Buzz Worthy
Promotional Trends
Find out the latest promotional trends so that you choose the hippest and most happening promotional items around. These promotional trends are fresh off the streets so stay tuned and join the trend.
Trending in Apparel: Plaid!
062 days
by Brandon
in Promotional Trends
Expect to see a lot of tartan and checkers this season.
You’ll probably either love it or hate it, but plaid is definitely back for spring. Counselor magazine reports that the “Casual Chic” look, which was made popular in the 90s, is being seen again on runways from big names like Louis Vuitton and Brunello Cucinelli. Indeed, GQ notes that “this season designers are playing with the linear pattern for the warmer months.”
Even those within the promotional items industry have noticed an increased demand for plaid. “Our sales were up 50% in 2012. We are having better sales than in the grunge era in the ’90s,” John Ottaviano, director of sales and marketing for Rothco, told Counselor.
How can promo pros take advantage of this trend? Counselor advises that the style “can be pitched for a variety of apparel applications for men and women, including imagewear and youth markets.” That’s because it’s both trendy and classic, giving the look a wide appeal.
Have you noticed an increased interest in plaid?
It’s All About Neon
075 days
by Brandon
in Promotional Trends
When neon started coming back into style five years ago, Scott Marino decided to launch Neon Tees, which specializes in brightly colored apparel. And it was a smart business move, because neons are more popular than ever, as evidenced by the products on display at ISS Atlantic City last week.
“We saw a niche five years ago for the neon colors,” Marino told the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI). “We anticipated it would be hot, and now it’s out in full force.”
Other companies at ISS Atlantic City, which ran March 8 – 10, 2013, also saw success with neon. Mark Seymour, vice president of sales for Next Level, told ASI that “Neons are really, really happening for us.”
Is your promotional items company selling more neon lately? Share your thoughts below!
Promo Product Pros Do the Harlem Shake
083 days
by Brandon
in Promotional Trends
One of the latest trends to hit the web is “The Harlem Shake” — an Internet meme that features Baauer’s song of the same name. Each video follows the same basic guideline: A group of people (think offices, teams, etc.) suddenly bursts into a high-energy dance.
Professionals within the promotional items industry are known for staying atop of trends, so it’s no surprise that several companies have gotten involved. The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) has compiled some of the industry’s best. They include (but are not limited to):
So check them out and let us know which is your favorite! And if your your company or organization has created its own “Harlem Shake” video, feel free to share the URL.
What will be the next big thing to hit the promotional products industry?
Will Rhode Island Ban Plastic Bags Next?
096 days
San Francisco put an end to plastic bags in its city years ago, and since then similar bans have been put into place in coastal North Carolina and in Portland. But will Rhode Island be the first state to issue a statewide law on the subject? It’s definitely a possibility.
According to Counselor magazine, “Newly-introduced legislation would create a statewide single-use plastic bag ban in Rhode Island, a proposed law that would be the first of its kind in the nation.” That’s big news for the small East Coast state, which touches the Long Island Sound.
Lead sponsor of the bill, Rep. Maria Cimini, said that banning plastic bags “is a simple, effective way to eliminate pollution.” She added that it’s Rhode Island’s responsibility as the “Ocean State” to “be a leader on the issue.”
Other states where plastic bag bans have been proposed include California and Hawaii.
Corporate Gifts: 2012 Trends
0167 days
by Brandon
in Promotional Trends
It’s that time of year again: Companies are determining just how much they can afford to spend on corporate gifts for employees and clients. And perhaps not-so-surprisingly, employers are planning to spend less than they did in 2011.
An Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) press release reveals that surveyed companies will spend an average of $26 per person on client gifts this year and $42 on each employee. “Spending is down slightly from last year, when companies spent an average of $30 per client and $43 per employee,” reports ASI.
Still, that businesses are willing to splurge on holiday gifts is telling, especially in this time of economic uncertainty.
Which items will be distributed this season? ASI reports that food baskets and other branded food gifts continue to reign supreme in 2012. However, products like gift cards, writing utensils and calendars are also popular this year.
Is your company sending out corporate gifts this year?
ASI: Wearables to Be Big in 2013
0177 days
If your promotional items company focuses on wearables, the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) has some great news for you. The organization is predicting that 2013 will be a big year for products like t-shirts, hoodies and more.
According to ASI, the wearables industry has a few things going for it right now. First, average order size for apparel is up. That means people are choosing larger quantities of products to hand out to their customers, clients and employees, etc. Second, buyers are reporting that they have more money to spend as budgets begin to relax.
How can you take your apparel sales to the next level in 2013? ASI offers the following tips:
1. Focus on quality
Although cost is still a primary concern, buyers are beginning to consider quality and style as very important again. “The shift in buyer taste has helped increase the average dollar size of industry apparel orders, resulting in more revenue for distributors,” reports ASI.
2. Show off your brands
Clients want to know that the products they’re buying are high quality. That’s why your brand-name items are going to do well in 2013. “[The people I work with] like to have the branding of the apparel on their shirt in combination with their brand because it adds prestige,” Matt Gledhill of Walker Advertising told ASI.
3. Offer athletic apparel
Did you know that shirts that are antimicrobial, odor-resistant and moisture-wicking have become extremely popular in recent years? Many distributors have found that performance shirts are in high demand. ASI says it’s due to their exclusive features, buyers’ expanding budgets and clients’ sporty lifestyles.
Have you noticed these trends, as well?
For more tips, check out ASI’s “Wearables” Sales Forecast 2013.
PPAI on Attracting Young Workers
0187 days
Did you know that approximately 50 percent of adults aged 18 to 29 with a college degree are either unemployed or underemployed? Millennials are in dire need of jobs, and the promotional items industry, according to PPAI, needs young workers. But how can we bring the two together?
PPB Magazine asserts that certain elements will help draw younger individuals in to your organization. They are:
1. Flexible hours for a well-balanced work and home life
2. Access to technology for increased productivity
3. Consistent feedback outside of an annual review
4. Work with meaning, like opportunities for philanthropy and volunteering
Why’s it important to bring in more young people? Adventures in Advertising Corporation’s Greg Armstrong told PPAI that “We need new blood in order to grow. We need that new blood because we just won’t have enough hands [to get the job done].”
Furthermore, without new, younger workers, the industry could shrink. bus
What do you think? Do we need more fresh talent in the promotional items industry?
What 5 Promo Items Do Distributors Sell the Most?
0214 days
In the promotional items industry, it’s important to understand which products sell. If you’re a supplier, you’ll want to know which items to offer to distributors. And if you’re on the distribution end, you’re interested in what your customers really want.
So what category of products is most popular? According to the Advertising Specialty Institute team blog, “distributors sell shirts the most, to the tune of 1/5 (20%) of all industry revenue.” Whoa!
Bags, writing instruments, other wearables and caps help round out the top five products sold by distributors.
What do you think about these numbers? Are you surprised that apparel sells so well? Share your thoughts!
Study: Consumers Prefer USA-Made Items
0244 days
If you’re a promotional items supplier or distributor that offers USA-made products, you’re in luck. A recent study by Perception Research Services International (PRS) reveals that most shoppers who notice “Made in the USA” labels are more likely to buy the products that feature them.
Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) reports that consumers opt to buy American-made products because they want to “help the economy.” Moreover, PPAI asserts that customers may also be motivated by quality and safety.
“Whether it is for quality assurance, to boost the economy, or out of patriotism, buying American-made products is becoming quite fashionable among U.S. shoppers,” PRS executive vice president Jonathan Asher told PPAI. “Particularly for products that are ingested such as food, beverages and medicines—if you make it here, make that clear—that is, include a ‘Made in the USA’ mention on your package, and possibly other marketing communications, so that shoppers are aware of that fact.”
Do you prefer buying items that are made in America? How come?
What’s Trending: Silicone Watches
1247 days
If you are searching for promotional items, chances are you are looking for something useful, unique and affordable. What product fits the bill while also being super-trendy?
Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI)’s Wearables magazine Editor C.J. Mittica explains how you can make a big impact with promotional silicone watches:
As you can see, there are several different types of custom silicone watches. While inspired by Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong bracelet, this product’s incorporated watch makes it really stand out. Do you see this trend taking off?