Expo Inc

Greetings from a sunny, yet surprisingly cold, Las Vegas! I'm here at the PPAI Expo 2011 in Las Vegas for the third year straight, though this time I was able to make it up a day earlier than normal to attend a few education sessions. It's my first time attending any industry classes, so I thought it might be cool to share some of my notes and thoughts from the sessions.

New from PPAI Professional Development: live streaming of top education sessions!

"It used to be that if it happened in retail, it happened in our industry a year or two later," said Lea Robinson, vice president of sales and marketing for Staton Corporate & Casual, Dallas. "But today, most manufacturers are decreasing the gap."

SHANGHAI, China - The World’s Fair may have lost the luster it brought decades ago to world capitals like Paris. But China has dusted off the concept in an attempt to give its second city, Shanghai, the same coming-out party that the 2008 Summer Olympic Games were for Beijing.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36865505/ns/world_news-the_new_york_times/

Chesapeake Promotional Products Association (CPPA), Specialty Advertising Counselors of Delaware Valley (SACDV), Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY) and the Northeast Representatives Association (NERA) announce 2011 show dates.

In order to aid members in product safety compliance efforts, Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), Irving, Texas, announced it has selected Specialized Technology Resources (STR) as an authorized business partner to provide product testing services to PPAI members.

St. Paul, Minnesota-based Crystal D, a leading supplier of corporate awards and plaques, announced the launch of its D TV Web page on March 31. The new Web page features a variety of videos that educate distributors about Crystal D awards and give creative award ideas, as well as prove the impact of recognition on an organization.

Selco, a Tulsa, Oklahoma-based promotional supplier company, announced it was the recipient of a plaque of gratitude from the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation of Oneida, Wis.

Beacon Promotions Inc., New Ulm, Minn., was recognized as an Outstanding Supplier by Newton Manufacturing, Newton, Iowa, during the 2009 selling season.

Scott E. Siegel, MAS, president of R.S. Owens & Company, Chicago, a 72-year-old privately held manufacturer and distributor of recognition awards and gifts, has been named chairman of the board of Promotional Products Association International (PPAI).