Gold Coast Promotional Products Association upcoming events

Tuesday Learning Lab: "2026 State of the Industry from ASI" (08/11/2026)

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:30:00 GMT

This presentation on the 2026 State of the Industry report from ASI Research will provide a comprehensive overview of the U.S. and Canadian promo industries, including top end-buyer markets and products, ongoing supply chain and tariff concerns, trends in the labor market, and a Q4 sales outlook.

Learning Outcomes:

Issues impacting promo in the U.S. and Canada.
Recent sales, product and market trends.
Predictions for Q4 and beyond.

About Nate:

Nate Kucsma is ASI’s senior executive director of research. Nate earned his MBA in Marketing from Rutgers University in 2007 and has over 25 years of research experience across a variety of industries. Nate joined ASI in 2014 and has partnered with his colleagues on many of the promotional product’s industry’s most influential studies, such as the annual Counselor State of the Industry study, the Global Ad Impressions study, and the European Market Sizing study.

About Sara:

Sara Lavenduski is executive director of client education & content at ASI. She joined the company in 2014 and has since won multiple awards for her coverage of best sales practices and market trends. Sara oversees industry education for ASI members, leads ASI’s Canada coverage and regularly contributes to reporting for ASI Research’s annual studies.

The Current: "Turn Employee Recognition Into A Contracted, Recurring Program" (08/19/2026)

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Welcome to The Current by GCPPA

Ideas are always moving. Markets shift. Customer expectations evolve. New technologies emerge. The most successful promotional products professionals don't wait to catch up—they stay current.

In today's competitive, price-conscious promotional products market, simply selling more of the same isn't a sustainable growth strategy. The strongest distributors are creating value-driven conversations that move beyond products and position branded merchandise as part of a client's long-term business strategy.

Join Bernie Borges, CEO of Fulfilled@Work Academy ™, Ray

Rodriguez, Vice President of Sales at Crystal D, and Tammy Wissell GCPPA Vice President & Professional Development Chairperson, for the inaugural session of The Current, GCPPA's new quarterly education series.

In this webinar, you'll discover how to transform branded merchandise from one-time swag orders into a funded, repeatable employee recognition program that delivers measurable value. Bernie and Ray will share a practical sales framework that helps you engage executive decision-makers—not just Procurement—and position yourself as a strategic business partner.

You'll walk away with:

A proven approach to selling employee recognition programs powered by branded merchandise.
Strategies for engaging C-suite decision-makers.
Practical tools you can begin using with clients immediately.
Complimentary resources to help you put your new sales strategy into action.

Attending this webinar qualifies you for 1 PPAI CEU credit.

Can't attend live? Register anyway, and we'll send you the recording so you can watch it whenever it's convenient.

Wild Wednesday Webinar: "The Industry Outlook: Insights, Trends and What’s Next" (08/26/2026)

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:30:00 GMT

From emerging market signals to broader industry developments, join us for a candid conversation about where the industry stands today, what deserves attention now and how the future of branded merchandise is being shaped. Through observations gathered from across the marketplace, we will share perspectives on the opportunities, challenges, and shifts influencing businesses throughout the industry.

This session will also provide an update on the direction of PPAI and the initiatives underway to strengthen, elevate, and advance the branded merchandise community. Hear about the broader forces shaping the industry's future and the role the association is playing in helping members navigate what comes next.

Key Take Aways:

Gain insight into the current state of the branded merchandise industry and the trends influencing growth and market performance.
Leave with a clearer view of what’s next and insights to help navigate the rest of 2026 and the industry’s future.
Receive an update on PPAI's strategic priorities and key initiatives for strengthening and advancing branded merchandise.

About the Presenter

Drew Holmgreen was announced as PPAI’s next president and CEO in December 2024. A dynamic, creative-minded leader, he brings more than two decades of experience in brand strategy, experiential innovation, and organizational growth. With a track record of delivering results across non-profit trade associations and for-profit sectors, Drew has earned recognition as a strategic thinker who drives growth and fosters an environment of collaboration and inclusivity. Most recently, he has served as Chief Experience Officer at Meeting Professionals International, where he oversaw seven core business units: marketing, creative strategy, membership, events, media, chapters, and volunteers.

Tuesday Learning Lab: "The Hidden Profit Formula" (09/08/2026)

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Most business owners are bleeding money they'll never see disappear. Not because of bad service or high prices. Because nobody ever showed them the hidden formula that separates businesses clients stay loyal to from businesses clients quietly abandon.

In this free training, Disney Business Consultant Vance Morris reveals the exact system he used inside Walt Disney World, and now uses across his own home service businesses, to turn ordinary clients into fiercely loyal fans who stay longer, pay more, and can't stop referring their friends.

Learning Outcomes:

Know exactly why your team's experience is silently sabotaging your client experience, and the shockingly simple fix most business owners never think to make.
Discover the ruthless truth about why "good service" is quietly killing your referrals, and the specific shift that transforms forgettable transactions into unforgettable, talked-about experiences.
Uncover the hidden systems breakdown draining your profits behind the scenes, and how to bulletproof your operations so your business runs flawlessly whether you're in the building or not.
Master the one marketing secret almost every business owner gets backwards, and walk away with a proven formula for turning the clients you already have into your most powerful, most profitable growth engine.

About the presenter:

Vance is a former Birth Control Factory Security Guard and turned that into a wild journey from Disney leader to bankrupt out-of-work executive to carpet cleaner to successful entrepreneur.

Today, he’s the guy businesses call when they’re bleeding profit and can’t figure out why. He delivers real-world systems that stop customers from quietly disappearing and stop money from leaking out the back door. He’s the only expert on the planet, who blends direct-response marketing with engineered customer loyalty and retention.

Wild Wednesday Webinar: "Win the Year Before it Begins. Strategic Planning that Turns Intentions into Results" (09/30/2026)

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Most professionals wait until January, if at all, to start planning the new year, and by then, they’ve already lost momentum. In this powerful session, Cliff Quicksell reveals why strategic planning before the year begins creates a competitive advantage. Learn how reflection, clear metrics, and intentional discipline position you to lead, not react.

Three Learning Outcomes:

Reflect Strategically on the Previous Year: Learn how to analyze what worked, what failed, and what opportunities were missed so you can build a smarter and more intentional plan for the year ahead.
Build a Clear, Measurable Strategic Plan: Understand how to translate goals into actionable metrics by reverse-engineering annual targets into monthly, weekly, and daily activities.
Create Momentum Before the New Year Begins: Discover why planning in advance provides a competitive edge, allowing you to enter the new year with clarity, confidence, and forward momentum while others are still trying to figure things out.

About the Presenter

Cliff Quicksell, CSP, MAS+, MASI, is a seasoned expert with over 40 years in promotional marketing. As a highly regarded speaker, trainer, and consultant, he has spent 40 years helping associations and national business groups enhance their marketing strategies, improve team motivation, and drive business growth.

Cliff holds the prestigious MAS+ professional designation and has worked with top-tier clients including Dixon Ticonderoga, Fruit of the Loom, and Geiger, among many others. He regularly speaks at industry events like PPAI EXPO and ASI Shows, earning accolades for his impactful presentations. A 48+ time PPAI Pyramid Award winner, Cliff has also garnered numerous honors, including PPAI’s Ambassador Speaker of the Year for six years and the Distinguished Service Award in 1997. In 2024, Cliff received his CSP, Certified Speaking Professional, designation. The CSP is held by less than 7% of all speakers globally.

2026 GCPPA FallExpo - EXHIBITOR (10/01/2026)

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:30:00 GMT

October 1, 2026

Fort Lauderdale Marriott North
6650 N Andrews Ave
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309

Join us for the exciting 2026 GCPPA Fall Expo, this year we're sticking to the tradition table top format to maximize the amount of attendees, and we're returning to the tried and true newly rennovated Ft. Lauderdale Marriott North.

SCHEDULE*:

September 30, 2026

3:00pm - 7:00pm - Exhibitor Set up (ballroom)
6:30pm - 8:30pm - Casually pre-show meet & greet (hotel bar)

October 1, 2026

7:00am - 10:00am - Exhibitor Set up (ballroom)

9:30-11:30am - GCPPA Membership & Awards Brunch (TBD)

11:30am-3:00pm - Show open to distributors and clients (ballroom)

*Schedule subject to change. All exhibitors and attendees will be notified with schedule changes that affect them.

By registering for this event, you acknowledge and agree to comply with the terms and conditions outlined in the 2026 GCPPA Fall Expo Contract.

2026 GCPPA FallExpo - DISTRIBUTOR (10/01/2026)

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:30:00 GMT

October 1, 2026

Fort Lauderdale Marriott North
6650 N Andrews Ave
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309

DISTRIBUTOR & CLIENT REGISTRATION

SCHEDULE*:

September 30, 2026

6:30pm - 8:30pm - Casually pre-show meet & greet (hotel bar)

October 1, 2026

9:30-11:30am - GCPPA Membership & Awards Brunch (TBD)

11:30am-3:00pm - Show open to distributors and clients (ballroom)

*Schedule subject to change. All exhibitors and attendees will be notified with schedule changes that affect them.

By registering for this event to agree to abide by GCPPA's governing documents and policies.