Six years into the new millennium, companies now have a more significant grasp and understanding of the important correlation between promotional products and business growth. (This “awareness” actually began in the late 1990s, only to suffer an unfortunate slump in 2001-2002, but is now back on the rise again.) A wise move considering that today the promotional products industry is an $18.01 billion business. The leading three categories of promotional products chosen for use are: wearables (e.g., shirts—T-shirts, polos and jackets—and caps/hats); writing instruments (e.g., pens primarily, but also highlighters and pencils); and calendars (e.g., wall and wallet size, desk diaries, pocket secretaries and more).

PPAI—the international not-for-profit trade association—supports the growth and professionalism of promotional consultants and suppliers, and strives to educate and reinforce to the following entities—the end-buyer, the media, and prospective members to PPAI and the industry as a whole—the important role that promotional products play in today’s integrated marketing programs.

To that extent, PPAI continually performs research studies regarding the value and ROI of using promotional products. Research shows how promotional products can and do positively impact a company’s sales, how important it is for businesses to have promotional budgets written into their business plans and how to enhance and expand business growth. For example, PPAI’s 2004 study, Promotional Products: Impact, Exposure And Influence, A Survey Of Business Travelers At DFW Airport, gave insight and confirmation to the effectiveness of using promotional products to increase and improve business presence:

• 55% of people questioned said they keep their promotional products for more than 1 year.
• 76.1% of respondents could recall the advertiser’s name on the promotional product that they had received within the past 12 months.
• 75.4% of respondents said they kept their promotional products because they were useful.

When serving members, suppliers and promotional consultants of promotional products, PPAI offers an array of services, such as outstanding benefits and education events as well as presenting the latest, most up-to-date news regarding this rapidly growing industry. Members serve end buyers by providing innovative ideas on the use of new products, giving them insight into upcoming trends and developing inventive strategies for continued growth and higher rates of success. PPAI also works closely with other regional associations, which stretch coast to coast across the U.S., and international associations around the globe, who are interested in achieving the same goals.