Rules

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PPPC Trade Show Rules & Regulations

Event Exhibitors are required to abide by all rules and regulations established by the Promotional Products Professionals of Canada (PPPC, also referred to as Management). Exhibitors agree to abide by rules adopted by Management, and that Management shall have the final decision in adopting any rules and regulations deemed necessary prior to, during and after the show. Note that for all events taking place after October 1, 2021, Exhibitors must also adhere to PPPC’s COVID Vaccination Policy & PPPC’s COVID Safety Rules.

The Exhibitor agrees to comply with all applicable privacy laws, including the Personal Information and Electronic Documents Act (Canada, the “Privacy Laws”) and particularly with respect to any personal information about an identifiable individual collected, used or disclosed during or in connection with the show.

The following rules apply equally to shows at which Clients (End-Users) of member Distributors are invited.

Exhibitors, members or persons in attendance of PPPC events who violate these Rules & Regulations are subject to sanctions and/or penalties, which may include the following:

1. Who may Exhibit

Supplier Members

Exhibit privileges are open to all Supplier Members who are in good standing with PPPC. PPPC shows are primarily designed for Suppliers and Distributors to do business together. If a Supplier cannot exhibit, the company’s products can be featured in their Multi-Line Agency’s booth, but the Supplier is not permitted to work in the MLA’s booth. Non-exhibiting Supplier Members may not be present on the show floor.

Associate Members

Associate Members offering services to other members of the Association may exhibit; however, priority for exhibit space will normally be given to Supplier Members. The show’s primary purpose is to provide distributors with exposure to promotional products, premiums & incentives, and business gift items, and to assist them in the sale of such items to promotion buyers. As such, Associate Members and Associate Subscribers dealing in manufacturing equipment, machinery, parts or materials used in the production of a product, imprinting and decorating equipment and all other similar items may not exhibit. Non-exhibiting Associate Members may not be present on the show floor.

Multi-Line Agencies (MLA)

Multi-line Agencies (MLAs) provide sales and marketing services to suppliers who do their own invoicing. When exhibiting, the name(s) of the companies the MLA represents must be clearly indicated below their name, and MLAs must pay a $105 fee, in addition to their membership fees, towards exhibiting privileges. MLAs may exhibit product lines as required under the following conditions:

MLAs may exhibit under their own company name only if the suppliers whose lines they are showing are not present to exhibit their own product.

NOTE: Companies with exhibiting privileges who choose to forego their right to exhibit at a PPPC trade show cannot attend that show under any circumstance. Multi-Line Representatives can only attend a PPPC trade show if they are representing one or more Suppliers exhibiting in the said show. All Exhibitors must be current in payment of dues and all other charges invoiced by PPPC and have executed the Exhibitor’s contract.

2. Visitors / Attendees

Exhibitions and/or any special or business events held by the Association are industry trade events open to Association members who are current in payment of dues and subscribers who have paid an annual subscription fee in addition to the premium over what members pay for services. They are closed to the general public, unauthorized persons, and to children under the age of 16.

Distributor members can register as many of their staff members as permitted with respect to their level of membership to attend a show at no cost.

NOTE: Distributors cannot register potential members or suppliers as delegates of their own firm or as guests for the purpose of giving access to the premises, as this is considered an unauthorized use of a badge. A penalty for such violations will apply automatically.

3. Exhibits

Official exhibits are confined to booths on the exhibition floor of the designated convention facility. Show management reserves the right to reject or prohibit exhibits, or Exhibitors do not meet the goals of the trade show, or to relocate Exhibitors when in management’s opinion such moves are necessary to maintain the quality, traffic flow, character and good order of the show.

Exhibitors are not permitted to show products, solicit or draw traffic elsewhere on or around the PPPC premises during show hours unless agreed upon as part of a sponsorship opportunity with PPPC. An Exhibitor may reserve space only for its own use and may not transfer, assign or sublet space to other Exhibitors without written permission of Management.

An Exhibitor may exhibit the products of no more than one company in a single standard exhibit booth. The Supplier can only show products that will be invoiced by said Supplier. Exhibiting products of affiliate or sister companies, even those who are also members, is prohibited. A Supplier can show as many lines as are sold by the company.

The Exhibitor agrees that no display may be dismantled or goods removed during the entire show run, and must remain intact until closing on the last day. Early tear-down of a booth will automatically result in a penalty. Exhibitor also agrees to remove their exhibit, equipment and apparatus from the show building by final move-out time, or in failing to do so, agrees to pay all such additional costs as may be incurred.

Exhibits must comply with fire regulations. All display materials must be fireproof.

Booth Assignment

Booth assignment space is assigned under a priority point system established by the PPPC, based on both the exhibitor supplier member’s participation in trade shows (Beginning with the Montreal 1991 National Convention) and the number of members’ years in the Association. Specifically, one point is credited for each calendar year of the company’s membership since 1956 (date of the letters patent incorporating the Promotional Products Association of Canada Inc & Promotional Product Professionals of Canada) and one point for attendance at each PPPC show (per city). Exhibiting companies that lapse their membership for longer than one year lose previously accrued priority points.

Priority points cannot be donated, bought, or sold by or from one exhibiting company to another. Priority points can only be transferred or absorbed by one Exhibitor Company from another through the process of acquisition of another exhibitor company in good standing. The acquired company must clearly demonstrate that it is in the Promotional Products industry as a going entity at the time of the acquisition. However, the priority points of the two companies may not be combined. (For example: If Company A with 13 points purchases Company B with 45 points and becomes one company the firm’s priority points are 45, not 58).

Exhibitors may list their booth location preferences on their application form but are not guaranteed specific locations and/or booth configurations. Many factors are taken into consideration when assigning booths and show management reserves the right to place a company’s booth anywhere on the show floor that best suits overall considerations according to size, configuration, competition, overall flow, etc. Also considered in the allocation of booth spaces are competitive exhibitors, number of required booth spaces, special configuration and date of returned registration forms.

Conflicts between firms having the same point credit are resolved by order of membership entry date. Groups of exhibitors are granted an average of their total points for booth allocation.

EXHIBITORS WHOSE BOOTH REGISTRATION FORMS AND PAYMENT ARE NOT RECEIVED BY THE DEADLINE DATE SPECIFIED ON THE FORM WILL LOSE THEIR PRIORITY POINTS ADVANTAGE FOR THAT SHOW. ASSIGNMENT OF BOOTH SPACE WILL THEN BE ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS DEPENDING ON SPACE AVAILABILITY.

Exhibit Space

Exhibit space not occupied by the Exhibitor by the end of the setup time shall be forfeited by the Exhibitor and the space reassigned by the Association without refund unless arrangements for delayed occupancy have been approved by Show Management. In the event that an Exhibitor fails to make all payments at the time appointed herein, all rights of the Exhibitor shall cease and terminate and any and all payments on account hereof prior to said time may be retained by Management as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, and Management may rent the space to other Exhibitors. Distributor attendee lists will not be provided to suppliers who forfeit their space or fail to make all payments.

In the event, that the building should be destroyed by fire or the elements, or if any other circumstances whatsoever should occur which might make it impossible for Management to permit exhibitors to occupy the premises or if the show is cancelled, the exhibitor shall pay for space only for the period the space was or could have been occupied, and Management will in no way be responsible for any claims or damage which might arise in consequence thereof.

During the Show

All exhibit items are to be placed within your designated booth space and must not encroach or obstruct the aisle or the neighbouring booths.

Signs, advertising devices and/or representation shall be confined to the Exhibitor’s booth. Exhibitors can show line names and/or company names only at booths. Nothing shall be posted, tacked or otherwise attached to columns, walls, floors or other parts of the building or furniture. Exhibitors shall not distribute or display products, circulars, catalogues or publications outside the confines of the exhibit areas. Exhibitors are not permitted to supply or sell food or beverages within the exhibit space.

The Exhibitor shall not conduct him/herself or operate any equipment at a level of sound that is determined at the sole discretion of management to be detrimental to the welfare of the show or other Exhibitors.

BOOTH specs and limitationsDownload

Distribution of Materials

Catalogues may only show line names and/or company names and/or Association membership numbers. PPPC does not prohibit the publication of web addresses on supplier catalogues; however, in the spirit of cooperation, we recommend that the established and accepted structure of our Association be followed, that of Supplier-Distributor-End User, on websites.

Suppliers may exchange business cards with all Members of distributor companies and their staff.

Only retail coded price lists are permitted for distribution on the floor; net price lists are not.

Protection of Property

Reasonable security shall be provided at all times on the show premises, primarily to assure public safety. Exhibitors’ property shall be placed on display at their own risk and Management assumes no liability for loss of damage thereto. The Exhibitor shall assume all responsibility for loss or damage to his or her property due to theft, fire, flood or any other cause beyond the control of Management.

PPPC might choose to coordinate the transportation of goods for its registered Exhibitors but has no control over the safe delivery of such goods, and therefore will forever be held harmless in the case of loss, damage and/or theft of Exhibitors’ goods while in PPPC’s or its contractors’ possession. Exhibitors must ensure goods at their own expense.

4. Exhibit Staff

Exhibit staff must be full-time employees of Exhibitors or be employed for the duration of the convention and clearly identified to PPPC. Badges for exhibit staff are not transferable. Costumed members of exhibit staff wearing product or location information must stay within the booth space while so attired. Registering a non-member as a company delegate consists of a violation and will automatically generate a penalty.

A Supplier is authorized to invite a representative of a raw goods company, a service provider, a professional model and/or a demonstrator to work exclusively in his/her booth during the show. This person will work exclusively for that Exhibitor and will not walk the show floor or solicit any other business at the show. Suppliers are prohibited from hiring or giving access to representatives from other promotional product companies unless they are member Multi-Line Representatives.

Multi-line/marketing reps who are members of the Association and represent one or more PPPC supplier members may work for more than one supplier at a PPPC show, providing those Supplier(s) are exhibiting.

It is the exhibiting Supplier’s responsibility to ensure all personnel staffing the booth are familiar with these Rules & Regulations.

5. Third-Party Contractors

Exhibitors may hire the services of 3rd party contractors to set up and tear down their booths. These private companies are not necessarily known by PPPC and, for security reasons, will only be admitted under the following conditions:

6. Business / Social Events

Members and Subscribers may not hold Business or Social functions or plant tours to which other Industry participants are invited during official exhibit hours, or during hours of Association-sponsored Business or Social functions, including Chapter-held events, without PPPC’s authorization. To receive authorization to host an event during official PPPC event hours, please contact katrina@pppc.ca.

7. Audio/Visual Recordings

All programs, meetings, sessions, seminars, trade shows and other events sponsored by the Association are the exclusive property of the Association and no one is permitted to record or reproduce such events, orally or visually, by digital recording, videotape recording, audio cassette recording or by any other means for commercial purposes without the express written consent of the Association. This rule does not prohibit videotaping or other visual or oral recordings by an Exhibitor at Association Trade Shows made entirely within the booth space leased by that Exhibitor. In order not to interfere with normal show proceedings, all recording done outside an Exhibitor’s own booth shall be done prior to or after exhibit hours; and any special expenses generated shall be borne by the proponents/Exhibitors.

8. Liability

The Exhibitor agrees to indemnify and save Management and any of its agents, partners, employees or sponsors, harmless from any damage, liability, claim, cost or expense (including legal fees) whatsoever arising from any injury or damage to said exhibitor, their agents, employees or invitee, or to other exhibitors or their property, and/or from any breach by said exhibitor, their agents or employees of any applicable Privacy Laws. Exhibitors shall be liable for any damages to the building or furniture and fixtures contained therein, or the approaches and entrances therein, or the approaches and entrances thereto, by virtue of the terms of this agreement. This also extends to any materials used for Management’s demonstration and sales activities.

Exhibitors shall provide to Management a Certificate of Insurance issued by their insurance agent/broker (this Certificate is generally available at no additional cost). This Certificate must certify that the Exhibitor has General Liability Insurance that is effective between the Move-In and Move-Out dates and that the amount of this insurance is no less than $1,000,000. Please contact your Insurance Company and request they place a “rider” on your existing policy. Exhibitors who have not supplied this Certificate will not be allowed to Move-In.

Rules & Regulations

Applicable in the Presence of Promotion Buyers / Clients

Exhibitors / Suppliers

Distributors / End Users

Distributor Hospitality Suites

AS AN INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATING IN A PPPC TRADE SHOW, YOU AND YOUR COMPANY STAFF AGREE TO ABIDE BY ALL RULES AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY PPPC, THE SHOW SPONSORS, AND THE FACILITY IN WHICH THE SHOW IS HELD.

IT IS THE INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO INFORM THEMSELVES OF ALL SHOW RULES AND REGULATIONS. IT IS ALSO UNDERSTOOD THAT PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF RULES AND REGULATIONS WILL APPLY.

ALL OF THE ABOVE POINTS ARE UNDERSTOOD AND ACCEPTED AS PART OF THE REGISTRATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS PROFESSIONALS OF CANADA, AND THOSE WHO EXHIBIT IN OR ATTEND ASSOCIATION TRADE SHOWS.