Featuring Speaker: Tim Andrews, ASI
ASI President and CEO Tim Andrews will deliver a State of the Industry presentation featuring key takeways from ASI's Q4 and 2025 annual sales reports, insights on current pricing, tariff and growth trends and perspectives on how broader economic forces - including Michigan's strong manufacturing backdrop and competitive business climate - are shaping opportunities for promo professionals in 2026.
Key Takeaways / Learning Outcomes
-2025 sales preformance and real-world implications for 2026
-Market trends and sector opportunities
-Practical strategies for resilience and growth
Running a one-person business can feel like a three-ring circus: you’re the CEO, marketing manager, salesperson, admin, and janitor – all while you’re trying to build a brand that truly stands out. Bill Petrie, Founder & Creative Director of brandivate and longtime solopreneur, will pull back the curtain on what it takes to build a brand that matters without dropping all the balls you’re juggling. Through humor and real-life experiences, you’ll see firsthand how to make your brand anything you want it to be, and how to make that vision a reality.
Learning Outcomes - Reframe branding as an intentional act and not a visual exercise - Identify the specific reasons solopreneurs struggle to build and sustain a strong brand - Apply practical tools to build and protect a brand while doing everything within the business - Define what each participant wants their brand to be and align systems to support that decision
About the Presenter: With over 25 years of experience in the branded merchandise industry, Bill Petrie has helped countless organizations grow through bold, strategic branding and marketing. As the founder and creative director of brandivate, he combines curiosity, creativity, and a bit of irreverence to challenge and inspire others to achieve their goals. A PPAMS Hall of Famer and a 2024 PPAI Icon Award honoree for Distinguished Service, please join me in welcoming Bill Petrie.
Make waves in 2026 at the GCPPA PromoCon Regional Tradeshow — where focused connections create real impact. Bigger shows have their place, but regional shows deliver something just as powerful: access, engagement, and results.
PromoCon offers an affordable, high-energy environment where suppliers and regional reps can build authentic relationships with local distributors. It’s personal, productive, and purpose-driven — the kind of experience that turns conversations into long-term partnerships.
SHOW FORMAT: Tabletop show with 8' tables or 8' of rack space available. Show attendance is open to qualified promotional products distributors and their clients (end-users).
VENUE*:
Fort Lauderdale Marriott North 6650 N Andrews Ave Ft Lauderdale, FL 33309 (map it)
SCHEDULE*:
Wed May 6, 2026 2:00pm-5:00pm - Exhibitor Setup 5:00pm-8:00pm - Welcome Reception Thu May 7, 2026 7:00am-9:00am - Exhibitor Setup 10:00am-2:00pm - Show Open to Distributors and Clients *This schedule is subject to change. Exhibitors and attendees will be notified of any necessary schedule changes prior to the show.
Wed May 6, 2026
2:00pm-5:00pm - Exhibitor Setup
5:00pm-8:00pm - Welcome Reception
Thu May 7, 2026
7:00am-9:00am - Exhibitor Setup
10:00am-2:00pm - Show Open to Distributors and Clients *This schedule is subject to change. Exhibitors and attendees will be notified of any necessary schedule changes prior to the show.
MORE EXHIBITOR INFORMATION: CLICK HERE or Call 561-766-0877 or email rocky@gcppa.org
By registering for this event you agree to adhere to the rules, regulations, and policies of GCPPA and this year's exhibit space contract.
REGISTRATION LINK COMING SOON!
Wed May 6, 2026 5:00pm-8:00pm - Welcome Reception Thu May 7, 2026 7:00am-9:00am - Exhibitor Setup 10:00am-2:00pm - Show Open to Distributors and Clients *This schedule is subject to change. Exhibitors and attendees will be notified of any necessary schedule changes prior to the show.
Too many salespeople chase revenue while ignoring the one metric that truly sustains a business, that metric, profit. In this high-impact session, Cliff challenges the industry’s obsession with price and volume, revealing why protecting margin is a professional responsibility. Attendees will learn how to position value, defend pricing, and sell with confidence and purpose.
Learner Outcomes • Understand the True Cost of Discounting - Recognize how low-margin selling erodes long-term profitability, weakens positioning, and creates unsustainable client expectations. • Position Value Over Price - Learn strategies to communicate expertise, creativity, and consultative insight so clients see the value beyond the product itself. • Adopt a Profit-First Sales Mindset - Develop the confidence and discipline to protect margins, walk away from unprofitable business, and focus on opportunities that sustain both the business and the families it supports.
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.
In today’s competitive promotional products industry, being good at what you do is no longer enough—you need to be known for it. Visibility drives opportunity. In this session, Kirby Hasseman introduces the TARGET Personal Branding Framework, a simple and practical system designed to help professionals move from being invisible in their industry to becoming influential voices their customers trust. Participants will learn how to define their ideal audience, attract the right people, expand their reach through consistent content, confidently ask for opportunities, and turn customers into enthusiastic brand ambassadors. This session focuses on practical steps that sales professionals, marketers, and industry leaders can immediately implement to grow their visibility, credibility, and business opportunities.
Learning Outcomes - Define their ideal audience and craft messaging that resonates with the right customers instead of trying to reach everyone. - Build a consistent personal brand presence using content and visibility strategies that increase reach and industry influence. - Apply the TARGET framework to attract opportunities, confidently ask for business, and turn customers into enthusiastic brand advocates.
About the Presenter: Kirby Hasseman is the founder and CEO of Hasseman Marketing & Communications, a full-service branded merchandise and marketing agency based in Coshocton, Ohio. With over 20 years in the promotional products industry, Kirby has built a reputation for helping businesses use branded merch strategically—not just as giveaways, but as powerful tools for connection, loyalty, and growth.
Most salespeople view packaging as an afterthought, a simple container for the product. In reality, packaging is a powerful branding tool that elevates perception, enhances the client experience, and dramatically increases margins. In this session, Cliff Quicksell reveals how creative packaging transforms ordinary promotions into memorable brand experiences.
Three Learning Outcomes: • Recognize Packaging as a Strategic Marketing Tool Understand how packaging influences brand perception, emotional engagement, and the overall customer experience. • Identify New Revenue and Profit Opportunities Discover how adding creative packaging solutions can increase order value, differentiate proposals, and significantly improve margins. • Position Packaging as a Value-Added Solution Learn how to confidently present packaging ideas that move the conversation away from price and toward brand impact and creativity.
Gold Coast Promotional Products Association
t. 561-766-0877f. 931-695-5441