The Promotional Merchandise Show, in association with the bpma, will take place alongside the existing Marketing Week Live Shows - the Online Marketing Show, the Data Marketing Show, the In-Store Show, the Insight Show and the newly expanded Customer Motivation and Loyalty Show on the 27th and 28th of June 2012.
In its 2011 edition, Marketing Week Live had introduced the Promotional Marketing Village, set up by the bpma. Due to its huge success and contributing to the overall 26% increase in visitor numbers, in 2012, the village will be turned into its own branded show, three times the size. It will include an educational programme that will host leading brands demonstrating how the use of promotional merchandise can contribute to the overall retention and acquisition strategy.
Paul MacDonald, Portofolio Director, explains: “The show will be very much positioned as part of Marketing Week Live with suppliers and global brands showcasing how promotional merchandising is an integral part of any marketer’s strategy. Promotional merchandise is as important as any other element of the modern marketer’s role, which is why we wanted this area to be suitably represented at the show.”
As technology advances, marketers have more and more ways to communicate with their customers to sell products or services, which has made competition for marketers’ time and budget incredibly aggressive. Developments in digital printing have also made the promotional merchandising industry grow; in fact digital merchandise has been one of the fastest growth sectors over the last few years. Nowadays, thousands of products can be themed around a campaign, and the Promotional Merchandise Show will be a way for visitors to find out how to position promotional merchandise as part of the marketing strategy.
Gordon Glenister, Director General of the bpma, comments: “Marketing Week Live is a great show and it is absolutely the right show for the bpma and its members to be part of. Not only are we raising the platform for merchandise, but we are also engaging with the right audience and educating them on how promotional goods can be used to further enhance brand identity and campaign return on investment. We are very excited to fully be part of the Marketing Week Live journey starting in 2012.”
Recruitment of exhibitors has already started, and 65% of them are already signed up for next year’s show, claims Centaur. bpma members and non members alike are welcome to exhibit.
