Our Top Products of 2021 (And Some That Will Stick Around for the New Year!)

What a year it has been! With so many changes to the promotional product industry, it wouldn't be complete without a recap of the most popular promotional product trends that took the market by storm. While some trends are expected to continue gaining traction over the next year, others seem to be slowing down. As a business owner or event planner, looking at this data helps paint a clear picture of which products consumers keep and repeatedly use. This is key when selecting which products to customize for your upcoming marketing campaigns. If you didn’t get a chance to try these items this year, there may still be an opportunity for you to include them in your promotions for 2022.

Face Coverings

At the top of the list we have masks, bandanas, neck gaiters, and other accessories that facilitate the use of face coverings. High-quality, fully sublimated masks with attractive designs were the trendy option to personalize all throughout 2021. Face coverings are a smart promotional product to invest in as they are not only useful but in some cases a necessary product for consumers to have. As a result, necessity created walking billboards out of recipients. What a great opportunity for advertising!

During the past year, ASI found that 57% of consumers would be more likely to do business with the advertiser who gave them a custom face mask. Given the fact that many restrictions and distancing protocols are still in place, it is safe to say that personalized masks are not going anywhere just yet!

Work From Home

The shift from the office to remote work locations created additional demand for branded office and desk items. Business owners saw the opportunity to use branded products as a way to remain connected with their audiences and staff, despite not physically connecting in person. One of the top trends in 2021 was to build a custom bundle or kit consisting of products that employees might have easy access to in the office, but not necessarily at their homes. This includes anything and everything that allows recipients to stay organized, productive, and comfortable as they work such as notebooks, writing instruments, and calculators. With many employers choosing to keep the working from home model, these items will remain in high demand.

Outerwear

Branded apparel is always a good option for creating brand awareness. The type of apparel that is in demand often depends on the season, as customer preferences tend to shift in accordance with weather. 2021 was different as we saw t-shirts, hoodies, and sweatpants trending the entire year, including in the summer. These products came in handy for anyone working from home as it allowed them to stay comfortable throughout the day. With fewer people going into the office this decreased the need for formal wear. As we continue our path to recovery we can expect “indoor wear” to take a backseat to outerwear that recipients can use when going back to the office or school.

These are some of the products that dominated the promotional products market over the last 12 months. There are still opportunities where it would be suitable to personalize these items and send them out for your next promotion. Depending on your budget, your occasion, and company profile, it may be worth giving these items a try next year. As trends in the promo industry are constantly changing, take advantage of the visibility offered by these popular items before the opportunity passes!