities for colors, patterns and custom designs, socks can be as bold or subtle as you'd like. Add your logo, incorporate your brand colors or create a completely unique design that people will love wearing. Comfortable, practical and memorable, custom socks are a promotional product that puts your brand in step with your audience!

A Polished Pen with a Purpose

October 8, 2026
Sometimes, the simplest promotional products make the biggest impact! We really enjoyed working with Notre Dame Prep to create these custom red pens for The Amazing Shake competition. Featuring both the school's logo and The Amazing Shake logo with a sleek silver imprint, they're a simple way to showcase both brands. The Amazing Shake is a competition that helps students build important life skills, including communication, professionalism, and confidence. Branded pens are a practical way to commemorate an event like this. They're something attendees can take home, use again and again, and remember the experience long after it's over. Looking for a useful way to promote your next event? Let Behind Your Design help you create something memorable! Click HERE to get started!

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By Chelsea Mills • October 4, 2026
Old friends, favorite traditions and an awesome Homecoming weekend
Holiday catalog cover with two people carrying gift baskets outside a cabin, titled “The Heart of the Season.”

Christmas Gifts for Clients and Employees: Why October Is the Time to Start

By Chelsea Mills • October 2, 2026
Plan Christmas gifts for clients, customers and employees with Behind Your Design. Explore branded merch ideas and a timeline for ordering before the rush.

Inside and Out: Custom Umbrellas for Crim Fitness Foundation

September 30, 2026
A great staff appreciation gift should be thoughtful, useful and connected to the organization. For the Crim Fitness Foundation , custom reverse umbrellas combined function with standout branding. These 46-inch umbrellas feature full-color sublimation on both sides of the canopy, giving the Crim brand plenty of room to make an impact. Branded Inside and Out The outside features the Crim Fitness Foundation logo and brand colors. Open the umbrella, and custom artwork of runners making their way through Flint is revealed inside. Using colors from the Crim brand, the artwork celebrates the organization’s connection to running, movement and the Flint community. Full sublimation on both sides of the canopy allows branded umbrellas to go beyond a logo. Colors, patterns, illustrations and original artwork can become part of the design.

Custom Jerseys Put a New Spin on Spirit Wear

September 29, 2026
Custom jerseys are a fun way to take spirit wear beyond the standard T-shirt or sweatshirt. With fully customizable designs, they can be created around your school, team, organization or event and made to feel completely unique. At Behind Your Design, we can customize jerseys with your colors, logos, graphics, names, numbers and more. Full-color dye sublimation gives you plenty of freedom to create bold designs across the entire jersey while keeping the finished piece comfortable and wearable. We’ve created several custom jersey styles for our clients, including football and baseball jerseys for Michigan State University Fall Fest. Each offered a different look while giving MSU a memorable piece of custom spirit wear that still felt true to their brand.
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