Sales of promotional products in 1999 increased 13 percent to $15 billion, according to a survey sponsored by Promotional Products Association International. Sales in 1998 were $13.2 billion.
Apparel such as T-shirts, caps, jackets and headwear were the most popular promotional items accounting for 29.5 percent of all sales. Other items included writing instruments (9.4 percent); desk, office and business accessories (6.6 percent); calendars (6.4 percent); bags (6.1 percent); and sporting goods, leisure products and travel accessories (4.7 percent).
“Contributing to this growth is the fact that more and more businesses desire the creativity and flexibility they get with the use of promotional products in marketing programs designed by promotional products distributors,” said Steve Slagle, president of PPAI, Irving, TX.
Business gifts were the most common, accounting for 17.6 percent of sales, followed by dealer/distributor programs (14.9 percent) and employee relations (10 percent).
