Continued Growth: Just under 1,000 Exhibitors at PSI 2017

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The promotional products industry continues to grow: approximately two thirds of the suppliers and distributors posted sales growth for 2016. A positive development is also expected over the next five years. The Industry Barometer 2/2016 published in November 2016 provides current market data and PSI 2017 is a true reflection of this. With about 1000 exhibitors from almost 40 nations the PSI trade show impressively underscores its role as Europe's leading trade show for the promotional products industry. Following a change in show days, the Leading European Trade Show of the Promotional Products Industry will now run in Düsseldorf from Tuesday, 10 to Thursday, 12 January.

Wide range of brands
Promotional products could be thought to be no-name items. But PSI proves the opposite. The portfolio of PSI members includes numerous brands including the likes of Sansibar Sylt, Hachez, BRUNNEN, Disney, MOLESKINE, James & Nicholson, Myrtle Beach and VICTORINOX or PEUGEOT. Brands are by no means an exception to the rule any longer but an increasing trend in the sector. "We are proud of our members' big brand diversity, " says PSI Event Director Silke Frank, and goes on to say: "More and more often customers from industry are looking for quality products that stand out from mass giveaways. At PSI they find these on a large scale and from the most varied of product segments."

Industry customers to visit the trade show for the first time
Branded products are of particular interest, especially for the trade show's new visitor target group. In 2017 advertising agencies and marketing decision-makers of German-speaking industrial enterprises will have the first opportunity to visit the promotional products trade show on the third day of the show upon invitation of their PSI promotional product consultants. This way the impressive diversity of promotional products, which is hard to relay by merely talking about them to customers, can simply be demonstrated at PSI. And the programme also targets industry customers on Thursday. All day long the Best Practice Forum in Hall 9 will provide information revolving around the use of promotional products, tips on the right choice of products and Best Practice to make sure the next campaign is a success. The extension of the target group gives visitors, exhibitors and distributors alike the opportunity to cooperate even more effectively.

Special interests at Special Areas
Over 40% of visitors attend the trade show with a focal interest in textiles. They will find the textile cornerstone of the trade show in the Textile Area in Hall 10. This area showcases the complete value chain from manufacturers, wholesalers through to finishers. The eye-catcher is the CATWALK where professional models stage promotional products four times a day between 11.00 am and 5.00 pm.

At the Technology Forum and the Demonstration Area in Hall 12 exhibitors will be showcasing die finishing options for promotional products from 3D, screen and digital printing through to engraving and laser finishing. Exhibitors here provide information on the latest trends and live demos of possible applications.

Promotional products for the senses are centre stage at GUSTO in Hall 9, the Tasting Pavilion of the trade show extended yet again for the 2017 edition. Pastry products, beverages, spices, food or confectionary are the advertising media in the limelight here. The companies exhibiting in this pavilion include drinks, King of Salt, Kuchenmeister, the MuffinFactory and OLAMI.

Consultancy and information revolving around all PSI Services such as PSI Sourcing, PSI eBusiness, PSI Journal and PSI X-Media can be found by visitors in the PSI Institute – Competence Area in Hall 9. This is also where the nominees and winners of the PSI Sustainability Awards 2016 will be put on display. Their entries are impressive proof of how sustainability can be effectively incorporated into advertising campaigns.

Another highlight at the trade show is the Newcomer Area. Represented here are first and second-time exhibitors as well as inventors and young innovative companies whose trade show appearance is subsidised by the German Ministry of Economy and Energy (BMWi).

Innovations in the sector
At PSI the focus has traditionally been on innovations. This is especially so at the PSI FIRST Club. For the fourth time now promotional products will be launched at the trade show that have not been on display anywhere else before. A total of 50 selected exhibitors take part. For the duration of the trade show all product premieres can be found at the PSI Institute – Competence Area in Hall 9. On these three days visitors can vote for their favourites right there. The winners will be announced at the end of the trade show.

Novel items are also the name of the game in the Innovation Area in Hall 12. Here inventors showcase their ideas ranging from novel bicycle lighting to multi-functional can openers. Featured here are also some longstanding PSI partners who assist inventors with advice and information. These include the PSI Design Forum, the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA), customs officials, the IENA trade fair and Aktion Plagiarius e.V. Also represented on site will be the Innovation Forum, the Fraunhofer Institute of Labour Economics and Organisation (IAO) and the crowd-sourcing platform manugoo.

Associations and partners from all over the world
Approximately 50% of PSI exhibitors come from abroad, including many associations and partners. You can meet all of them at the International Area in Hall 11. Here visitors, half of whom come from abroad, can discuss current concerns in the industry with representatives from Belgium, Spain, Russia, Poland or Austria. Representatives from the Netherlands can be found at the now bigger Dutch Pavilion in Hall 12. And Great Britain is also strongly represented with the BPMA in Hall 12.

Matchmaking – networking made easy
This is the second time exhibitors and visitors have been able to network easily online at PSI and already make appointments in the run-up to the trade show. This is made possible by the Online-Matchmaking tool. Exhibitors and registered trade visitors can sign in free of charge and generate their own profiles with a few clicks. They can then browse the other participants' profiles and get in touch with interesting contacts direct. Mutual interest results in an appointment – either at the exhibitor's stand or in the Competence Area in Hall 9.

After Work – the sector parties
After the first day of the trade show comes to a close networking will continue at the PSI After Work event. In Hall 9 exhibitors and visitors can continue networking over snacks and drinks and jointly call it a day. The right atmosphere comes care of DJ Vince and trio UNBEDINGT who will take it in turns to entertain the crowd. The number of participants is limited, pre-registration is not possible.

About PSI
At PSI, the Leading European Trade Show of the Promotional Products Industry, promotional products professionals gain an overview of the trends and innovations in the industry. In addition, special exhibits and show areas are dedicated to an in-depth look at promotional labelling, printing and finishing technologies, inventions and innovations, and much more. At PSI 2016, 932 exhibitors from 38 countries presented their companies to 16,810 visitors. Following a change in show days, PSI 2017 will now run in Düsseldorf from Tuesday, 10 January, to Thursday, 12 January. The trade show is already sold out.

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