iPROMOTEu celebrated excellence in the promotional products industry during its 2024 awards ceremonies at PPAI Expo in Las Vegas last month, recognizing top-performing Affiliates, AIA Owners, and Preferred Vendors. As a top 40 distributor organization, iPROMOTEu marked a historic moment—the first gathering of iPROMOTEu Affiliates and AIA Owners since AIA’s acquisition in September 2024—by delivering an elevated and dynamic experience: Expo Amplified.
“Bringing together the iPROMOTEu and AIA communities for the first time at PPAI Expo was an exciting milestone,” said Lori Bauer, CEO of iPROMOTEu. Expo Amplified was designed to create a truly immersive and rewarding experience—one that celebrates success, strengthens connections, and underscores the immense value of being part of a thriving, growth-driven organization like ours. It was inspiring to see the energy and collaboration that emerged from this united group.”
The well-deserved accolades began with the Supplier Awards Ceremony and Breakfast on January 14th. Following a keynote address from HPG CEO, Chris Anderson, HPG was named iPROMOTEu Supplier of the Year, while BelPromo earned the title of Breakout Supplier of the Year. The Supplier Representatives of the Year honor was awarded to Vanessa Ware and Chelsey Juarez of High Caliber, recognizing their commitment to delivering outstanding creative solutions and unparalleled service. Showdown Displays received the Supplier Appreciation Award for their unwavering support of iPROMOTEu, its Affiliates, and AIA Owners.
iPROMOTEu also celebrated its Top Twenty Preferred Vendors for 2024, acknowledging their essential role in helping Affiliates and AIA Owners drive growth and success.
“Our supplier partners are the foundation of the exceptional service and product quality that iPROMOTEu stands for,” said Joe Hoffmann, iPROMOTEu Senior Vice President of Operations. “Their dedication, creativity, and commitment to excellence continually impress us, and we are honored to recognize their outstanding contributions. Seeing the level of innovation and collaboration among our Preferred Vendors and Supplier Representatives reinforces why these partnerships are so valuable.”
The Awards Luncheon on January 14 featured a keynote address from SanMar President and CEO, Jeremy Lott, who provided valuable insights into industry trends and business strategies. More than 300 iPROMOTEu Affiliates and AIA Owners were recognized for their exceptional sales achievements, earning Elite or All Star status for 2024. The event also celebrated AIA Owner Joy Smith, the 2024 PPAI Woman of Achievement and H. Ted Olson Humanitarian Award recipient.
The awards continued January 15th, with a second luncheon featuring a keynote address from Frank Myers, CEO of S&S Activewear. Following his presentation, iPROMOTEu announced the 32 winners of its year-end sales contest, who collectively drove a 69% increase over 2023, adding $6 million in additional year-over-year sales. Their achievements were rewarded with complimentary hotel stays during PPAI Expo, courtesy of iPROMOTEu.
Standout honorees included:
- Steve Riley of Emerald Ink and Stitches and Allison Moore of Pure Promotions, who received the Rising Star Award for their impressive sales growth and contributions to the iPROMOTEu community.
- Graeme Dawes of Brandz Marketing and Amber Sheffer of JAM Printing & Promotions, who were honored with the Breakout Year Award for taking their businesses to new levels of success.
- Additional recognition was given to Fastest Growing Affiliates, Most Profitable Affiliates, and Largest Affiliate Orders.
The celebration culminated with the presentation of Affiliate of the Year to Angela and Dan Flynn of Advantage Advertising, a dynamic duo who joined iPROMOTEu in 2020 and quickly rose to Top 25 status. Their leadership, support of the iPROMOTEu community, and roles as iSUITE order management platform beta testers have made a lasting impact. Their unwavering enthusiasm for the promotional products industry and commitment to helping fellow Affiliates thrive made them highly deserving of this honor.
“It is always an incredible privilege to recognize the outstanding achievements of our Affiliates, AIA Owners, and supplier partners,” said Bauer. “Each year, our network continues to raise the bar, demonstrating remarkable resilience, innovation, and dedication. As we continue to grow together, I look forward to seeing even greater success in the future. Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees—you are the driving force behind iPROMOTEu’s continued momentum.”