Here's What You Missed at the Facilisgroup Summit

One thing about Facilisgroup, we definitely know how to let the good times roll! We recently held our much-anticipated Facilisgroup Summit in lively New Orleans, Louisiana! For those unfamiliar, the Facilisgroup Summit is our four-day event designed for our community to come together, share industry insights, reconnect with old colleagues, and see the latest and greatest products emerging out of the promotional products industry. From insightful sessions and guest speakers to a MASSIVE trade show floor and even a second-line marching band, here’s what you missed at the 2025 Facilisgroup Summit.

Day 1 & 2: July 13 - 14

We kicked off the summit on Sunday with our OKM Big Easy Kickoff Reception, where our owners and key managers mingled with new friends and reconnected with old ones. Monday morning was when the event really got off on the right foot, thanks in part to the incredible second-line marching that woke up the attendees. The New Orleans Music Company really knew how to get the party started. 

After that high-energy intro, the morning session continued with our State of Facilis presentation with our President, Chris Lee, and Chief Product Officer, Matthew Cromar. The two talked about the incredible year the Facilisgroup Community had in 2024 and where we’re headed in 2025, including a sneak peek at the latest updates coming to Facilisgroup’s cloud-based technology, Syncore. The State of Facilis was followed by a panel discussion led by Facilisgroup’s Director of Strategic Partner Development, Becki Heinen, about how today’s top distributors are staying ahead in the industry. 

Our morning general session concluded with an important keynote presentation from ASI President and CEO, Tim Andrews, on where the industry is headed and trends to keep an eye out for in 2025.

Attendees spent the rest of Monday in educational sessions catered to needs important to their business, including Sized Solutions, allowing leaders to gain industry tips and understanding in a more private, intimate setting. And to keep with the private, intimate moments, our OKMs capped off their day by tasting what New Orleans had to offer during our Dine Around experience. The rest of our attendees landed in New Orleans and enjoyed an incredible kick-off reception to get excited for what the summit had in store.

Day 3: July 15

Day three of the Facilisgroup Summit kicked off with a morning filled with educational sessions, covering a wide range of topics, including how to sell across different age groups, presented by SanMar, and AI tools streamlining work efficiency, led by our Manager of Revenue Enablement, Chase Kilby. During the lunch hour, attendees got the opportunity to hear from S&S Activewear’s CEO, Frank Myers, about the company’s recent acquisition of alphabroder and more.  

By 1:30, it was time for the Supplier Showcase floor to open, but before attendees could fill their show totes with goodies, they helped pack care packages as part of our Facilis Cares initiative. Every time we throw an event in a city, we love to do our part to leave the community better than we found it, and New Orleans was no exception. This year, we packed and donated 100 kits filled with essential professional products, including crossbody bags, notebooks, pens, chargers, and inspirational messages, in partnership with Dress for Success New Orleans.

Once the kits were packed, it was time for the Supplier Showcase to officially open! Our Preferred Suppliers truly did not miss when it came to what they had to showcase. Some highlights of this year’s floor include the custom on-demand t-shirt printing experience courtesy of PCNA, the Origiaudio Recharge Retreat for some quiet time on the floor courtesy of HPG, and the most talked-about experience of the event: the Shoe and Sock Bar courtesy of Socks 101. Our Achievers, sales reps who sold over $1 million during the previous calendar year, stepped into our Achievers’ Lounge and got the chance to design a custom sneaker that will get shipped to their house once the event concludes. In addition to new kicks, they got to customize their own pair of socks, complete with New Orleans and Facilisgroup-themed patches. 

We capped off day 3 with an electrifying Big Easy Bash hosted at Mardi Gras World. Attendees were greeted with Mardi Gras jesters, stilt walkers, and a complimentary Hurricane to get the evening groovin'. New Orleans cover band, The Phunky Monkeys, had everyone dancing all night long until they couldn’t! 

Day 4: July 16

Day four of the summit began with an impactful keynote session from Tracey Lovejoy, co-founder of Catalyst Constellations, for our emPOWER session. Lovejoy discussed the importance of unmasking your power and what it means to lead with authenticity. Attendees had one more opportunity to walk the floor before it was time to close up and head back to the office.

The 2025 Facilisgroup Summit was nothing short of extraordinary! Thanks again to everyone who made it down to NOLA. We hope you left the Big Easy with new connections, insights, and memories. We’ll catch you at the Winter Summit in January during the PPAI Expo in Las Vegas.