Making an Impact on Capitol Hill
Client
PPAI
Year
2026
INSPIRATION
Last year, our president Joseph Sommer attended PPAI LEAD, the Promotional Products Association International's annual trip to Capitol Hill where the industry shows up in Washington D.C. to lobby for itself in front of congressmen and senators. He came back fired up. So when PPAI called us this year and asked Whitestone to produce the official giveaways for LEAD 2026, out of 25,000 distributors, it felt like a signal.
PPAI came to us with a clear brief: Made in USA, gender neutral, nothing polarizing. Every piece would end up in the hands of legislators on Capitol Hill, and they needed a team they could trust to take that seriously. Whitestone was that team.
PLAN
The program was built around two tiers: a general giveaway collection designed to reach a broad audience, and a premium collection reserved for members of congress. PPAI came prepared. They pulled templates, sent artwork quickly, and moved with the decisiveness you'd expect from the leading association in our industry. Our role wasn't just to source products. It was to be a true partner through the process, one that understood the parameters, respected the stakes, and made every decision feel easy for their team.
PRODUCT
THE ORGANIZER PACK: A branded pouch built as a functional, ready-to-use kit containing the NFC Slim Pen, NFC Scribe, a custom 3.5" x 5" notecard, and a Post-it® Personal Organizer Pak. Full color imprint on the exterior brought everything together visually, and candy was tucked inside to reinforce just how versatile the pack could be. Practical, polished, and built to actually be used.
THE PREMIUM PACK: A lower-quantity, higher-impact collection anchored by the Basecamp Concourse Laptop Backpack and the FSC® Mix Presidential Padfolio, produced at 25 units. The FreshKeep Platinum Silicone 34 fl oz Leakproof Food Storage rounded out the assortment. Everything decorated and made in the USA, everything selected to hold up to the standards PPAI brought to every decision in this program.
RESULTS
These products are heading to Capitol Hill, into the hands of the people who make decisions that shape our entire industry. That context informed every choice we made as a partner on this project.
The bigger story here is what this collaboration represents. PPAI didn't put out a bid to thousands of distributors. They called Whitestone and trusted us to deliver. We sourced on brief, executed without friction, and gave their team the confidence to focus on the advocacy work that makes LEAD matter. That is the kind of partner Whitestone works every day to be, and we are proud this was the year PPAI gave us the chance to show it.
PPAI LEAD is one of the most important moments our industry has to show up and be heard, and being chosen to support that effort on Capitol Hill was a proud moment for Whitestone because it reflected the trust PPAI placed in our team to represent the industry on such an important stage. It reinforced the role merchandise can play beyond marketing, helping our industry show up with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
-Joe Sommer