Last week, I attended the Virginia Promotional Products Association’s Spring Showcase to learn about the latest and greatest in promotional products and apparel from some of the industry’s biggest names. Here are some of the trends I saw:
PENovation
Pens aren’t a new item, and are certainly commoditized, so manufacturers are getting creative. One new popular feature is the added fidget spinners, making holding the pen much less boring. Another cool style feature is using bamboo and wood grains to give a more eco vibe and a more natural than metallic look.
Hydration PLUS
Water bottles, tumblers, coffee mugs, and other liquid vessels have also seen continued innovation. How about a water bottle with a Magsafe attachment to hold your phone? Ceramics mixed with recycled plastics and/or bamboo looked nice and gave a good eco option. Aluminum cups gave a shiny, cool look, and recyclable materials to replace the plastic cups for events.
Bags for All Occasions
This area is certainly influenced by retail, and if you like it in the wild, we have you covered with a branded version. Sleek waterproof gymbags for a great, stylish corporate event. Plastic tote bags for the beach, insulated totes for the store, and totes with fun design features to cover day-to-day usage. One big movement was clear plastic bags specifically sized for World Cup usage, but would be great for the many events requiring the clear bags these days.
Power Up
A bevy of stylish and functional options exist now to charge phones and other tech wearables. Many with 3-in-1 function to charge phones, watch, and earbuds. They make a great employee gift, as well as gift for customers.
On Brand
Some items had unique uses that could be great for staying on brand/message. Some of my favorites were a watercolor booklet for mental health, squeeze bottles with built-in dogbowls for mobile water, and speakers in various formats. Another way to stay on brand is to utilize brand colors. Certain lines featured specific standard Pantone colors or the option to use a specific Pantone color across products. So that way, your pens, water bottles, notebooks, bags, etc., all match perfectly.
Always fun to see what is new in the industry and which trends are sticking. If you need help in generating promotional item ideas for your organization, feel free to contact us!