An advertising specialty, also known as a promotional product, is any item imprinted with a logo or slogan and given out to promote a company, organization, product, service, special achievement or event. T-shirts, mugs, pens and key tags are popular examples, and just about anything can be imprinted. In fact, the ASI database includes more than 750,000 ad specialties.

The advantage advertising specialties have over other media is that they often have a practical use, in addition to being effective advertising and branding tools. Recipients often keep them and the advertiser benefits from repeat exposures.

How big an industry is this?

Advertisers spent a record $19.8 billion on advertising specialties in 2008, according to the Annual Industry Sales Analysis from ASI.  That is up 1.2 percent versus 2007 and is 3% greater than radio advertising*, $12.8 billion greater than outdoor ads**, and more than Internet display ads*** for the same period.  Industry increases also outpaced the 1.1 percent growth rate for the United States GDP.  (sources:  *Radio Advertising Bureau;  **Outdoor Advertising Association of America;  ***TNS Media Intelligence.)

Where does ASI fit in?

ASI is the largest media and marketing organization serving the advertising specialty industry, with a membership of 25,000 distributor firms (sellers) and supplier firms (manufacturers).  Supplier firms market their imprintable products to distributors with our electronic research tools, catalogs, magazines, Web sites and trade shows. Distributors use many of the same vehicles to find suppliers’ products and make presentations to end-buyers (promotions and advertising buyers).

Promotions and advertising buyers who aren't yet working with a distributor can locate one, at www.PromoMart.com.