ASI Pavilion at Expo Opens Doors for Printers Seeking Promo

As the promotional products industry continues to intersect with print, PRINTING United Expo helps promotional products suppliers expand their reach in a major way.

In this Q&A, PRINTING United Alliance President Dave Leskusky discusses the new ASI Show Pavilion at PRINTING United Expo, what it means for promo suppliers, and why the convergence of print and promo is creating new opportunities.

Promo Impressions (PRI): For those unfamiliar, what is the ASI Show Pavilion at PRINTING United Expo, and what can attendees expect from it?

Dave Leskusky (DL): The ASI Show Pavilion at PRINTING United Expo is a dedicated destination designed to bring the promotional products industry directly into one of the most comprehensive printing events in the world. We are excited to work with the Advertising Specialty Institute to create a focused environment where promo suppliers can showcase products to an entirely new audience of print service providers, apparel decorators, and wide-format printing companies that already have or are looking to add promotional products to their portfolio.

What makes the Pavilion unique is that it’s not a standalone promo event operating in isolation. It’s integrated into a larger ecosystem of printing technology, production, and business solutions.  If you can put ink on it, you’ll find it at Expo. For printer attendees, it means more cross-industry collaboration and inspiration to examine what else they can be selling their customers. For suppliers, it creates an opportunity to engage with new buyers who are increasingly looking to expand beyond traditional print into promotional products and branded merchandise as part of a broader customer offering.

PRI: What made now the right time for ASI and PRINTING United Alliance to formally bring the promo industry into PRINTING United Expo in this way?

DL: A major shift is underway. Printers are rapidly adding promotional products to their offerings. As they do, suppliers who engage them early are becoming the partners they build their businesses around. Today’s customers no longer think in silos. They want integrated marketing, branding, apparel, packaging, signage, and promotional solutions from trusted partners. Print providers are expanding into promo, promo distributors are selling more print, and end buyers are looking for partners who can deliver complete campaigns across multiple channels.

PRINTING United Expo has always reflected where the industry is headed, and what we’ve seen over the last several years is a growing convergence between print and promotional products. Bringing ASI into the Expo in a more formal and visible way acknowledges that reality and creates a stronger experience for attendees and exhibitors alike. The ASI Show Pavilion opens the door to thousands of qualified buyers already attending the Expo who may not attend a promo-only event but are actively searching for new revenue opportunities in branded merchandise and decorated products.

PRI: How does the ASI Show Pavilion change the exhibiting experience for promo suppliers compared to a traditional promo-only trade show?

DL: The biggest difference is the diversity and scale of the audience. At a traditional promo-only event, suppliers are primarily meeting distributors already operating within the promotional products channel. At PRINTING United Expo, suppliers gain exposure to a much broader universe of business owners and decision-makers who are expanding their capabilities and product offerings.

That includes commercial printers, apparel decorators, sign and graphics companies, in-plants, fulfillment providers, and packaging printers. Many of these attendees are looking for ways to increase margins, create recurring business, and become more valuable to their customers through branded merchandise and promotional programs.

The Pavilion also places suppliers alongside the technologies driving production innovation across the products they decorate, including apparel, graphics, packaging, and personalization. That creates more dynamic conversations about workflow integration, fulfillment, decoration methods, and partnership opportunities. In many ways, it enhances the supplier experience from simply selling products to becoming part of a larger conversation about business growth, diversification, innovation, and the future of decoration.

PRI: Why is that technology access such an advantage?

DL: That’s one of the most exciting aspects of PRINTING United Expo. The Expo is about seeing where production, personalization, automation, and customer demand are headed. Suppliers will experience an environment showcasing the latest advancements in inkjet technology, screen, DTF/DTG, embroidery, digital printing, packaging, workflow automation, finishing, AI-driven production tools, ecommerce integration, and fulfillment technologies.

That exposure matters because the promotional products industry is increasingly tied to speed, customization, and scalable production & fulfillment. Suppliers who understand how these technologies are evolving are better positioned to help distributors and end buyers solve real business challenges. It also sparks collaboration. A supplier may discover a new decoration capability, identify a production partner, or uncover a workflow solution that improves margins and turnaround times.

Ultimately, the Expo environment accelerates innovation by bringing together every segment of branded communications under one roof, allowing suppliers to see not just where the promo industry is today, but where it’s going next.

PRI: What other business opportunities can suppliers expect to find at PRINTING United Expo?

DL: Beyond direct buyers, the Expo creates opportunities for strategic partnerships across the entire production ecosystem. Suppliers may connect with fulfillment companies, ecommerce providers, packaging specialists, or technology manufacturers that can help scale programs and improve operational efficiency.

Another major opportunity is education and discovery. Many attendees come to the Expo specifically looking for their “next revenue stream.” Promotional products fit naturally into that conversation because they extend brand engagement in a measurable and tangible way. For suppliers, that means conversations are often more consultative and growth-oriented, creating long-term partnership potential rather than simply transactional sales discussions.

PRI: For suppliers considering exhibiting, what's the biggest reason they should take advantage of this “show-within-a-show” opportunity?

DL: The biggest reason is simple: access to Net New growth. The ASI Show Pavilion gives suppliers the ability to stay connected to the promotional products industry while simultaneously reaching thousands of highly qualified buyers outside the traditional promo channel who are actively looking to expand their businesses.

PRINTING United Expo is built around convergence: The idea that commercial print, apparel, signage, packaging, and promotional products are no longer separate segments. Suppliers who position themselves at the center of that convergence gain a competitive advantage because they’re engaging decision-makers at the exact moment they’re exploring new capabilities and revenue opportunities.

It’s also an incredibly efficient environment. In one event, suppliers can generate leads, build partnerships, discover new technologies, strengthen industry visibility, and position themselves as part of the future of branded communications. For companies looking to expand market reach, diversify customer bases, and participate in where the industry is headed next, this “show-within-a-show” creates a powerful platform to do exactly that.

If you’re interested in learning more about this exciting new opportunity, shoot me an email at dleskusky@napco.com.

PRINTING United Expo — Sept. 23–25, 2026, Las Vegas Convention Center — is where the global print industry gathers to discover new technology, learn from leading experts, connect with peers, and find solutions for every segment of print. For information on the attendee Member Experience, visit printingunited.com/member-experience.