Universal Connect 2026 Brings Together Top Distributors and Suppliers for Three Days of Business Growth, Innovation, and Industry Connection - Universal

There was no shortage of energy, ideas, and opportunity at Universal Connect 2026 as Universal Unilink members and supplier partners gathered May 18–20 at the Embassy Suites Downtown Greenville in Greenville, South Carolina.

Designed for Connection

This year’s event proved to be one of the strongest Universal Connect conferences yet, with all attendee spots selling out quickly and distributor member participation filling faster than in any previous year. In total, 77 attendees representing 25 distributor member companies and 21 supplier companies came together for three days of networking, education, and one-on-one business meetings designed to help members grow stronger and more profitable businesses.

Held along the scenic Reedy River in the heart of downtown Greenville, the event combined business-focused programming with a welcoming atmosphere that gave attendees plenty of opportunities to build relationships and exchange ideas. Members and suppliers alike praised the location for its walkability, riverfront setting, and vibrant downtown experience.

Universal Connect’s signature hosted-buyer format once again delivered meaningful interaction between distributor members and supplier partners. Through scheduled suite meetings, every member had dedicated one-on-one time with participating suppliers to discuss new products, industry trends, business opportunities, and creative solutions for their customers.

The format continues to be one of the biggest advantages of Universal Connect for both members and suppliers. Rather than competing for attention in a crowded trade show environment, suppliers can connect directly with top distributors in focused conversations that create real business opportunities.

“Universal Connect is designed to create measurable business value for both our members and suppliers,” said Sherryl Stoner, President of Universal Unilink. “The focused one-on-one meeting structure helps distributors discover new opportunities, strengthen supplier relationships, improve operational efficiency, and identify profitable product categories that directly support long-term growth.”

Ideas Worth Sharing

Education remained a major focus of this year’s conference. Monday’s sessions delivered practical strategies distributors can apply immediately to increase sales and improve efficiency in today’s competitive promotional products marketplace.

Attendees heard from Joan Miracle of Advertising Specialty Institute, who shared proven sales strategies used by top-performing distributors to increase revenue and improve profitability. Ron Friedman of MerchPilot presented actionable ways distributors can use artificial intelligence and automation to improve prospecting, follow-up, and sales consistency. Bernie Borges of Fulfilled@Work Academy introduced attendees to strategies for turning branded merchandise programs into recurring revenue opportunities through employee engagement initiatives.

Tuesday’s keynote presentation featured Jonathan G. Isaacson, Executive Chair of Gemline, who shared insights on leadership, innovation, and building organizations with long-term impact. His presentation was one of the highlights of the event and reinforced the importance of adaptability and relationship-building in the evolving promotional products industry.

Meaningful Moments

Members consistently commented on the value of the event’s open conversations and collaborative atmosphere.

“The event was fantastic—one of my favorite things is having the opportunity to ‘pick someone’s brain’ and dive into conversations about products, the pros and cons, and the challenges people are seeing,” said Mollie Gurley, Owner of All Things Promotional.

Susan Baker, Owner of TY Ink Promotions, praised both the educational content and the supplier interaction.

“The sessions were the best we’ve attended anywhere, and the overall atmosphere made the experience not only valuable but genuinely enjoyable,” Baker said. “I especially appreciated the exchange of ideas with the suppliers and their willingness to learn about what we are doing and bring new ideas to the table that relate directly to the projects we’re working on.”

In addition to productive meetings and education, attendees enjoyed networking events throughout the conference, including this year’s Casino Night reception, which created a relaxed environment for members and suppliers to strengthen relationships outside the meeting schedule.

Top industry suppliers participated throughout the conference, showcasing the latest products, apparel, hard goods, decorating solutions, and service offerings available to Universal Unilink members.

Recognizing Excellence

The conference concluded Tuesday evening with a dinner and awards presentation led by Allan Fowler and Sherryl Stoner, recognizing outstanding supplier and member achievements across the Universal Unilink network.

Momentec received the Velocity Award for Apparel Supplier after increasing member purchases by 30% in 2025.
HPG earned the Velocity Award for Hard Goods Supplier with 45% growth in member purchases during 2025.
Supplier of the Year honors went to Koozie Group in the Hard Goods category and S&S Activewear in the Apparel category for generating the highest member purchase volumes during the year.
The Innovative Supplier of the Year Award was presented to Gemline for its creative marketing initiatives and outstanding member engagement.
Benson Integrated Marketing Solutions was recognized as Member of the Year, while JIM Promotions and Uniforms received the Patron Award for purchasing from the highest number of suppliers in the Universal Unilink network, totaling 37 supplier partners.

One of the evening’s most heartfelt moments came when Karl Fowler received the Universal Unilink Employee of the Year Award.

Karl was recognized for the positivity, encouragement, and kindness he brings to coworkers, members, and suppliers alike. Known throughout the organization for his genuine concern for others and uplifting attitude, Karl’s presence has become an inspiring part of the Universal Unilink culture and a reminder of the importance of relationships within the organization.

A Heartfelt “Thank You”

Closing out the evening, Allan Fowler reflected on the importance of the Universal Unilink community.

“Our members and suppliers are truly the reason Universal Unilink exists,” Fowler said. “The relationships built over the years are what make this organization special. Seeing everyone come together to share ideas, support one another, and grow together is incredibly rewarding, and we deeply appreciate the trust our members and suppliers place in us.”

As attendees departed Greenville, there was a strong sense of momentum and excitement for the future. Universal Connect 2026 once again demonstrated the value of bringing distributors and suppliers together in a focused environment built around relationships, education, collaboration, and business growth.

To learn more about Universal Unilink, visit Universal Unilink.