Did you know that George Washington is said to have created the first promo item in 1789 with a commemorative election button celebrating his win?

Well, we’ve come a long way from that!

However, promotional products remain one of the most effective marketing strategies.

After all, if you pick the right swag, your clients and employees can wear or use these items for years to come, advertising your brand for free.

Still, to get a better picture of the power of promotional products and why you should invest in them, you need all the data.

We decided to save you some time by researching this topic extensively and hand-picking the most relevant and interesting promotional product statistics you should be aware of.

Let’s check them out!

Disclaimer: The information below is accurate as of August 22, 2024.

Table of Contents

Promo Product Market Revenue Statistics

Brand Awareness & Loyalty Statistics

Brand Success Statistics

Consumer Statistics

Employee Statistics

Promotional Products Statistics

Social Media Giveaways Statistics

Promo Products Market Revenue Statistics

Even though the promotional products market took a very big hit in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it made a very nice recovery according to the latest industry statistics.

• In 2023, the US promotional products industry registered a total annual sales revenue of 26.1 billion US dollars compared to $25.5 billion in 2022. (Source: Statista survey)
• Unfortunately, the 2.24% growth rate registered by the promotional products market in 2023 was not enough to surpass the 3% inflation rate. (Source: PPAI research)
• At the end of 2023, top industry CEOs predicted that sales of promo products would grow in 2024. (Source: ASI Media survey)

Clearly, this is a very lucrative industry, but why?

Look at the following statistics on what this marketing strategy can do for your business, and you’ll understand.

Brand Awareness & Loyalty Statistics

One of the biggest advantages of using promo products as a form of advertising is that it creates a lot of brand exposure, makes your brand memorable and builds loyalty.

You can achieve this in various ways, such as:

• Introducing new consumers to your brand, by offering trade show giveaways and conference swag.
• Offering practical branded products with your company name or logo, like umbrellas and headwear, that your recipients will use for a long time.
• Choosing a product category that generates a high number of impressions, like wearables.
• Offering client gifts that leave a lasting impression and help build brand loyalty.

Here are some interesting statistics that back this up:

• Customers who receive premium branded merchandise can increase brand awareness by +96%. (Source: BPMA report)
• Globally, 85% of people who are given a promotional gift will remember the marketer who gave it to them. (Source: ASI report)
• 66% of consumers say they can name the brand on a logoed product they’ve received in the past 12 months. (Source: PPAI report)
• 83% of customers who received a corporate gift said it made them feel closer to the company. (Source: Sendoso survey)

Now, let’s see how this advertising medium can lead to brand success.

Brand Success Statistics

One of the things that makes branded merchandise so attractive for both big and small businesses is its cost-effectiveness.

Even if you opt for budget-friendly swag bag ideas, they can still generate a high return on investment.

What’s more, you don’t have to offer luxury promotional products to wow and retain clients, if you can’t afford it, because even a small corporate gift can leave a lasting impression.

• 75% of customers are more likely to buy from a brand that gave them a promo item than from a brand they know just as well that hasn’t offered them a promo product. (Source: BR Printers report)
• 73% of consumers are more likely to consider purchasing from a brand that gave them a promo product they kept. (Source: BR Printers report)

Next, we’ll show you how consumers feel about this marketing tool.

Consumer Statistics 

Knowing how your target audience feels about promotional merchandise will help you improve your future swag campaigns.

Here are some interesting statistics:

• U.S. consumers in the East, West, South and Midwest all prefer promo items over all other forms of advertising. (Source: ASI report)
• 78% of consumers enjoy receiving giveaways from companies and brands they love. (Source: Promotional Products Association International report)
• 73% of consumers want to receive promo products more often. (Source: PPAI report)
• 54% of consumers say they regularly use promo products in their day-to-day lives. (Source: Vistaprint survey)
• 43% of consumers are more likely to make brand referrals to others after receiving promotional products from a brand. (Source: Vistaprint survey)
• 45% of Baby Boomers have kept certain promo items for more than 10 years. (Source: ASI report)

But what about your employees? How do they feel?

Find out next!

Employee Statistics

Offering promotional gifts to employees can boost morale and job satisfaction, which reduces employee turnover.

On top of that, you can use Employee Appreciation Day gifts to show your team members how much you value all their hard work and motivate them to keep their performance levels up.

• 24.3% of employees feel included in the team when they receive promotional products from their employer. (Source: BR Printers report)
• 25.8% of employees feel appreciated by their employer when they’re given a promo item. (Source: BR Printers report)

Now, let’s see which product categories you should invest in to make the most of this form of advertising.

Promotional Products Statistics

Whether you’re a small business looking for cost-effective swag or a big company that wants to make a bang, choosing the right promo items is key.

These product-specific statistics will show you what consumers want, which product categories register the highest number of impressions, and their life cycle.

•  54% of U.S. consumers favor marketers offering them a promo item made in the USA. (Source: ASI report)
•  65% of consumers say they’ve kept a promotional item because it was useful. (Source: Promotional Products Association International survey)
•  70% of consumers equate the quality of the promo product they’ve received with the reputation of the company that gave it to them. (Source: PPAI survey)

Promotional t-shirts

Branded apparel, especially t-shirts, continues to be a popular choice for both customers and brands. 

•  37% of U.S. consumers who receive a t-shirt are more likely to do business with the marketer who gave it to them. (Source: ASI report)
• 47% of Americans would keep and wear a promo t-shirt for 2 years or longer. (Source: ASI report)
•  T-shirts generate 5,053 impressions over their lifetime. (Source: ASI report)
•  62% of U.S. consumers would keep and wear a promo polo shirt for 1 year or longer. (Source: ASI report)
•  Promo polo shirts generate 2,106 impressions over their lifetime. (Source: ASI report)
•  36% of consumers say they would like to receive T-shirts as promo items. (Source: Vistaprint survey)

Promotional outerwear

This might come as a surprise for some, but promo outerwear has surpassed t-shirts in terms of popularity and number of impressions.

•  Outerwear is the most influential promo product for both men and women. (Source: ASI report)
•  41% of Americans who receive outerwear are more likely to do business with the advertiser who gave it to them. (Source: ASI report)
•  61% of U.S. consumers say they would keep and wear promo outerwear for 2 years or longer. (Source: ASI report)
•  Outerwear generates 7,856 impressions over their lifetime. (Source: ASI report)

Promotional tech items

Tech swag is gaining momentum in the promotional products market because gadgets make our professional and personal lives easier.

•  40% of Americans who receive a power bank are more likely to do business with the advertiser who gave it to them. (Source: ASI report)
•  51% of American consumers would keep and use a promo power bank for 2 years or longer. (Source: ASI report)
• Power banks generate 870 impressions over their lifetime. (Source: ASI report)
• 31% of U.S. consumers who receive a USB drive are more likely to do business with the marketer who gave it to them. (Source: ASI report)
•  44% of U.S. consumers would keep and use a promo USB drive for 2 years or longer. (Source: ASI report)
• USB drives generate 851 impressions over their lifetime. (Source: ASI report)

Promotional bags and totes

Promotional bags and totes will probably never go out of style because consumers can use them to carry their groceries, gymware, or office supplies, making them very practical.

•  26% of Americans who receive a bag are more likely to do business with the advertiser who gave it to them. (Source: ASI report)
•  43% of U.S. consumers would keep and use a promo bag for 2 years or longer. (Source: ASI report)
• Bags generate 1,940 impressions over their lifetime. (Source: ASI report)
• 31% of consumers say they would like to receive tote bags as promo items. (Source: Vistaprint survey)

Promotional health products

Healthcare promotional items show your target audience, clients and employees that you care about their well-being, helping you build stronger relationships with them.

•  Health products are the 2nd most influential promo product for women. (Source: ASI report)
•  26% of U.S. consumers who receive a health product are more likely to do business with the advertiser who gave it to them. (Source: ASI report)
• 36% of Americans would keep and use a promo health item for 1 year or longer. (Source: ASI report)
•  Health products generate 640 impressions over their lifetime. (Source: ASI report)

Promotional calendars

Calendars continue to make great promotional gifts because they help your recipients stay on top of their meetings and appointments.

• 25% of consumers who receive a calendar are more likely to do business with the advertiser who gave it to them. (Source: ASI report)
•  62% of U.S. consumers would keep and use a promo calendar for 1 year or longer. (Source: ASI report)
• Calendars generate 673 impressions over their lifetime. (Source: ASI report)

Promotional desk accessories

People love cool office supplies because they help them stay organized and productive at work and are visually appealing.

•  24% of U.S. consumers who receive a desk accessory are more likely to do business with the advertiser who gave it to them. (Source: ASI report)
•  58% of Americans would keep and use promo desk accessories for 1 year or longer. (Source: ASI report)
• Desk accessories generate 2,314 impressions over their lifetime. (Source: ASI report)

Promotional writing instruments

Given that people constantly need pens to fill out paperwork, sign documents, and jot things down, branded pens are very practical and your recipients can end up using them daily.

•  30% of U.S. consumers who receive a writing instrument are more likely to do business with the advertiser who gave it to them. (Source: ASI report)
•  52% of Americans would keep and use a promo writing instrument for 1 year or longer. (Source: ASI report)
•  Writing instruments generate 2,436 impressions over their lifetime. (Source: ASI report)
•  38% of consumers say they would like to receive pens as promo items. (Source: Vistaprint survey)

Promotional drinkware

According to Drive Research, nearly 3 in 4 Americans drink coffee every day, which means your recipients will very much appreciate and use custom mugs.

Still, if you want your clients and employees to enjoy their favorite beverages wherever they go, you might want to consider offering them custom tumblers.

•  30% of Americans who receive drinkware are more likely to do business with the marketer who gave it to them. (Source: ASI report)
•  63% of U.S. consumers would keep and use promo drinkware for 1 year or longer. (Source: ASI report)
•  Promo drinkware generates 3,162 impressions over its lifetime. (Source: ASI report)
•  31% of consumers say they would like to receive mugs as promotional items. (Source: Vistaprint survey)

Eco-friendly promotional merchandise

The major global environmental issues are making consumers more eco-conscious than ever before.

Thus, by offering eco-friendly promotional products, you show that your brand supports environmental sustainability, which can improve the reputation of the company.

•  62% of people say they “always or often” seek products to purchase because they are eco-friendly. (Source: Aquasana survey)
•  80% of consumers say they are willing to pay more for sustainably produced or sourced goods. (Source: PwC survey)
•  46% of U.S. consumers say they would have a better opinion about an advertiser if they gave them an eco-friendly promotional item. (Source: ASI report)
•  84% of customers say that poor environmental practices will alienate them from a brand or company. (Source: The Roundup report)

Finally, let’s look at how social media influences the promotional products market.

Social Media Giveaways Statistics

Reaching consumers at trade shows and other in-person corporate events is one way to go and can be massively effective. But it’s not the only one!

Nowadays, you can also reach your target audience on social media.

And a great way to grab user attention and engage them is by launching giveaway campaigns.

You simply ask users to like and share your brand post to enhance your social media presence and then, you pick a winner who gets a free piece of cool swag.

• 92.6% of marketers run social media giveaways. (Source: Easypromos survey)
•  64.8% of brands run multiple social media giveaway campaigns simultaneously to increase their follower count. (Source: Easypromos survey)
•  62.2% of marketers use social media giveaways to create brand exposure. (Source: Easypromos survey)
•  58.7% of brands say running social media giveaways increases their engagement rates. (Source: Easypromos survey)

Now, let’s wrap things up. 

Over To You!

All these promotional product statistics clearly show that branded merchandise is a highly effective marketing tool that can help your business thrive.

Whether you want to attract new customers or build strong relationships with your existing clients and employees, this marketing strategy can help you achieve it all.

If you’re ready to start planning your next campaign, check out our SwagDrop shop and pick swag that will wow your recipients.