4 From PPAI When the World Gets Weird, Get Focused 7 Creative Calendar Essentials 10 Solutions Spotlight Artwork Services 14 Use Case Festival Faves 18 In Style Color Of The Year Voices 24 Your Business Do Your KPIs Have KPIs? 28 Innovation What Is Digital Transformation In 2026? 30 Responsibility Slow Starts, Bold Futures Must Read 48 Promotional Products Work Swag For Startups Community 64 Buzzworthy 66 PPPC Communiqué 69 Inside PPAI 73 New Members 79 Datebook 84 Perfect Promo CONTENTS 01.26 VOLUME 50, ISSUE 01 The PPAI 100 Playbook Manage these six elements to help maximize your score and earn the ranking your company deserves in 2026 and beyond. 34 2026 PPAI Icon Award Winners The Association honors three extraordinary leaders whose decades of unwavering volunteerism, compassion and industry stewardship have shaped the promotional products community and inspired countless others to give back. 54 54 40 34 New Year, New-ish Trends Through comprehensive industry, buyer and consumer data, PPAI Research has identified five trends and predictions for the promo industry in 2026. 40 PPAI • JANUARY 2026 • 3
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