The popularity of promotional products continues to rise! The latest data by Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), of which Magellan Promotions is a member, reveals that annual sales growth for the industry in 2018 was 6.3% over 2017 to a record $24.7 billion. Overall industry sales growth since 2009 has been 55%.

“We have continued to see a strong interest in marketing through promotional products in the industries we serve as well. Our growth over the past few years has outpaced the industry, growing at more than 25% in 2018,” said Magellan Promotions Captain Michael Wolaver.

One of the reasons the industry continues to grow is that marketers are using promotional products for connecting with audiences and fostering relationships through brand experiences. And the top product category for engaging passionate brand ambassadors continues to be wearables (t-shirts, hoodies). The rest of the top five best-selling product categories were: drinkware, travel (including bags and wallets), writing and technology products.

Wolaver explained that Magellan Promotions’ best-selling product category actually is not even listed in the industry’s top five. “Stickers have grown to be our number one product category over the past two years. The marketplace really has responded to our unique solution of fully branded sheets with multiple die-cut options,” he said.

Among types of programs involving promotional products, brand awareness came in first, followed by business gifts, trade shows, employee recognition and distribution services. The top five industries buying promotional products were business services, followed by health care, which climbed from fifth place in 2017, education, financial and manufacturing.

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