The 2026 PPAI Expo in Las Vegas was the biggest in recent memory. Over 10,000 promotional products professionals gathered at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center from January 13-15 to see what's next for the industry. Brikl exhibited at Booth #3508, and the conversations we had confirmed what we've been seeing in platform data all year: on-demand is no longer a niche — it's becoming the default.
Three Themes That Dominated the Show Floor
1. Distributors Want to Eliminate Inventory
The most common question at our booth wasn't "what does Brikl do?" — it was "how fast can I move my clients off inventory?" Distributors managing warehouses full of pre-decorated products are feeling the pressure of rising storage costs, dead stock write-offs, and the operational overhead of managing physical inventory.
The shift isn't theoretical anymore. Distributors are actively looking for platforms that let them offer the same product variety without the same risk profile.
2. Decoration Technology Is Catching Up
The quality gap between on-demand decoration and bulk production has narrowed dramatically. DTG (direct-to-garment) printers now produce results that are nearly indistinguishable from screen printing for runs under 100 units. DTF (direct-to-film) technology has made it possible to decorate fabrics that were previously difficult to print on.
This matters because the historical argument against on-demand — "the quality isn't good enough" — is disappearing. Several decoration partners on the show floor were demonstrating outputs that would have been impossible two years ago.
3. Integration Is Non-Negotiable
Distributors aren't looking for standalone tools anymore. They want platforms that integrate with their existing workflows — ERP systems, order management platforms, supplier catalogs, and accounting software. The era of point solutions is ending.
At Brikl, this aligns with our API-first architecture. The Connect plan provides full API and webhook access, allowing distributors to plug Brikl's fulfillment engine into their existing tech stack without replacing what already works.
What We Showed at Booth #3508
We demonstrated three capabilities that generated the most interest:
Multi-store management — showing how a single distributor account can manage dozens of branded storefronts, each with its own domain, catalog, and branding, from one dashboard.
Real-time supplier integration — live product data from wholesale suppliers flowing directly into store catalogs with accurate pricing and inventory levels.
Automated order routing — an order placed on a distributor's store being automatically sent to the appropriate fulfillment partner based on decoration method and product type, with tracking updates flowing back in real-time.
Looking Ahead
The PPAI Expo confirmed that the promotional products industry is at an inflection point. The distributors who adopt on-demand technology in 2026 will have a structural advantage over those who wait — lower operating costs, broader product offerings, and the ability to serve clients who demand one-unit minimums and fast turnaround.
We'll be back at PPAI Expo 2027. In the meantime, we're focused on expanding our fulfillment network and building the integrations that distributors are asking for.