Dear Member,
Welcome to the inaugural issue of The Insider: Women Who Brand – a monthly e-newsletter created by the GXN Women in Promo. This space is built by women – and open to everyone who values the perspective.
Personal Pulse Check: Rethinking the “Always On” Expectation
By Sarah Howarth, Owner/Sales & Commercial Director, Wild Thang Promotions
Is the pressure to always be available quietly burning out our best leaders? Sarah Howarth explores how senior women in promo are pushing back – setting boundaries, building trust and redefining what good leadership actually looks like.
The full article will be published on gxn-net.org – you will be notified in this newsletter as soon as it is live.
Spotlight On… The Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Show
The 60th edition of the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Show drew GXN members from Goldstar, Geiger, ASI, Synneo and Reflects. A snapshot of who was there, what they saw and why it mattered.
The full report and photos will be published on gxn-net.org – watch this space for the announcement.
Hot Dates: Global Promo Events – June to August 2026
From Hamburg to Milwaukee, Brussels and beyond – the second half of 2026 is packed with events that matter to our industry. We have curated the key dates so you don’t miss what’s relevant to you.
June
22-24
PPAI Women’s Leadership Conference
Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel
Milwaukee, WI
(888)-I-AM-PPAI
ppai.org
24-25
Future Fabrics Expo
Brussels Expo
Brussels, Belgium
thesustainableangle.org
23-25
Travel Goods Show 2026
Salt Palace Convention Center
Salt Lake City, UT
(877) 842-1938
travelgoods.org
The full event calendar will be available on gxn-net.org – we will let you know as soon as it is posted.
Power Profile: Lise Lauritzen, IDÉ House of Brands, Norway
Compiled by Lisa Bennett
Lise Lauritzen grew up around the promo industry – her parents founded IDÉ House of Brands in 1987. Since joining the company in 2005, she has worked across every function in the business. Today, as Manager of Purchasing at one of Europe’s leading promotional product agencies, she leads with candour, pragmatism and a quiet Scandinavian confidence that is impossible to ignore.
Here you find the full Power Profile and interview.
Social Showcase
Compiled by Vicky Kinasz, President, Geiger International
Every month, female leaders across our network share moments that matter – campaign wins, milestones, and the kind of candid insight that doesn’t always make it into a press release. Vicky Kinasz has curated this month’s standout posts. Want your story featured next month? Reach out to Vicky directly.
The full Social Showcase will be published on gxn-net.org – stay tuned for the announcement.
Fast Facts: ASI 2026 Ad Impressions Study
ASI has just released its 2026 Global Ad Impressions Study: 95% of consumers say they view a brand more favourably after receiving a promo item, and 92% say they’d be more likely to do business with that company. EU and UK-specific data will follow next month. The full study is available at gxn-net.org.
**************************************************************************************************
To contribute to this monthly e-newsletter, reach out to Michele Bell at mbell@asicentral.com or Lisa Bennett at lisabennett530@gmail.com.
Best regards, GXN Women in Promo
Supported by
