Predictions for 2011 from the PPAI Expo

With the final day of The PPAI Expo in Las Vegas wrapping up, many industry experts are taking what they've seen and heard here and are thinking about what's to come for 2011. In order to get an idea of where the industry is heading, Promo Marketing asked suppliers and distributors what economic, product and industry trends they expected to see in the coming year.

The most often heard word among all those interviewed was "optimistic." Vendors and marketers alike expressed a great deal of confidence in a rebounding economy this year. "It's already proven that these first few weeks in January are solid," said Lea Robinson, vice president of sales and marketing for Staton Corporate & Casual, Dallas. "We think that even though the economy is still somewhat unstable, people are starting to not be so scared of purchasing and are getting back into selling and being creative and reaching out. I think it's showing in our sales, so I'm very optimistic and very happy."

Distributors were equally excited about the new year's prospects. "2011 is going to be a banner year for my company," said Scott Meade, owner of Princeton, New Jersey-based Meade & Associates. "My vendors are getting a lot smarter, they're getting a lot faster, they're getting a lot more technically savvy and social media efforts are over the topÑthey're going to bring us all into the 25th century."

Of course, the promotional products industry is nothing without the products, and Damian Want, COO for 99CentPromos.com, Tustin, Calif., had some predictions for the coming year. "I think there's going to be continued strength in the under $3 marketplace," he said. "I think there's still going to be an emphasis on utility, with drinkware, bags and things that you use in your everyday life."

"But I do think there's also going to be some return to luxury," he continued. "Companies such as Logomark will start to thrive as people move up the price chain, as more budgets come online and as companies like Logomark which are QCA-certified get a bigger share of the spend due to the hard work they've done creating a clean supply chain."