You may be asking yourself, \u201care promotional products worth it?\u201d It\u2019s an appropriate question to ask, but it really depends on whether you play to your target audience. For instance, stress balls<\/a> are fun and useful. However, if your target audience is mostly construction workers, they probably won\u2019t get much use out of those items.<\/p>\n “It seems that promotional merchandise is as relevant to the success of your marketing campaigns as it has always been.” – YFS Magazine<\/p><\/blockquote>\n It\u2019s important to choose products that will be useful to your target audience and will, thus, be seen by as many people as possible. We know that when promotional products fulfill their intended purpose, they are the most effective form of marketing.<\/p>\n So, how do you make the most of your promotional product market campaign? Again, just follow the trends. Read on to find out what trends are heating up in the promotional products industry.<\/p>\n Estimates suggest<\/a> that this year, millennials (the generation of individuals born from the late 1980s to the early 2000s) will make up nearly 50% of the labor force. Accordingly, marketing strategies naturally must shift to make way for this new generation with new tastes.<\/p>\n Of course, it\u2019s not just new tastes that differentiate millennials from their generational forebears. Millennials are often more interested in the purpose of their work and other activities, meaning that they are less concerned with accruing wealth than previous generations. It\u2019s also generally harder for younger folks to develop strong brand loyalties, instead opting to go with whichever experience engages them the most.<\/p>\n “Millennials have often led older Americans in their adoption and use of technology, and this largely holds true today.” – PEW Research<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The PPAI has also noted that millennials are the generation most immune to traditional forms of advertising. Again, they want an experience, which promotional products can provide. Some statistics on how this younger demographic relates to promotional items include:<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to choose products that millennials will actually use. We know that smartphones are a big part of their everyday lives, making items like mobile power banks<\/a> or PopSockets<\/a> indispensable.<\/p>\n But, millennials are increasingly concerned with the visual aesthetics of items in addition to their utility. Appealing designs are, thus, becoming more vital to the success of a promotional product campaign now more than ever. So, again, the answer to the question, \u201care promotional products worth it?\u201d is going to be a resounding yes, as long as you do it right.<\/p>\n With all this in mind, let\u2019s take a look at some of the promotional product trends that will appeal to this demographic and others.<\/p>\n The reason why these items work so well is that they provide two unrelated but extremely useful (or enjoyable) functions. Who doesn\u2019t want the ability to play music out of their water bottle or backpack? These are items they were going to be hauling around anyway.<\/p>\n In addition to combining unrelated products, items that provide multiple similar functions are also on the rise in the promotional product industry. For instance, charging devices that serve as both a wall charger and a power bank<\/a> are useful, dual-function tools that will undoubtedly get a lot of use.<\/p>\n In this day and age, wires are becoming increasingly less necessary and more of a general nuisance for people to deal with. Apple\u2019s new iPhones got rid audio ports altogether, making wireless options all the more important.<\/p>\n There are several different ways you can go wireless. For instance, headphone<\/a> and earbud<\/a> manufacturers are ditching their audio cables for strictly Bluetooth connectivity. Indeed, it is rare to even see headphones that are bogged down with wires at this point.<\/p>\n Custom Bluetooth speakers<\/a> are also increasing in popularity. There are natural limitations to the sonic abilities of smartphones. And, while they are getting better, there is nothing quite like wirelessly attaching a more powerful Bluetooth speaker to get a much broader sound experience. Speakers, headphones, and earbuds are also all used in social settings. This ensures that your logo will be visible to more people beyond the original recipient.<\/p>\n You can also go wireless when it comes to charging. Custom Qi wireless chargers<\/a> are gaining momentum, especially considering that Apple\u2019s new iPhones are Qi-enabled. These are the chargers that allow you to simply place a phone on a charging \u201cpad,\u201d dispensing with pesky wires and charging ports.<\/p>\n Whichever way you go, it\u2019s clear that wireless products are super trendy promotional items that also provide a lot of utility.<\/p>\n Preserving the environment is a major concern for many people throughout the world. This has led to a rash of environmentally-friendly products that help individuals feel as if they\u2019re putting a dent in the larger global problem. People who receive eco-friendly promotional products are also more likely to have a positive opinion of the brand.<\/p>\n There are many items that can be marketed as \u201cgreen,\u201d including:<\/p>\n There are quite a few other options out there, even including an eco-friendly USB flash drive<\/a>. In any event, people care about the environment, and they love to receive products that illustrate a company\u2019s concern, as well.<\/p>\n Of course, these are trendy promotional items that won\u2019t necessarily work for all businesses. Regardless, it\u2019s hard to ignore this trend, especially as it makes its way to the promotional products industry.<\/p>\n Our culture has become fitness-obsessed in recent years. Accessories that facilitate workouts are highly valuable. A whole cavalcade of items can technically fall under the fitness category.<\/p>\n It can be something small like an armband phone holder<\/a>, which actually kills two birds with one stone (exercise and tech). It can also be something larger like a \u201cperformance\u201d polo shirt<\/a> that employs breathable ![\"Most](\"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/2019-promotional-products.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"2019](\"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/2019-promotional-product-trends.jpg\")
In fact, a 2019 Advertising Specialty Institute study<\/a> essentially confirmed that broadcast, print, web, and mobile advertising were all inferior to promotional products. Promotional items are better at garnering impressions, improving favorability, and making your brand more recognizable. You can\u2019t simply skip a t-shirt<\/a> in the same way you can a mobile ad before a video. A standard advertisement provides no real value to the consumer.<\/p>\nDemographics and Tastes are Changing<\/h2>\n
![\"Promotional](\"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/promotional-products-are-most-effective-form-of-advertising.jpg\")
Millennials are also the most technologically savvy and connected generation. Many of them came of age at the time of the smartphone\u2019s advent and proliferation and have lived their entire adult lives with access to a wealth of information at their fingertips. In fact, according to the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI)<\/a>, 97% of millennials own a smartphone.<\/p>\n\n
Going Two-For-One<\/h2>\n
![\"Custom](\"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/custom-water-bottle-bluetooth-speaker.jpg\")
<\/a>Combining products might seem like a gimmicky marketing strategy, but it has shown to be quite effective when reaching prospective customers. Many everyday items are being enhanced with tech products to increase their value, novelty, and utility. Some of the most common examples include:<\/p>\n\n
Get Rid of the Wires<\/h2>\n
![\"Custom](\"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/custom-wireless-bluetooth-headphones.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Custom](\"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/custom-reusable-metal-straws-header.jpg\")
Going Green<\/h2>\n\n
Emphasis on Cannabis<\/h2>\n
![\"Custom](\"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/custom-bic-maxi-lighter-featured.jpg\")
<\/a>Whether you are a fan of it or not, it\u2019s clear that the marijuana business is booming. Since becoming legalized in many states, it became a much more palatable option<\/a> for appealing to potential consumers. Some of the most common cannabis swag<\/a> includes:<\/p>\n\n
Staying in Shape with Workout Accessories<\/h2>\n
![\"Custom](\"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/custom-sport-water-bottles.jpg\")
<\/a>fabrics for easier range of motion. Other items might include:<\/p>\n\n
Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n