iPROMOTEu (PPAI 218870, Platinum) – the No. 11 distributor in the PPAI 100 – has announced a series of leadership promotions and organizational enhancements, which went into effect on March 13.

As part of this evolution, all operations across iPROMOTEu and AIA Corporation, which was acquired by the former in September, will be unified under the iPROMOTEu brand and leadership team beginning April 1.

Here are the executive promotions:

• Joe Hoffmann has been promoted to COO
• Laura High has been promoted to senior vice president of marketing
• Steve Gardner has been promoted to senior vice president of business development
• Tammi Ouillette has been promoted to vice president of HR

These leaders, along with CFO Nancy Schmidt; Dave Saracino, senior vice president of affiliate sales and support; Dave Kneram, senior vice president of technology; and Rich Berg, senior vice president of sales operations and distributor exchange, will continue to report directly to CEO Lori Bauer, a member of the PPAI Board of Directors, as members of the iPROMOTEu executive leadership team.

Their expertise, vision and unwavering commitment to our mission make them the ideal team to guide us through our next chapter as a unified company.”

Lori Bauer

CEO, iPROMOTEu

“I’m incredibly proud of the leadership team we’ve built and the meaningful impact they continue to make, both within iPROMOTEu and across the industry,” Bauer says. “Their expertise, vision and unwavering commitment to our mission make them the ideal team to guide us through our next chapter as a unified company.”

Even More Promotions

In addition to bolstering executive leadership, iPROMOTEu promoted several staff members to new leadership roles, including:

• Nicki Staats to vice president of vendor management
• Melissa Maroszek to manager of vendor management
• Laurie Crowder to director of operations
• Ryan Carney to senior manager of operations
• Dawn Miller to senior manager of virtual assistants and sales support
• Nicole Ridlon to senior manager of affiliate onboarding and training
• Eric Porter to director of technology product management
• Jeremy Judnic to senior IT infrastructure manager
• Larry Hackney to senior technology product manager
• Carrie Lewis to creative and brand director
• Stephanie Carey to senior digital marketing manager
• Ted Janssen to senior financial analyst FP&A
• Angela Johnson to senior HR manager
• Ed Edgecombe to office manager, Wayland
• Kerri Pankow to office manager, Appleton

As part of the Wayland, Massachusetts-based company’s structural enhancements, iPROMOTEu has created a dedicated operations department focused on process alignment and system harmonization. Several team members have also taken on broader responsibilities to further strengthen integration, technology, marketing strategy, affiliate success and cross-functional collaboration.

“Our goal has always been to empower independent distributors to grow their businesses with confidence and support,” Bauer says. “With a unified team and a bold future vision, iPROMOTEu is well-positioned to lead the promotional products industry forward.”

Written by: John Corrigan

Published with Permission from PPAI

Vantage Apparel, the foremost supplier of custom-branded apparel known for its award-winning decoration and integration capabilities, celebrates 20 years of its Vansport line. Performance wear has become a staple in both the corporate and casual apparel markets, and no collection embodies this evolution better than Vansport by Vantage Apparel. Originally introduced as a moisture-wicking polo line, Vansport has expanded over the last two decades to include a full range of performance-driven styles designed for versatility, comfort, and durability.

"Performance wear was trending—its permanence after twenty years speaks for itself," said Ira Neaman, President of Vantage Apparel on the inspiration behind launching and the continued success of the Vansport line.

Since its inception, Vansport has expanded beyond its signature moisture-wicking polos to include a comprehensive collection performance-driven styles, including ¼ zips, full zips, and woven shirts. What sets the line apart is its commitment to advanced features like moisture-wicking, UV protection, and spandex-enhanced flexibility, ensuring all-day comfort.

Designed to appeal to all generations and lifestyles, the Vansport line seamlessly blends business and casual wear—a polo perfect for the golf course can be just as easily layered under a ¼ zip for the office or paired with jeans for weekend errands.

Vansport’s journey began with styles like the men’s and ladies’ cotton/poly blend polo, the polo with collar-edge trim detail, and the cotton/poly blend mock turtleneck, as pictured in order below. The collection has since evolved to include Vansport Pro, introduced in 2015 as a premium performance line featuring sublimated polos with moisture-wicking, spandex, UV protection, and antimicrobial properties. The Vansport Pro Tonal Micro-Stripe polo, which was part of the original Vansport Pro launch, remains an active best-seller today.

Other best-selling styles include the 2600/01 polo and the 3450/51, reflecting Vansport’s ongoing popularity in the market.

As Vansport celebrates its 20-year milestone, new additions continue to build on its legacy of performance and versatility. The 2025 lineup includes:

Sandhill Pinstripe Shirts Peak Performance Jackets Digi Print Polos

Whats the inspiration behind the name Vansport? According to Ira Neaman, “Van” comes from Vantage, and every sport benefits from performance.” This philosophy has been at the heart of the line for 20 years, delivering garments that move you, wherever the day takes you.

Beyond performance, Vansport is known for its longevity—garments maintain their color vibrancy even after 50 washes—and sustainability, utilizing high-quality conventional and recycled yarns.

Customers continue to recognize the value of the Vansport line. "I love Vansport because it offers an affordable price point without sacrificing quality. The Zen ¼ Zip is my personal favorite—the material is so comfortable, and it comes in a wide variety of colors, making it an easy sell," said Kayla R. of Perfect Promotions.

“I have several Vansport pieces that I have received over the years. The Women’s Victory Polo is great—it fits well, and the color options with decoration are very flattering. The ¼-zips fit great as well. I have

received numerous compliments on these when I’ve worn them to events. Vansport is truly a go-to for team apparel, as we can always find items that everyone likes and continues to wear beyond the event,” added Lori U. of Vernon Company.

With a rich 20-year history and a bright future ahead, Vansport continues to define performance apparel, proving that innovation, comfort, and style never go out of fashion. For more information on the Vansport Collection, visit www.vantageapparel.com.

Goldstar (PPAI 114031, Platinum), PPAI 100’s No. 16 supplier, has announced its expansion into Australia and New Zealand through the acquisition of Australian supplier globalcatalogue.

This strategic move strengthens the Tennessee-based company’s global reach and brings Australian distributors a wider selection of writing, stationery, drinkware, bags and more products.

• Founded in 1981 and based in Sydney, globalcatalogue brings advanced global order fulfillment capabilities to Goldstar’s growing network.
• Daniel Derofe will continue as general manager to ensure a smooth transition, the company says.

“We’re thrilled to welcome globalcatalogue to the Goldstar family,” says Heather Smartt, global head of Goldstar. “This collaboration presents an exciting opportunity for us to work together, making global business easier and aligning with our goal to support more distributors worldwide.”

This collaboration presents an exciting opportunity for us to work together, making global business easier and aligning with our goal to support more distributors worldwide.”

Heather Smartt

Global Head, Goldstar

RELATED: Goldstar Debuts Rebrand With ‘Layers Of Meaning’

Goldstar’s Expansion

As part of its broader global growth strategy, Goldstar now operates across North America, Europe and Oceania.

• The company is also expanding into Italy, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands, further strengthening its international presence.
• Sustainability remains a key priority with Goldstar collaborating with globalcatalogue to integrate ESG practices and improve responsible sourcing across both products and operations.

“We’ve built something special at globalcatalogue, and this next chapter with Goldstar takes it to the next level,” Derofe says. “There’s so much potential ahead.”

Written by: John Corrigan

Published with Permission from PPAI

The word “busy” often carries negative connotations, suggesting unapproachability, a lack of control over time or an unwillingness to take on more.

This year, one of my goals is to remove “busy” from my vocabulary. However, I’ve realized how challenging this is while balancing my roles as a mother of two, an executive and a boss. For example, when PPAI asked me to write this column, my first thought was, “I’m too busy to write it, and everyone else is too busy to read it.”

Since I had already said yes and couldn’t change my mind, I asked myself what would I stop to read no matter how packed my schedule?

• What advice do I wish I’d received when I started in this industry 14 years ago?

I asked a few colleagues what advice they wished they had received when they started. Among the many responses, my biggest takeaway was that I wished someone had connected the dots between the career advancement articles I was reading outside the industry and promo-specific insights. That’s exactly what I aim to do here.

Welcome to Frase’s Phrases – a quarterly series where I’ll share three impactful phrases, expressions, quotes, clichés or lessons that I’ve picked up along my journey, along with how you can apply them in the promo industry to advance your career.

Today, we’re diving into mentorship.

“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” – Isaac Newton

I’d assume this is true in all industries, but in promo, it’s especially relevant. You don’t need just one mentor – you need many, all at once. My first official mentor came to me when I had no idea where to begin.

PromoKitchen, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization, seeks to educate and mentor within our industry. When I had no idea where to go for my first mentor, I started here, and I encourage you to do the same. I was matched with a mentor who shaped my entire career. A decade later, even though he’s now enjoying retirement, I still call him for advice in my role as a vice president of sales – just as I did when I was an inside sales rep.

You don’t need just one mentor – you need many, all at once.”

Brittany Frase

VP of Sales, HIRSCH

Ask yourself: Who do you look up to? Whose social posts do you always engage with because they’re insightful and resonate with you? Reach out to that person and say, “I’d love to have your insight on X issue. If you can carve out 15-20 minutes of your time for me, I’d love to pick your brain about it.”

Early in my career, I read countless articles on how to ask for a mentor, but they often made it too complicated. Just ask for help with a specific issue, and the mentorship will develop naturally – no official agreement needed.

“Do what you do best and outsource the rest.” – Peter Drucker

If you’ve ever worked with or for me, you’ve heard me say this often enough that it’s likely eyeroll inducing. As an exercise, I encourage you to pause and write down three things you excel at and three things you don’t.

If you already know your weaknesses, this is a great topic to discuss with a new mentor. Ask them for specific strategies to address your blind spots, and if you’re in a leadership role, consider delegating these tasks. Their guidance can help you develop targeted action steps to overcome challenges and become a more effective professional.

ICYMI: skucon Inspires Promo Pros Ahead Of The PPAI Expo 2025

And if you still feel like it’s a weakness? There is power in realizing it’s okay not to be the best at everything. Recognize who is the best at that weakness and ask for their help if you’re a colleague. If you’re in a position to, delegate that task, so that you can focus on the things you excel at.

If you’re unsure what your weaknesses are (and trust me, I get it – my husband thinks I’m flawless!), this is another great question for a mentor. Ask someone who has worked with you long enough to help define your biggest opportunities for growth. Resist the urge to get defensive and embrace their feedback as an opportunity for improvement. A good mentor will see strengths and weaknesses that you might not recognize in yourself.

“The best leaders are lifelong learners.” – John Wooden

Your mentors don’t always have to be people you know or are matched with in a program. I’ve taken away valuable perspectives from many a sales, marketing or general business book. I consider myself a lifelong learner, and I encourage anyone starting in this business to do the same.

RELATED: Book Club: The Art Of War In Business

Our industry is certainly unique, but it’s not that unique, and by that I mean – there are plenty of other people in other industries facing the same challenges you are that have overcome them and thrived. While I wouldn’t call books my mentors, I would certainly say they’ve provided mentorship, as have PPAI conferences, commonsku educational events and meet-ups with colleagues in similar positions as myself in the industry.

From Phrases To Actions

The key to a successful mentorship is not just asking the right questions but acting on the answers.

These are three of the phrases that have stuck with me throughout my promo career, helping me navigate new challenges and opportunities. Start seeking out mentors and applying these questions today. You’ll be amazed at how your mentors and mentorship can transform your trajectory.

And if you ever feel too “busy” to take that first step, remember that being busy shouldn’t be a badge of honor or an excuse. Prioritizing mentorship and learning will ultimately help you gain more control over your time and career.

Frase, MAS, is vice president of sales at HIRSCH – PPAI 100’s No. 20 supplier – and a 2024 PPAI Rising Star.

Written by: Brittany Frase

Published with Permission from PPAI

PPAI has introduced a new scholarship that will help one member of a regional association attend a PPAI event this year.

• The scholarship is open to all PPAI members who are also members of their local regional association.

“Empowering individuals through professional development and networking is not just an investment in their future, but in the future of our promo community,” says Shannon Johnson, MAS, director of executive administration at PPAI. “By offering scholarships, we create a pathway to success, fostering growth, innovation and opportunity for all.”

Empowering individuals through professional development and networking is not just an investment in their future, but in the future of our promo community.”

Shannon Johnson, MAS

Director of Executive Administration, PPAI

Scholarship Details

The scholarship covers up to $2,500 for event registration, hotel costs and airfare costs for any of the events below:

• North American Leadership Conference (NALC) from May 12-14 in Chicago
• Women’s Leadership Conference (WLC) from June 23-25 in Coronado, California
• Product Responsibility Summit from September 15-17 in Newport Beach, California
• Leadership Development Conference from October 27-29 in Southlake, Texas

“Scholarships were a direct ask from our regional community, and PPAI listened,” says Kara Keister, MAS, CEO of Social Good Promotions and Regional Relations Committee delegate to the PPAI Board of Directors. “PPAI has created a path to reward volunteer service and regional membership with access to premier events like the Women’s Leadership Conference and North American Leadership Conference, empowering members to connect, lead and drive the industry forward.”

Scholarships were a direct ask from our regional community, and PPAI listened.”

Kara Keister, MAS

CEO, Social Good Promotions

Applications are being taken here – click on the PPAI Regional Member Scholarship.

The application portal will close after March 31.

Published with Permission from PPAI

If you’re wondering why brands were willing to shell out $8 million (a record high) for a 30-second commercial during Super Bowl LIX, look no further than the impact simply being included in one has had on Fort Worth, Texas-based supplier Bison Coolers (PPAI 697899, Standard-Plus).

The family business was part of Google’s “50 States, 50 Stories” campaign, which highlighted how small business owners use Google Workspace and its AI tools.

• The commercial, which featured family members, friends and some of Bison Coolers’ 14 employees, explained that the firm relies upon the technology to write product descriptions for its website.

The company held a watch party for the Super Bowl and the energy in the room when the ad aired was “pretty incredible,” according to Jeremy Denson, co-owner and president of Bison Coolers.

“It was just a great opportunity for [Google] to really put us on the map and create some awareness,” Denson says.

An Uptick in Engagement

In the week since the commercial aired, Bison Coolers has seen a rise in engagement and inquiries, Denson says.

Check out these metrics:

• Almost a 400% increase in web traffic
• E-commerce sales have doubled
• Amazon engagement is up about 1,600%
• An increase of 800 social media followers in the 24 hours following the ad airing

“The number of calls and emails coming in has certainly increased,” Denson says. “But overall, selling a premium product in the space, much less an outdoor product in the fourth quarter, is a bit of a challenge every year. We feel like we’ve kicked off enough relationships and got enough traffic to the website that we’ll be able to remarket them in the future, and that when warm weather rolls around in a month or two, hopefully, we’ll see a nice uptick from this so we can piggyback on it the rest of the year.”

It was just a great opportunity for [Google] to really put us on the map and and create some awareness.”

Jeremy Denson

Co-owner & President, Bison Coolers

Embracing The Great Outdoors

Bison Coolers was founded by Jeremy and his father Dennis Denson in 2011 after the former found out his wife, who was working as a teacher at the time, was pregnant. In order to offset the lost income, Jeremy decided to take on a side hustle.

“I love the outdoors and thought I should do something that I’m passionate about and enjoy myself,” he says. “So, as I started to dive into the outdoor space, I started looking at coolers, and I was like, wait, I think there’s a market here.”

The duo hit the ground running, selling a multitude of different coolers for various needs.

“Being one of the few family-owned cooler companies still in America, we’re kind of the last of a dying breed,” Denson says. “We’re taking on people that are making more in marketing in a given month or two than we do annually. So, that part is a big challenge, but it’s really rewarding to see that we’ve weathered the storm.”

Denson “stumbled” into the promo space about seven years ago when he and his team noticed a handful of customers were continuously ordering large batches of products from the company. After asking why, Denson learned about the promotional products world, discovering that these customers were applying their logos to his coolers.

Since then, the promo industry has become Bison Coolers’ biggest source of revenue.

“We’ve just been doubling down, pouring more resources into it and expanding our decorating capabilities,” Denson says. “Without that customer feedback, we never would have even discovered the space.”

Written by: Arriana Johnson

Published with Permission from PPAI

Last week, President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum proposing reciprocal tariffs for countries that already have tariffs in place that affect the United States. “If they charge us, we charge them,” Trump told reporters leading up to the announcement on Thursday.

There’s no official date for when the tariffs will be imposed, but White House officials said that Trump wants to move rapidly, suggesting it would be “weeks” and no longer than “a few months” until they are in place, The Hill reported.

What does this boil down to?

The reciprocal tariffs will be customized for each foreign trading partner, based on five different areas:

• tariffs the nation imposes on U.S. products;
• unfair taxes imposed;
• cost to U.S. businesses and consumers from another country’s policies;
• exchange rates;
• and any other practices the trade representative’s office determines is unfair.

The move is considered a significant escalation in what has become a global trade war. The implications will be determined over time, but PPAI Media has already received word from Goldstar, PPAI 100’s No. 16 supplier, that tariff news in recent weeks has led to temporary congestion and processing delays.

“We completely understand that this extended delay [approximately five business days] may be frustrating, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause,” Heather Smartt, global head of Goldstar, said in an email to customers on Friday.

Rest assured, we’re working hard behind the scenes to ensure your orders are on track and will reach you as quickly as possible.”

Heather Smartt

Global Head of Goldstar

“We truly appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. Rest assured, we’re working hard behind the scenes to ensure your orders are on track and will reach you as quickly as possible. Our proactive measures, such as adding more brokers and expanding our carrier network, are already in place to minimize the impact.

Written by Jonny Auping

Published with Permission from PPAI

The rapidly developing tariff situation has caused a great deal of uncertainty for businesses across the globe.

Here’s the latest: President Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum proposing reciprocal tariffs for countries that already have tariffs in place that affect the United States. “If they charge us, we charge them,” Trump told reporters leading up to the announcement on February 13.

• There’s no official date for when the tariffs will be imposed, but White House officials said that Trump wants to move rapidly, suggesting it would be “weeks” and no longer than “a few months” until they are in place, The Hill reported.

Trump previously imposed a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States with no exceptions or exemptions, beginning March 12. This comes on the heels of an additional 10% tariff on imports coming from China, which quickly led to Beijing announcing retaliatory tariffs.

RELATED: Global Tariff Announcement Causes Temporary Congestion In Promo

Trump also announced 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, only to put a one-month pause on the plan following meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

• He also has paused his previous order to eliminate the de minimis exemption that allowed packages worth less than $800 to enter the U.S. without having to pay a tariff or duty.

PPAI, working closely with our lobbyists at Thorn Run Partners, sent a letter to top congressional leaders this week urging them to work toward a balanced trade policy that protects American interests while ensuring that American businesses, such as those in the promotional products industry, are not disproportionately burdened.

• Download the text of that letter here so you can use it as a template to send your own letters to your representative and senators.
• Every year, PPAI members and staff travel to Capitol Hill to advocate for the promotional products industry, and tariff concerns will be one of the key issues we will be discussing with members of Congress in April. (Learn more about LEAD here.)

“Should these tariffs escalate and cause negative financial ramifications, we are a proven, resilient industry that always finds innovative ways to bounce back bigger and better than ever,” says Drew Holmgreen, president and CEO of PPAI.

We are a proven, resilient industry that always finds innovative ways to bounce back bigger and better than ever.”

Drew Holmgreen

President & CEO, PPAI

Below are actions and strategies that promo firms should implement immediately.

Stay Informed and Assess Business Impact

• Identify affected products: Determine which SKUs sourced from Canada, Mexico or China will see cost increases due to tariffs.
• Analyze financial impact: Work with finance and procurement teams to assess how tariffs will affect pricing, profitability and customer contracts.
• Monitor government actions and advocacy efforts: Follow PPAI’s updates on trade policy changes, potential exemptions and tariff negotiations.

RELATED: ‘Nothing Is Secure:’ Promo Reacts To Tariff Roller Coaster

Optimize Supply Chain and Sourcing Strategies

• Diversify sourcing: Explore alternative production locations in North America or other international markets to reduce exposure to tariffs.
• Negotiate supplier terms: Discuss pricing flexibility, bulk purchasing and extended payment terms to help offset cost increases.
• Consider domestic production: Where feasible, invest in U.S.-based manufacturing to reduce reliance on imported goods subject to tariffs.

Manage Pricing and Customer Expectations

• Stabilize pricing when possible: Before adjusting pricing, exhaust all cost-saving measures, such as logistics optimization, supplier negotiations and bulk purchasing.
• Educate customers and end-buyers: Be transparent about tariff-related cost changes and provide alternative product recommendations when necessary.
• Offer strategic pricing incentives: Consider bulk purchase discounts, long-term pricing contracts or early order incentives to help customers mitigate cost volatility.

Advocate for Relief and Engage with Policymakers

• Support PPAI’s advocacy efforts: Participate in ongoing lobbying initiatives focused on tariff relief and exemptions for the promotional products industry.
• Share your business impact story: Contribute to PPAI’s tariff impact survey to help strengthen the industry’s case for exemptions or policy adjustments.

Plan for Long-Term Market Shifts

• Anticipate further trade disruptions: With ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions and potential EU tariff actions, businesses should remain agile in supply chain planning.
• Invest in operational efficiencies: Explore automation, streamlined logistics and technology improvements to drive cost savings and business resilience.
• Evaluate alternative global markets: Expand partnerships with suppliers outside tariff-affected regions to reduce dependency on impacted supply chains.

Be Proactive, Not Reactive

Distributors and suppliers can’t afford to wait for policy shifts.

By staying informed, optimizing supply chains, maintaining customer trust and engaging in advocacy, businesses can navigate the impact of tariffs effectively while ensuring long-term resilience in the promo industry.

Written by: PPAI Media Staff

Published with Permission from PPAI

Rupt Ventures – the venture arm of Austin, Texas-based supplier Rupt (PPAI 826757, Standard-Base) – has announced its fourth strategic investment in the promotional products industry: RIPL Goods (PPAI 812763, Standard-Base).

A certified B Corporation, RIPL Goods was founded by Leo Bellis-Jones, a former advertising industry professional whose love for the ocean led him to create a business centered on sustainability.

After witnessing the plastic crisis firsthand during a trip to Bali, he launched RIPL Goods in 2021, offering fashion-forward, sustainable products for businesses and individuals to create tangible change.

Each product in the supplier’s range funds one of three critical impact programs:

• Every RIPL bottle funds a full day of employment for someone in a remote coastal community to collect plastic.

• Every RIPL notebook funds the purchase and protection of 1,000 sq. ft. of tropical forest.

• Every RIPL tech bag and tote bag funds a full week of education for a child in need.

“RIPL Goods embodies exactly what we look for at Rupt Ventures: entrepreneurs who challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of what’s possible in promo,” says Jason Lucash, CEO of Rupt and the winner of The Pitch at The PPAI Expo 2025. “Leo and his team have built something truly special, proving that promotional products can be powerful vehicles for global change. We’re excited to help accelerate their impact and growth within the promo industry and beyond.”

• At The PPAI Expo 2024, Lucash and his longtime business partner Mike Szymczak came out of retirement to introduce Rupt, the first supplier whose entire product line is made from recycled materials.

• The duo previously co-founded Origaudio, which they sold to HPG in 2018.

• Rupt Ventures is a side play that will pour venture capital into a stable of other suppliers dedicated to sustainability and/or innovation, with exponential growth potential.

“Mike, Leo and I met for dinner while we all happened to be in Hong Kong,” Lucash says. “We immediately hit it off and knew we had to make this happen together.”

• In addition to RIPL Goods, the company is currently invested in Austin, Texas-based supplier Desk Plants and San Diego-based supplier Swanky.

Lucash says it has been an “incredible journey.”

RIPL Goods embodies exactly what we look for at Rupt Ventures: entrepreneurs who challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of what’s possible in promo.”

Jason Lucash

CEO, Rupt

Mutual Friends In Promo

Lucash says he first heard about Bellis-Jones through his friends at BAMKO after they had worked together on a MetLife project that generated a lot of buzz.

Stacy Stahl, founder of St. Louis-based supplier Sweeter Cards – Rupt Ventures’ first strategic investment, which was realized after being acquired by Maple Ridge Farms – also vouched for Bellis-Jones, saying that RIPL Goods aligned perfectly with the vision and principles Rupt Ventures was looking to invest in.

With Rupt’s backing, RIPL Goods will have the resources and expertise to expand its product line, optimize operations and maximize its impact in the promo industry.

“Our mission is simple: to make it effortless for companies to create lasting social and environmental change through their merchandise,” Bellis-Jones says. “Rupt Ventures shares our vision of how the promo industry can be a force for good, and its investment will allow us to scale our efforts, introduce new products and impact more communities.”

Rupt Ventures shares our vision of how the promo industry can be a force for good.”

Leo Bellis-Jones

Founder, RIPL Goods

‘Incredible Journey’

February marks one year since Rupt Ventures’ coming out party.

“Mike and I knew from the start that building something meaningful takes time, but we’re really happy with the progress so far,” he says. “We’ve now invested in four companies that align with our vision, worked alongside some brilliant founders and seen real momentum with our investments.”

“More than anything,” Lucash adds, “we’re excited about what’s ahead – continuing to support the teams we’ve invested in and discovering new opportunities that push boundaries and challenge the status quo. It’s been a strong start for Rupt Ventures, and we’re only getting started.”

Written by: John Corrigan

Published with Permission from PPAI

The PPAI Expo Conference featured multiple sessions concerning sustainability topics and a select number of attendees were given a behind-the-scenes tour of Mandalay Bay’s efforts to divert waste during the largest and longest running event in promo.

• But the trade floor itself was an example of an opportunity to practice sustainable-minded efforts, thanks to exhibitors such as Rupt and Raining Rose.

Both of these suppliers exhibited with booths made entirely out of cardboard that was recyclable, cost effective and practical.

“It’s inspiring to see more and more exhibitors prioritize sustainability not only with their product offerings but also with their whole booth design and how attendees experience it,” says Elizabeth Wimbush, PPAI’s director of sustainability and responsibility. “Companies like Raining Rose and Rupt had incredibly cool booths that were designed to be reusable, recyclable and significantly lighter weight to minimize the carbon footprint of the freight there and back.”

It’s inspiring to see more and more exhibitors prioritize sustainability not only with their product offerings but also with their whole booth design and how attendees experience it.”

Elizabeth Wimbush

Director of Sustainability & Responsibility, PPAI

‘A More Sustainable Future For Trade Shows’

Austin-based Rupt, which has committed to ensuring that each of its products is carbon neutral through a cradle-to-grave carbon footprint calculation, brought a booth to The PPAI Expo 2025 that was made entirely of FSC-certified recycled cardboard. To any given distributor, the Rupt booth looked every bit as stylish and functional as any other booth on the trade show. Brian Gill, president of distributor Thumbprint, called the booth “absolutely spectacular” and praised Rupt for “walking the talk on sustainability.”

• A year prior, Rupt’s non-cardboard booth weighed approximately 3,000 pounds.

• This year, the total weight of the booth was less than 400 pounds, a significant decrease in CO2 emissions expended during transit.

“At Rupt, we care about the environmental impact of our tradeshow booth just as much as we care about it with all of our products,” says Jason Lucash, CEO of Rupt and winner of The Pitch this year. “This booth is proof that the promo industry can, and must, evolve to prioritize sustainability without sacrificing style or impact. We’re setting a new standard for what’s possible, and we hope others will follow suit.”

This booth is proof that the promo industry can, and must, evolve to prioritize sustainability without sacrificing style or impact.”

Jason Lucash

CEO, Rupt

For Raining Rose, this was not the first time the Iowa-based supplier had exhibited with a cardboard booth – the first being used at The PPAI Expo 2021. Kate Nash, director of sales and marketing at Raining Rose, expressed that the aim was for it to have a retail-like presence, but she emphasized that the entire process was more cost effective than it otherwise would have been.

• Raining Rose hopes to get three to five years out of the booth it used at The PPAI Expo 2025, and if any area, image or panel needs to be replaced, it can be accomplished at a low cost.

• The supplier worked with GoKarton, a company based out of Miami, that will work with a client to produce recyclable booths and displays of all sizes, specializing in trade shows.
• Supplier Chameleon Like also used GoKarton to create a cardboard exhibitor booth at The PPAI Expo 2025.

For Raining Rose’s booth, only the lights were not made of cardboard, including benches, shelves and counters. It all comes out of one crate and folds flat. No specific tools were needed to put it together. Nash says that the entire process of setting it up (including product merchandising) took between four to five hours for her team. Take-down took about 30 minutes.

• When Raining Rose is ready to move on from this booth, it will be recycled in its entirety.

The booth not only presented a professional and eco-conscious image, but it was also very practical.”

Kate Nash

Director of Sales & Marketing, Raining Rose

“Choosing a sustainable cardboard booth for The PPAI Expo 2025 was the right decision for us,” Nash says. “The booth not only presented a professional and eco-conscious image, but it was also very practical. Its lightweight and modular design is easy to set up, and it is durable enough to last for several shows.

“We are delighted that this innovative solution allows us to minimize our environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future for trade shows.”

Written by: Jonny Auping

Published with Permission from PPAI