– 162 first-time exhibitors and large number of big returnees
– Textiles as a focal topic with new TEXTILE AREA
– PSI FIRST: 50 Product premieres at the trade fair

There is a good chance of the promotional products market closing the current business year with a positive balance. An upward trend is noticeable in the promotional products industry. This improves the mood and provides motivation for preparations for the coming promotional products year. And these are already proceeding at full speed, since the key players and successful newcomers will meet from 7 to 9 January at PSI 2015 – the Leading European Trade Fair for the Promotional Products Industry – in Düsseldorf. Here again, prospects are promising: Around 95 percent of the exhibition area is booked already. A large number of newcomers as well as returnees have registered for participation.

The numbers go to show that the promotional products industry can breathe a sigh of relief. In 2013, the industry posted a volume of 3.42 billion euro – a bit of a masterstroke, considering the (in some cases massive) drop in sales of classic advertising carriers. “This is reason for us to be optimistic for the coming promotional products year of 2015“, says PSI-Chef Michael Freter. “The PSI Show is a mood barometer for the industry and provides a perspective on the promotional products year ahead, right at its very beginning. The numbers of first-time exhibitors, the international participation and the current state of bookings – particularly for our special exhibition areas – let us hope for a positive overall result – also for the industry as a whole.“ Young and fresh ideas, in particular, have an invigorating effect on the market. From the handy environmentally friendly table football set, to the colourful World Cup glasses which were a real summer hit in 2014, and through to the life-saving shoehorn, a large number of product highlights were presented at PSI and subsequently caught on well in the course of the year. Some of the 2015 highlights have already been presented:

Newcomers and regulars from all around the world
With about two months to go until the trade show opens, PSI is almost completely booked out. The number of newcomers, in particular, is a source of pleasant anticipation: 162 newcomers have registered for participation to date. Among them are SOMEST OY from Finland, Prinopa from Detmold or Delsey from Hamburg. Goliath Toys from Dreieich, Pretty Arts from the United Kingdom, GEOMAN from Bulgaria, and Dragon Gifts from Russia are also taking part as first-time exhibitors in PSI 2015. Even companies who had recently given PSI a break are coming back in 2015. Among these returnees are MACMA, SENATOR, NewWave, PF Concept International, Klio-Eterna Schreibgeräte or Promodoro Fashion. All in all, exhibitors are as varied as they are international. More than 50 percent come from abroad. More than 30 countries are represented at the Leading European Trade Fair for the Promotional Products Industry. Exhibitors from Australia, Canada, Scandinavia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States and all parts of Europe will be present.

Inventors and Start-ups
Every year, the PSI special exhibition areas are particularly attractions, drawing a very positive response from visitors and exhibitors alike. Due to strong demand, the number of exhibitor spaces in the HALLE13-AREA was expanded by 25. Here start-up companies and inventors present their products. Erfinderbüro Merdonig, Schäfer Toy, Flaschenflagge and Beach Bag have already secured their spaces. Pastry and baumstark also showcase their inventions. In the HALLE13-AREA, PSI gives young companies the opportunity to enter the European promotional products market.

Textiles: The big focal topic
Some 40 percent of PSI visitors are interested in textile promotional products. As a result, this segment will be further strengthened at PSI 2015 by setting up a separate area looking at the topic of textiles: the TEXTILE AREA in Hall 10. Its aim is to open up new sales opportunities especially to small textile companies. Among the companies exhibiting here are Garland Bridge, Printfield, Just Style or Sport Böckmann. iMi, Daydream, MALGRADO and Fifty Five also present their textile highlights. Walser, JB ERRE and HAT’s will also be present.

The TEXTILE AREA will be combined with the CATWALK, launched only last year and already booked out, where models presented products from the participating exhibitors in show acts. It is available to the exhibitors for staging an even more effective display of their products. In 2015, models will presents fashions by Promodoro, Gustav Daiber, ID Rexholm, Tee Jays and Industrial Wear, as well as ADLER, Inspirion, Kleinmann Textil + Design, Lynka and Nunettes Germany.

The area will be supplemented by the TEXTILE FINISHING AREA which focuses on options for fabric finishing. Charlie aka “Dr. Print” Taublieb will move from the TECHNOLOGY FORUM to the TEXTILE FINISHING AREA and present screen printing processes at “Charlie’s Corner”. Other live demonstrations relating to fabric finishing processes will be held here as well.

The familiar suppliers of textile promotional products will, of course, be found again in all PSI halls. More than 80 exhibitors from the textile segment have already booked their stands, among them Floringo, New Wave, SOL’S SOLOINVEST as well as Stanley and Stella.

TECHNOLOGY FORUM
The overall topic at the TECHNOLOGY FORUM in Hall 12 is the branding of promotional products. Exhibitors here are companies from the promotional products printing and finishing segment, such as Mimaki Europe, NEOFLEX, Teca-Print, Wallburg, BOOGIE and KPK. Studio 55 International, Shock Line, Portica, Flexible Innovations and MOUNTEK will also be present. An integral part of the TECHNOLOGY FORUM is once again a DEMONSTRATION AREA with several stops showcasing finishing and production processes.

GUSTO Pavilion
Visitors can again enjoy product tasting to their heart’s content: The GUSTO Pavilion in Hall 9 will be back in 2015. It’s the place to test promotional products of the food and drink variety with all one’s senses. Among the products to be tasted are the creations by drinks, Kuchenmeister and Fröhlich.

50 premieres at PSI FIRST
After its debut in 2014, PSI FIRST is celebrating its second edition in 2015. 50 top companies from the industry stage exclusive product premieres during the trade show. Participants include MACMA, elasto form, LM Accessoires, Senator, Spranz, Mahlwerk, Plastoria, Acar, Listawood and Ritter-Pen. The aim is to provide special support for exhibitors’ product launches.

Events in the entrance area: the MALL
During PSI 2015, the area inside the North Entrance will again be used to get visitors into the mood for the promotional products trade fair. Product presentations line the visitors’ path into the halls. The Product Avenue offers a large range of promotional products to take away. The PSI Show Bags, filled with product samples and sponsored by elasto form, will also be handed out here.

New location: PSI AFTER WORK
The PSI AFTER WORK is moving: The PSI 2015 evening event will be held in a separate party area in Hall 9. The PSI AFTER WORK takes place on the Thursday of the trade show; admission is free for all exhibitors and visitors. A cautionary note: The number of participants is limited.

About PSI
At PSI, the Leading European Trade Fair of the Promotional Products Industry, promotional products professionals will be able to gain an overview of the trends and innovations of the industry. It will also offer special exhibits and show areas where topics such as promotional labelling, printing and finishing technologies as well as inventions and innovations will be taken up and looked at in greater depth. At PSI 2014, 852 exhibitors presented their companies to 16,228 visitors. PSI 2015 will take place in Düsseldorf from 7 to 9 January.

www.psi-messe.com