The education industry once again tops other markets as the leading buyer of promotional products.
For the eighth time in nine years, education is the No. 1 buyer of promo items with 13.1 percent of the industry’s 2022 revenues.
Educators use promotional products to encourage students and staff, solicit donations and build team spirit.
Customized promotional items with school names and mascots are everywhere you look. From custom T-shirts worn by kindergarten students to plastic water bottles used by college teams, educators get an A+ in branding.
But the education industry isn’t the only sector to heavily rely on promotional gifts. Let’s take a look at the top industries using promotional items and the future of branded products.
Top buyers of custom-printed products
The promotional products business is supported by a very diverse number of industries. Each one successfully uses branded items for different purposes such as giveaways, rewards, marketing and celebrations.
You already know that education is the leading buyer of promotional products. Take a look at the other big industries who regularly order customized items:
Healthcare
The healthcare industry accounted for 10.4 percent of promotional product sales in 2022. The fact that it’s still near the top of the heap is impressive considering its ranking dropped from 12.7 percent in 2020.
When the pandemic struck in 2020, healthcare leaders stocked up on PPE supplies such as inexpensive hand sanitizer and promotional antibacterial wipes. Hospitals, medical centers and doctors’ offices depended on these items to help keep their patients and staff healthy.
Those sought-after health and wellness products were custom-printed with hospital logos and awareness messages. They provided branding and PR at a critical time.
Today, healthcare entities still use personalized items to prevent illnesses. They also put them to work to promote vaccines, prenatal care and fitness.
Construction
The construction industry made up 7.6 percent of total promotional products’ revenue in 2022. Contractors and builders use branded items year-round to protect their employees and attract clients in their very competitive industry.
Commercial and residential contractors use promotional products with logos as giveaways at trade shows and open houses. Items such as custom multi-tools and bulk flashlights make great giveaways.
Construction companies are also top buyers of branded safety apparel for employees. They know how important it is to keep their workers safe with clothing that complies with federal safety standards.
Nonprofits
Talk about a comeback! The nonprofit sector tallied 7.1 percent of the total revenue for the promotional products industry in 2022. That was up from a meager 5.6 percent the year before.
Charitable organizations spent more in 2022 as fundraising events increased and pandemic restrictions disappeared. Nonprofits also turned to promotional products to bump up donations, which had slowed after a healthy wave in 2020 and 2021.
Most nonprofits work with a tight budget. They often take advantage of our Products Under $1 or On Sale pages to ensure the highest amount of funding goes to charities.
A few of the inexpensive promotional items used by nonprofits are personalized cups, sunglasses, custom cinch bags, low-cost chip clips and logo pens.
Financial Institutions
Banks, credit unions and other financial institutions contributed 6.3 percent to revenue posted by the promotional product industry in 2022.
The need for bank promotional products escalated in the past few years due to an unstable economy. Today, clients often need reassurance before placing their trust and money with a financial institution.
Mortgage lenders and investment firms are building trust by showcasing their logos on giveaways such as customized metal water bottles and budget-friendly engraved keychains. Making a brand more visible is key to creating brand awareness, which increases confidence in all businesses.
Real Estate
Last, but not least, the real estate market made up 3.1 percent of promotional products sales in 2022. With nearly 1.2 million real estate businesses in the U.S., the competition for clients is staggering.
Creating great impressions is essential for every real estate business in the industry. Promotional products serve as a positive marketing strategy for Realtors and brokerage businesses.
A few of the top promotional giveaways used by real estate agents are printed magnets for refrigerators and cars, promo pet supplies and branded kitchen supplies. Realtors also order embroidered polos and button-up shirts to keep employees looking professional and unified.
Status of the promotional products industry
The total revenue for promotional products in 2022 was $25.8 billion, according to ASI Central’s 2023 State of the Industry report. That matches the 2019 pre-pandemic figure, which signals a healthy comeback for the promo industry.
Sales of health and safety items slowed toward the end of 2022 but custom apparel soared as giveaways, gifts and uniforms.
These promotional products had some of the highest percentages of promotional product sales in 2022/2023:
- Custom T-shirts (17.1%)
- Promotional drinkware (9.9%)
- Personalized polos (9.7%)
- Branded caps/headwear (8.8%)
- Logo bags (6.8%)
- Wholesale writing instruments (4.6%)
- Printed banners (3.6%)
- Bulk desk/offices supplies (3.4%)
Promotional products’ distributors and suppliers are counting their blessings this year. There are still obstacles to overcome: price pressures, labor challenges and digital tech adoption. But good vibes are everywhere from average order values, client retention and happy customers.
Totally Promotional is improving for you!
The future looks good but we’re not taking anything for granted! The Totally Team is working hard to keep our customers satisfied now and in the future. We added more than 4,000 new items to our website in 2023 and plan on continuing that energy in 2024!
Our staff is also paying close attention to our customers’ needs. Our goal is to make sure every client has a smooth and enjoyable shopping experience with us.
Whether you’re in one of the industries mentioned here or not, we’ve got your back. Totally Promotional has been professionally printing items for more than 30 years! We’d be honored to serve you.
Shop our great selection of promotional gifts today!
