Pens, wristbands, apparel, buttons – if an item can have a name or logo printed on it, chances are someone has used it to advertise their business, promote an event, or raise funds for a charity or school.

These are called promotional products (or promotional items, promo products, or even “swag”), and they’re an incredibly popular and effective form of advertising. Promo products have been around in some form since the late 18^th century and, as of 2016, have grown into a $22.9 billion industry.

Promo products have a long history and aren’t going anywhere any time soon. Let’s take a look at the history of promo products, how they’re used today, and where they may be going from here.

Past

One of the first recorded examples of promotional products are commemorative buttons for U.S. president George Washington in the late 1700s. According to a 2009 article in the Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania newspaper, The Pocono Record, the buttons were expensive, often costing buyers “about six months’ salary.” Even today, as historical collectibles, the buttons are valued around $7,500 each.

While there are other instances of promo products after the buttons, the industry didn’t really start to take off until Jasper Meek, owner of a small newspaper in Coshocton, Ohio, showed up on the scene.

Creative Beginnings

Considered by many to be the unofficial founder of the promo product industry, Meek often took on other print jobs in between editions of the newspaper. The story goes that after seeing a young girl drop her schoolbooks in the dirt, Meek had the idea to print burlap bags with an advertising message for a local business, Cantwell Shoes. Featuring the message “Buy Cantwell Shoes”, Meek gave a bag to any children who came into his shop, and before long, many of the children in the area had a bag, displaying the slogan all around town. You can read a transcript of a 1948 radio broadcast with more details about Meek on the Ohio Genealogical Society website.

Following this success, Meek would go on to form the Tuscarora Advertising Co. and enjoy further profits. As more competitors began to show up, new printing methods and mediums became common. In 1904, a group of 12 promotional products manufacturers formed an industry trade association: the Advertising Manufacturers Association.

The association continued to grow until eventually renaming themselves as the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), which is the name still used today by the organization.

Even though the industry was hit hard by the Great Depression, it was able to bounce back shortly after. According to PPAI, industry sales reached $124 million by 1947.

In the mid-1950s, another promotional products organization was formed, the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), which still exists today. Together, PPAI and ASI make up the two largest promo product organizations, both of which currently boast thousands of members from around the world.

 

Present

Today, promotional products have grown into a multibillion-dollar industry. According to statistics published by ASI, the promotional products industry reported sales worth $22.9 billion in 2016. Not too bad for an industry started off a simple idea of printing a business name on children’s school bags!

Individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations and many others use promotional items to promote their brand, show off a new initiative or display a custom message to the world.

A custom message, logo, or other design can be printed, engraved, or otherwise displayed on just about any product imaginable – from pens to apparel and more. At TJM, we’ve seen everything from custom-printed selfie sticks to Swiggies (yes, Swiggies) to coolers, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

The modern promotional products industry is divided into two main categories: suppliers and distributors. Here’s a breakdown of each category:

Suppliers

Promo product suppliers are companies who manufacture and/or imprint products for sale to distributors. While the majority of their business comes from selling to distributors, many suppliers still sell some products directly to clients.

Distributors

Promo product distributors sell products directly to clients. Distributors work with a variety of suppliers and other vendors to provide any products the clients are looking for, providing a complete experience. Distributors usually do little or no product manufacturing, instead relying on suppliers to provide products. This isn’t always the case, however, and here at TJM we have a full apparel screen-printing facility, along with other products we print and engrave here at our headquarters.

According to the 2016 ASI Impressions Study, consumers hold on to a promo product for an average of eight months. In the same study, ASI states that promotional products are one of the most cost-effective and most highly-regarded forms of advertising. The promotional industry isn’t going anywhere any time soon!