Our team recently traveled to Las Vegas for a vast industry tradeshow to scout out the top trends in promotional products for 2024. We spent two days in education and two days walking a tradeshow floor. My feet ache just thinking about it. There were more than 2,000 vendors and more than 250,000 products. We love seeing our supplier reps who have become friends and learning about new products and brands we can offer our clients. We also keep a keen eye out for emerging and evolving trends in promotional products.
Trends come and go, so we never recommend abandoning your brand for a trend. Instead, consider how to incorporate a trend or two to keep your brand relevant and fresh while aligning with your brand ethos. Keep reading for our six promotional product trends for 2024 and think about how you could incorporate these into your brand.
1) Corporate responsibility in the promotional products industry.
Yes! This is one we fully support. There are a few aspects to corporate responsibility, and companies we work with are embracing different elements as they can.
The use of recycled materials is only going to increase. We work with suppliers who use ocean plastic to create products and others who use fabric remnants to make amazing bags.
We are learning more about supply chains. It used to be that we had no idea where items were coming from, and we simply trusted our suppliers to source ethically. Now, we can track exactly where products are from and what they are made of, and know that the people who made them are treated fairly.
Companies are also giving back. Many of our supplier partners are B Corp Certified and publicly disclose their social and environmental impact. Other suppliers publish annual environmental impact summaries and are working toward being completely carbon neutral. We even met with a supplier who uses profits to purchase and protect rainforest acreage. When buying their products, you receive a QR code showing the exact acreage your order purchased.
If your organization isn’t discussing corporate responsibility now, we assure you it will soon. Get ahead of the game, and let us help you.
2) Retail brands abound!
We have always sourced retail brands for clients, but they are becoming increasingly plentiful as the companies embrace the promotional products market. Partnering with a retail brand isn’t for every organization, but it’s magic when an organization finds a retail brand with similar values, vibes, etc. We get pretty excited about it, actually. So, next time you browse your favorite gift boutique, sporting goods store, or cooking shop, remember that your logo can be imprinted on many of the items you see!
Here's just a short list of our favorite brands. Timbuk2, Corkcicle, Moleskine, Cuisinart, Slowtide, Courant, RuMe, W&P, Igloo, Thule, Klean Kanteen, Hydro Flask, Bose, FEED, Stanley, Patagonia, Peter Millar, Linksoul, Sony, and so many more!
3) Full-color everything!
It’s fascinating how times have changed. When we started in 2002, everything was a one-color imprint. We could print a full-color logo on some products, but it was costly and required a long lead time. It is a fun time to market with promotional products because we can print full-color on almost anything—not just full-color logos. We can custom print material for bags, umbrellas, shoe laces, blankets, notebooks, beach towels, you name it! Think you have a wild idea? Let’s see what we can do!
4) Drinkware is king.
We have a cup, tumbler, mug, or bottle for any possible event, recipient, or occasion. We have earthy colors, bright colors, glass bottles, stainless tumblers, ceramic-lined tumblers, and, of course, the Stanley cup. Oh, we even have a pouch for your drinkware. So, if you want to do drinkware for your event but are hesitating, go for it. There are so many great styles on the market that we know we can find the perfect option for you!
5) No more fidgets.
We are thrilled to report that the reign of fidget junk is over. Sure, you’ll have the occasional tchotchke, but for the most part, the products we saw were high-quality and very purposeful for the typical consumer. The last thing we want is for branded merch to end up in a landfill, and we are so happy to see less junky stuff on the market. Not that we’d let you buy it anyway!
6) Headed back to college?
Many booths had a collegiate vibe, and we loved it! Think appliques across the chest, backpacks, hoodies, and track jackets. We’d love to do some mock-ups of your brand rocking this trend!
Bonus! Feeling grounded.
Feeling grounded. We’re adding this one as an honorable mention. We saw neon colors and bright colors, but the colors that ruled the day were earthy tones. Drinkware, home goods, and apparel are where the earthy tones stand out and will give the recipient warm feelings about your brand.
We want to know! What trends do you find intriguing to try? We want to help you! Email hello@coastal-connections.com, and let us help you.
7 Things to Know Before Buying Swag Guide
Click the button below to get a free PDF teaching you all you need to know to buy swag for your business.
Be the first to comment