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Promotional Products in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Alex Petridis Alex Petridis New York, United States Last Updated: November 2024 NAICS 54189

Revenue

$17.8bn

2024

$17.8bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

98,793

Businesses

6,238

Wages

$X.Xbn

Promotional Products in the US industry analysis

Promotional product manufacturers design and distribute promotional products for various sectors. Manufacturers have benefited from largely favorable economic conditions over the last few years but haven't been exempt from the COVID-19 pandemic's disruptions and subsequent inflation. Growth in the number of businesses and corporate profit have fueled demand for promotional products since new companies use them to generate consumer awareness and favorability around their brand. In 2020, the pandemic temporarily upturned the industry's growth as the associated economic downturn and stay-at-home orders hindered advertising expenditures from businesses struggling with faltering revenue. Producers have largely been beholden to corporate profit levels, which have showcased volatile behavior amid interest rate hikes. Slumps in corporate profits due to interest rate hikes led to businesses' hesitant approach to spending on promotional products. In response, companies have pivoted toward high-quality, personalized promotional items like branded merch and tech gadgets, signaling a shift in priorities from quantity to quality. Industry revenue is set to sink at a CAGR of 1.4% to $17.8 billion through the end of 2024, including a stumble of 0.2% in 2024 alone.

Trends and Insights

  • Competition from digital media is intensifying. As businesses shift their advertising dollars to online and mobile platforms, the promotional product industry faces rising pressure but remains valuable for physical, memorable brand engagement.
  • The financial and insurance sectors are the biggest markets for promotional products. Companies in these sectors spend almost one-quarter of their marketing budgets on promotional products.
  • High-population areas have a high concentration of establishments. These locations are a hotspot for business-to-business activity, which also calls for promotional products.
  • Companies should be able to anticipate demand and modify product selections. Manufacturers must stay abreast of the latest products and trends, which can be the difference maker in this highly competitive industry.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $17.8bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Corporate profit volatility has thrown industry enterprises into flux

  • Wild fluctuations in corporate profit have added volatility to the industry. While typically stable, the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a dip in corporate profit in 2020 before a major spike in 2021 as recovery brought a jump in revenue for many industries.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Promotional Products in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Recovering downstream markets will boost revenue

  • Growth in the business sentiment index, consumer spending and corporate profit will expand many companies' advertising expenditures, increasing demand for promotional products. Changes in global trade agreements, supply chain disruptions, or geopolitical events may again impact promotional products' availability and cost.

Biggest companies in the Promotional Products in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
4imprint Group Plc
1,417.9
133.6
9.4
BDS Solutions Group, LLC
866.8
51.1
5.9
Halo Branded Solutions Inc.
855.5
37.2
4.4

To view the market share and analysis for all 8 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Promotional Products in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Customization and distribution of promotional products, Custom sign fabrication and Product or merchandise demonstrations. Customization and distribution of promotional products is the largest segment of the Promotional Products in the US.

Trends and Insights

Customization and distribution of promotional products are the industry's main revenue generators

  • Promotional products are an effective form of advertising since they enable companies to efficiently reach target audiences. Common customizable promotional products include T-shirts, electronics and tech accessories, bags, magnets, writing instruments, apparel, headwear, food and desk and office accessories.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry design and distribute promotional products (e.g., key chains, magnets and pens). They also provide various advertising-related services, including sign lettering and window dressing. This industry doesn't include advertising agency services, public relations agency services, media-buying agency services, media representative services, display-advertising services, direct-mail-advertising services or marketing consulting services.

What's included in this industry?

Customization and distribution of promotional productsCustom sign fabricationProduct or merchandise demonstrationsAll other advertizing services

Companies

4imprint Group PlcBDS Solutions Group, LLCHalo Branded Solutions Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 8 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

BLANKADVERTISING SPECIALTYTRADITIONAL MEDIABELOW-THE-LINE PROMOTIONECONOMIES OF SCALE

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 54189 - Promotional Products in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Competition from digital media is intensifying. As businesses shift their advertising dollars to online and mobile platforms, the promotional product industry faces rising pr...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The financial and insurance sectors are the biggest markets for promotional products. Companies in these sectors spend almost one-quarter of their marketing budgets on promot...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

High-population areas have a high concentration of establishments. These locations are a hotspot for business-to-business activity, which also calls for promotional products.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Companies should be able to anticipate demand and modify product selections. Manufacturers must stay abreast of the latest products and trends, which can be the difference ma...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

This industry is highly segmented, with many companies operating locally, which limits market share growth for individual corporations. The top two companies, Halo and BDS, h...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of 4imprint Group Plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of BDS Solutions Group, LLC's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Halo Branded Solutions Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 5 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for 4imprint Group Plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for BDS Solutions Group, LLC, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Halo Branded Solutions Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 5 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Associations exist at the state and local levels because most companies are small. Industry associations act as a support mechanism for suppliers and distributors of promotio...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Wages are a significant cost for the promotional products industry. With over a quarter of the industry's revenue going to wages, maintaining strong client relationships dema...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Promotional Products in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Promotional Products in the US industry in United States is $17.8bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Promotional Products in the US industry in 2024?

There are 6,238 businesses in the Promotional Products in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Promotional Products in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Promotional Products in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Promotional Products in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Promotional Products in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Promotional Products in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Promotional Products market in United States are 4imprint Group Plc, BDS Solutions Group, LLC and Halo Branded Solutions Inc.

What does the Promotional Products in the US in United States include?

Customization and distribution of promotional products and Custom sign fabrication are part of the Promotional Products in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Promotional Products in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is 4imprint Group Plc.

How competitive is the Promotional Products in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Promotional Products in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Advertising Agencies in the US
  • Media Buying Agencies in the US
  • Media Representative Firms in the US
  • Billboard & Outdoor Advertising in the US
  • Direct Mail Advertising in the US
  • Print Advertising Distribution in the US

Complementors

  • Public Relations Firms in the US

International industries

  • Promotional Products in Canada
  • Promotional Product Distribution in the UK

View all industries in United States

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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