The most trendy promo items of 2019
A Year in Review: 2019’s Greatest Promo Hits
The promotional products industry often sees trends come and go pretty quickly, but every so often there are a few greatest hits that keep on playing. We’ve taken a look back at some of our most popular products and categories to give you the top trends of 2019. These babies are here to stay (at least for the foreseeable future).
Check out 2019’s Most Trendy Promo Items:
1) Technology
In our world of ever-growing innovations, it’s no wonder the technology category is number one on our list. Technology has been a trend for several years running, and that’s not about to change anytime soon. In addition to the usual tech items like USBs and power banks, think wireless everything! Chargers, headphones, speakers – you name it – your customers want it wireless.
Also part of the technology scene, though slightly newer, is smart home tech. From outlet plugs and power strips to doorbells and security kits, this level of technology has become readily available to the public at an affordable rate. Smart home technology proves to be a sound investment for your marketing plan in the coming years.
2) Cause Marketing & Sustainability
Customers like to see a brand giving back. Now more than ever, give-back programs, cause marketing and sustainable practices can make or break a sale. In fact, many consumers actively seek and choose brands with clear sustainability credentials.
What does this mean for marketing? It means stepping up your game in green initiatives or giving back to the community. There are many ways to accomplish this goal, and we’ve seen a substantial uptick in brands doing so throughout the year. As far as products, reusable straws have been huge sellers as well as many other alternatives to single-use plastic.
3) Unique Prints & Materials
One of the trends we’ve noticed since the beginning of the year has stayed surprisingly consistent enough to make it onto our list of Top 2019 Trends: unique prints and materials.
We’ve seen a ton of camo, animal and marble prints as well as iridescent items and rainbow patterns. These eye-catching products have done well all year, and we believe they’ll continue to be strong.
4) Casual Workwear
This year we’ve seen performance wear take off in the workplace. More and more companies are in favor of a business casual dress code over formal. There has been such a shift in office space itself with more businesses adopting remote employees, coworking spaces, open-office concepts and even work-from-home options. With so many changes to how and where we work, it’s no wonder this flexibility has crossed into workwear.
Casual workwear is now more popular than ever. Items such as a simple polo shirt have become the new norm. Check out this killer, always appropriate, shirt jacket. After all, a happy employee is a productive employee…and a comfortable employee is a happy one!
5) Safety
We saw it early in 2019, and we’ve seen it throughout the year…Safety is a rising trend consumers crave. Items such as safety whistles and combination locks as well as emergency kits and flashlights have been popular promotional products this entire year.
In addition to traditional safety items, clear bags have continued to do well. Many stadiums require clear bags for sporting, concerts and other events, so they have become a popular retail product. This trend has migrated over to the promotional products industry as well as schools and universities. Clear backpacks and even fanny packs have been a big hit this year.
Check back for more industry trends and updates in January when we take our first look at the new products for 2020!
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