Reflections from My Recent Business Trips: Insights and Learning

This month, I had the privilege of embarking on three incredible business trips, each with its own set of experiences and valuable takeaways. The span of just 12 days was a whirlwind, but it was also a time of growth, learning, and meeting some truly inspiring people.

Let me take you through these experiences and share the lessons I learned along the way.

ToyFair in New York – A World of Innovation

My first stop was the ToyFair in New York, an event that I had heard much about but had never experienced firsthand. This year, five of my current partners were attending the show for the first time, and it was also my first time attending. It was fantastic to see everyone in person and have face-to-face conversations about business, sharing wins and challenges. Special thanks to POPDARTS , BucketGolf , ZipString , Disc It , and Lost Boys Entertainment for the warm and engaging meetings.

The ToyFair was a colossal event, with two large floors filled with toys, games, and various interactive activities. What stood out to me was the distinct “business” vibe of the event. Unlike many expos, there were very few casual visitors, making it a focused environment for serious business connections. It also showcased the stark gap between large, well-established toy brands like Mattel, Lego, and Hasbro, and smaller, emerging brands. Every booth seemed to feature a toy or game that I had already seen in retail or on Amazon, but the innovation that I witnessed was eye-opening.

Despite the fact that my main goal was to meet with my partners, I also had the chance to meet toy inventors and get a sneak peek at some new, innovative toys that aren’t yet available on Amazon. It was humbling to realize how much innovation is happening in the toy industry—innovations that, if you’re not actively looking for them, could easily pass by unnoticed. Many of these toys could very well become multi-million dollar brands in the future.

Though two days at ToyFair felt like it passed in the blink of an eye, I left the event with a renewed desire to attend again next year. It was a fantastic experience, and I truly hope that all my partners left with valuable insights and connections, just as I did.

Expo West – A Vibrant Hub of Innovation and Networking

Next, I headed to Expo West, another first for me. I had heard a lot about the event, but for one reason or another, I had never made it to the show until this year. This time, however, there was a significant reason for me to attend— EZ Bombs , one of our newest partners, was showcasing their product at the event, and I couldn’t miss it. A big thank you to Mike Jalonen and Brandon Castaneda for the invite.

Expo West was by far the largest and most packed event I’ve ever attended. With three massive halls filled with every imaginable brand—both established and new—there was no shortage of innovation. The atmosphere was electric, with an ample amount of free food and samples to fuel the day.

What really caught my attention was the huge number of vendors who shared that they sell on Amazon. Many of them had significant followings on Amazon, but some lacked proper representation. It was a reminder of how much potential there is for sellers on the platform, and it reaffirmed my belief that Amazon remains a crucial channel for so many businesses.

During the event, I was able to spend a lot of time at the EZ BOMBS booth, where the excitement never stopped. It was packed the entire time, and I had the opportunity to meet several sellers who were offering products that I believe will be huge hits in the market. Expo West was a perfect blend of networking, learning, and discovering new opportunities.

I left the event feeling motivated and inspired, and I’m already considering returning next year to fully explore the show over all three days.

Amazon Ads & Quartile Seminar – A Deep Dive into Amazon Marketing

Finally, I made my way back to New York, this time for an event hosted by Amazon Ads and Quartile. The seminar was focused on Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) and DSP Ads, topics that deeply intrigue me as someone who’s been in the Amazon space for over 10 years.

The invitation came from a great friend and partner, Lisa from Rinseroo, and it was a fantastic opportunity to connect in person. Not only was I excited to meet Lisa and Jake, but I was also eager to learn what’s coming in 2025 in terms of Amazon Ads. As a service provider and seller, I wanted to make sure I’m staying ahead of the curve, and Quartile, as one of the leading software providers, was a perfect source of insights.

I’m pleased to report that, after attending the seminar, PAS is already at the top of its game when it comes to traditional Amazon advertising. I didn’t hear any strategies or tactics that we aren’t already using based on the brands and services we offer. However, the real breakthrough came after attending the AMC and DSP presentations.

I left with a deeper understanding of these tools and their potential. For years, Amazon DSP Ads have been used primarily by large brands for brand awareness and reaching a wider audience. But what sets AMC apart is its ability to link with Amazon Ads and provide a five-year data history, allowing for more precise targeting and improved decision-making.

This seminar made me realize that AMC and DSP could open up entirely new opportunities for our partners in the future. While DSP services are not something I can offer right now I’m actively integrating Amazon DSP into our service offerings and becomeing Amazon Advanced Partner. It’s clear to me that DSP will play a crucial role in our strategy moving forward, and I’m excited to bring it to our partners. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements as we prepare to offer this service and help our partners unlock new growth potential.

Wrapping Up My Business Trip Journey

The several learning ventures supplied important business and personal educational experiences. The combination of networking activities at ToyFair and Expo West with learning about Amazon advertising tools and opportunities brought me numerous valuable insights to apply.

The trips gave me both enriched business understanding while reinforcing the essential value of innovation coupled with ongoing education and the development of meaningful relationships with existing and new business partners. The upcoming events have me excited since they will expand my educational journey and professional development.