PPAI 2022: The Best Things We Saw at the PPAI Expo

January marked the first in-person PPAI show in two years and signaled a promising comeback for the promotional products industry. While there was certainly a lot to take in from the New Products Showcase and nearly 1,000 exhibitors, the HALO team hit the Mandalay Bay Convention Center floor bright and early to check out the latest and greatest in promo. It was great reconnecting with colleagues and friends, yet many were still unable to make the trip this year, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with some of the best things we came across at the 2022 PPAI Expo:

Does your pet go everywhere with you? Walks, hikes, outdoor events, and road trips? Then this ​​hybrid dog bowl-water bottle is a pet parent essential for wherever you are headed. The 100% BPA Free large capacity bottle and bowl ensures that you and your best friend stay hydrated and happy. Bond with your best friend and always remember that sharing is caring!

Hot cocoa is DA BOMB! What started as a viral TikTok trend has exploded into the mainstream during the holiday season popping up in cafes, fancy chocolate shops and were even written up in the New York Times! Made from the finest Belgian chocolate and filled with marshmallows, sprinkles and other delicious treats, Hot Cocoa Bombs are being used in promo to deliver a delicious break through food experience for employees, clients and anyone else who has a sweet tooth.

Do you dream of becoming the next big influencer or starting a podcast? Or maybe you just want to help your team up their virtual meeting game? Look good, sound good and stand out with McStreamy, a beautifully designed brandable kit which includes a 10″ light ring with an integrated phone holder and adjustable arm, and a studio-quality microphone. 

This is not your typical on-the-go food bowl for meal prep or snacks. It’s unbreakable, made sustainably with a secure lid and snug seal, dishwasher, freezer, microwave and even oven (up to 450 F) safe! It even has measuring lines to help keep you on track!

Hot coffee and a full charge…Cheers to that! As you can guess by the name, The Chi Charge Trio can do 3 things while on your desk; it keeps wirelessly charged devices powered up while regulating the temperature of hot and cold beverages. It even comes with a mug!

Stop putting bumper stickers on your laptops people! Tech tattoos are a great way to spread your message and increase brand awareness without damaging your gear. The vinyl tattoos are repositionable and can be removed without leaving residue. They are highly customizable, come in all shapes and sizes and are fun to include in swag kits or as a budget-friendly standalone direct mail piece.

The kitting space is exploding and with so many use cases, there’s just about a kit for anything you can imagine! While many companies are creating completely customized swag kits for their clients and employees, there is a plethora of pre-configured options available with lower MOQ’s and shorter lead times.

If you haven’t tried blue light glasses yet, you should. Blue light glasses feature lenses that limit exposure to blue light found in computer screens, cell phones, tablets some light bulbs and sunshine to reduce eye strain. What caught our attention with these glasses is the attachable magnetic UV 400 lenses so your eyes are protected both indoors at your desk and outside in the sun.

The outdoor industry saw a pandemic boom and firepits were one of the most in-demand categories. Solo Stove offers 6 different options for their smokeless fire pits and camp stoves, and the campfire is a great portable model for roasting s’mores in your backyard or keeping warm at a campsite. It’s easy-to-use, fires up quickly with just sticks and twigs and can have your company’s logo etched on the side keeping your brand in the forefront of customers’ and employees’ minds as they make special memories with friends and family.

A tech-enabled luggage tag that helps protect your identity? ReturnMe is the world’s largest global recovery company with offices in 3 countries and a recovery rate of over 80%! Gone are the days of trying to scribble your contact information on a small insert card. ReturnMe tags do not contain any personal information, instead each tag has a unique id # which is activated through a website. If lost, finders are motivated to contact ReturnMe and their recovery service will facilitate the return of the item from anywhere in the world at no charge.

With over 1,000 suppliers at the PPAI 2022 expo there is obviously thousands of more products we could have shared. If you want to see some more of our best of PPAI 2022, you can see them in our recent PPAI Expo Best of Show Lookbook, or contact your Account Executive for more information.

View The Lookbook