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?

The the Advertising Specialty Institute’s exclusive annual industry sales estimate for 2009 shows that promotional products sales were $15.9 billion, down 19.5% versus 2008.  The annual estimate is adjusted for certain year-end information, including distributors that exited the industry during 2009 and distributors that have not been part of ASI for the last 12 months. Read the press release now.

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.