Michele Schwartz

Explore New Revenue Opportunities in the Promotional Products Industry

The branded merchandise industry offers apparel decorators an exciting opportunity to expand their businesses beyond traditional apparel and into the broader world of promotional products.

In this introductory session, Michele Schwartz of Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) will break down how the branded merchandise industry works, explain the roles of suppliers and distributors, and explore how apparel decorators can leverage their existing skills, customer relationships, and production capabilities to enter this growing market.

Whether you're considering adding promotional products to your offerings, building relationships with distributors, or simply looking to understand the opportunities within branded merchandise, this session will provide a practical foundation for identifying where your business fits and how to get started.

What You'll Learn

• Industry Fundamentals: Understand the branded merchandise ecosystem and how suppliers, distributors, and decorators work together.

• Business Opportunities: Discover how apparel decorators can expand into promotional products and create additional revenue streams.

• Leveraging Existing Strengths: Identify how your current decorating capabilities and customer relationships translate into new opportunities.

• Distribution Channels: Explore opportunities to collaborate with promotional products distributors and industry partners.