Product Hub June 19, 2026
Trust, Trends & Tiny Totes: Highlights From SAAGNY’s Promotions East
Attendees heard a keynote from “Shark Tank” star Daymond John and explored product trends as Promotions East made its NYC debut this week.
Key Takeaways
• Promotions East made its New York City debut, drawing hundreds of distributor, end-user and supplier attendees for an “experience-focused” show built on connection.
• Keynote speaker Daymond John emphasized the importance of trust, customer retention and relationship-building in an increasingly AI-driven business landscape.
• On the show floor, suppliers highlighted major trends including experiential marketing, retail-inspired colors and silhouettes, and the growing popularity of miniature products and accessories.
In the city still buzzing from the Knicks’ championship run, Promotions East debuted in New York City this week after a one-year hiatus.
Nearly 100 suppliers showed off fresh and trending products to nearly 500 distributors and their clients, who were able to join promo pros for the regional trade show, produced by the Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY). “Shark Tank” star Daymond John also headlined a Q&A-style keynote, sharing insights on entrepreneurship, sales and trust with an audience of engaged attendees.
“Having everyone in one room created meaningful conversations, new opportunities and valuable connections,” said Josh Nachman, executive vice president of Zagwear (asi/365552) and one of the event’s organizers. “The energy throughout the event was outstanding, and the turnout from distributors, suppliers and especially end-users exceeded our expectations.”
Promotions East opened on June 15 with a networking reception at the Gansevoort Hotel’s DIMES speakeasy, ahead of the main event on the floor on June 16, which featured a variety of experiential activations for attendees.
“New York City is the natural home of Promotions East, a vibrant hub where the SAAGNY community can come together to connect, collaborate and celebrate our industry,” said Sara Levinson, current president of the SAAGNY board of directors. “This year’s event provided an incredible opportunity to showcase not only the products and services we offer, but also the strength, passion and professionalism of our community.”
The Business of Trust
FUBU founder, entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” investor Daymond John has built a career on spotting opportunities and cultivating relationships. His top piece of advice through it all? Just keep pushing through – make calls, build relationships and leave a good impression.
“You’ve just got to kiss a lot of frogs,” John said during his keynote at Promotions East, which was moderated by Nachman and Danny Rosin, co-president of B Corp-certified distributor Brand Fuel (asi/145025).
“Shark Tank” star Daymond John spoke at Promotions East in conversation with Josh Nachman of Zagwear (asi/365552) and Danny Rosin of Brand Fuel (asi/145025).
Building, and especially keeping, relationships is key, said John, because of the realities of the customer pipeline. It will almost always be easier to upsell or increase the frequency of a customer’s orders – “supersize everyone’s fries,” if you will, as John put it – rather than acquire a new customer.
And the resulting brand loyalty from the customer side is equally essential. Nachman asked John about the value of impressions versus genuine fans, and his response was near instantaneous.
“Getting 10 people to love your brand is more important than 1,000 impressions,” John said.
He pointed to Bombas – the now multibillion-dollar sock brand and self-proclaimed most successful investment from “Shark Tank” – as an example of a brand that built loyalty through purpose. (Bombas donates a pair of socks for every pair purchased.) Even in an age of tools like AI, which John is a powerful proponent of using for productivity, building connections – whether through in-person relationship building or products with meaning – matters.
“Trust is the most valuable thing now. As technology gets more and more sophisticated, the thing that becomes more scarce is trust,” John said.
“The product gets you in the building,” he added. “The reputation keeps you in the building forever.”
Daymond John walked the floor at Promotions East following his keynote, stopping to chat with several suppliers at their booths.
Make It an ‘Experience’
Experiential marketing has been growing in popularity in promo in a big way. At Promotions East, event organizers leaned into the “experience” idea with activations like a sock and bucket hat bar from Sock101 (asi/88071) and STAHLS’ (asi/88984), where attendees could pick from a variety of NYC-themed patches, which were pressed onto their chosen product. There was also a caricature artist, photo booth, coffee cart and a cotton candy artist doling out spun sugar in vibrant shapes.
There were a variety of NYC-themed patches available at Sock101 (asi/88071) and STAHLS’ (asi/88984) sock bar at Promotions East, which ran alongside other pop-ups like a cotton candy artist.
The desire for interactivity or offline activities is translating into product trends, too. “The analog versus digital idea is a huge thing,” said Amy Martin of Vinylux – or Record Remix (asi/93934) in promo – who said she’s seen a lot of recent interest from tech companies in their products, which are made from old vinyl records.
Anecdote Candles (asi/36221) works in tandem with clients to create a custom “anecdote” around the client’s chosen scent from its library of 100-plus options. The resulting products are more driven by the experience around the scent than a standard label – for example, for cult-followed cycling brand CycleBar, the sparkling berry and citrus candle reads “Smells like indoor heat and disco beats.” To show off to the promo pros in the room, there was “Swag Snob: smells like logo lust and brand envy.”
Custom 9-ounce tumbler candle (CAHT-4OAK-03) from Anecdote Candles (asi/36221)
Dan Edge, president at Peerless Umbrella (asi/76730), has significantly grown the supplier’s catalog outside of its staple umbrellas to include outdoor games like pickleball and cornhole, as well as coolers, because of the popularity of the items. “Outdoor products are our fastest-growing category,” he said.
Partylux 15-liter Pop-Up Cooler Table (POP026) from Peerless Umbrella (asi/76730)
A Brighter Palette
Suppliers across categories – including Peerless – said brands are moving beyond the traditional corporate palette of black, navy and gray in favor of retail-inspired colors and trend-driven hues. Brands want retail inspiration, said Madeline Weiss, strategic account manager at Spector & Co. (asi/88660), but they’re learning that doesn’t have to mean ignoring color, especially if they’re willing to be a little more out there.
Spector & Co. has leaned into colorful products across several of its top categories, including stationery, drinkware, bags and travel products, like the Colorpulse Passport Holder & Luggage Tag set (G543).
Storm Creek (asi/89879) has always pulled both popular colors and silhouettes from retail, said Willy Flores-Gonzalez, an in-territory account manager. The apparel supplier has released an orange heather color in several of its most popular styles, many inspired by popular retail names like lululemon and Vuori, ahead of the autumn season – “the color of fall,” says Flores-Gonzalez.
Pacesetter quarter zip (2340) from Storm Creek (asi/89879)
Small Is Big
The other product category making an impact? Anything miniature.
“Small is in,” said Jenn Twiss, of Uinta Design (asi/92416). “It’s really blown up, and I think that’s just because it makes people happy.” That’s been especially true in the bag category. Twiss showed off, for example, Uinta’s mini-tote keychains – essentially, a coin purse-size version of a few of their larger products, perfectly sized to clip onto a strap as a “bag on a bag.”
Clip-on quilted mini from Uinta Design (asi/92416)
Jacqui Brunetto, of Counselor Top 40 supplier PCNA (asi/66887), called the company’s mini-tote bag keychain – inspired by the Trader Joe’s viral mini and boat totes – “an adult Labubu.” She also showed off a miniature 200-mL Hydro Flask bottle with a carry handle, which she said she’s seen used for everything from espresso shots to alcoholic ones.
Hydro Flask Micro Hydro Bottle (1601-88) and Mini-Tote Bag Charms (9898-32) from PCNA (asi/66887)
The interest in “small” seemingly extends to small decoration, too. Counselor Top 40 supplier Vantage Apparel (asi/93390) saw a lot of interest in the subtle “USA” and “250” clamshell labels – which go on the back of the neck of a piece of apparel or the back of a baseball hat – that it offers through its new Americana collection, as a way to participate in America250 hype in a more subtle way.
USA Clamshell Label on the Roadie Denim Jacket (7025) from Vantage Apparel (asi/93390)
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