Why Selling Promo Is Smart Business

By Amanda Smith 

Your customers are already in the market for branded items. Shouldn’t they be buying from you?

The promotional products industry is booming in recent years, and it’s easy to understand why. This $26.6 billion marketplace is ripe with opportunity for businesses of all sizes. With margins much lower than other forms of advertising and little to no overhead to get started, the growth potential is huge.

Let’s break down the basics of selling promotional products and discover why it’s a no-brainer for your business.

Promo at a Glance

Promotional products are any item that can be branded by a business with a logo. They have a much longer shelf life than traditional advertising. Because of the unique opportunities presented by this industry, you can see increased brand exposure for a fraction of the cost.

• 87% of people keep promotional products for more than a year.
• 90% of recipients can recall the brand that gave them a promo product.
• 73% of people are likely to do business with a brand that gives them a promo product.

With an average growth rate of 3% per year, the promotional products industry shows no signs of slowing down, and there are plenty of avenues to take to make your mark.

Products for Any Market
There’s no limit to the types of products your brand can promote – there are more than 1.2 million listed in our all-in-one business platform, ESP+ – but there are a few industry staples that are relied on time and again.

• Apparel – T-shirts, polos, hats, jackets and other wearables
• Drinkware – Water bottles, mugs, pint glasses
• Tech gadgets – Power banks, Bluetooth speakers
• Office supplies – Pens, notebooks, mouse pads
• Eco-friendly items – Reusable items (bags, drinkware) and products made from sustainable materials

No matter which markets your business tends to cater to, there are plenty of promo buyers to be found. Take a look at the top producing markets of 2024:

• Education – $3.6 billion in promo sales in 2024
• Healthcare – $2.71 billion
• Construction – $2.03 billion
• Manufacturing/Distribution – $1.83 billion
• Financial/Insurance – $1.64 billion

Sky-High Profit Margins

The average profit margin for a promo order is 36%, with an average order size of $1,289. With no equipment or inventory needed – suppliers handle all the inventory and shipping – there’s no overhead cutting into your margins, which means more money in your pocket.

How To Get Started

Powering up your promo business is easy with ASI^® by your side. We offer business-building tools, 24/7 support, industry-leading news and research, world-class events and so much more to help you:

• Identify your niche
• Set up your business
• Win clients
• Build supplier relationships
• Implement digital marketing strategies
• And so much more

Ready to get started with ASI? Visit our website to learn more about our tools and resources.