The promotional advertising products industry is a huge national industry generating more than $23 billion in annual sales according to the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI). The PPAI currently has more than 10,000 distributors and over 4,800 manufacturers.

Promotional products are customized items that companies can brand and offer to customers, clients, employees, sales staff, and prospects, These items commonly include apparel, mouse pads, sticky notes, office items, small tools, household items, magnets, water bottles, coffee cups, writing instruments, backpacks, key chains, tote bags, travel items, calendars, candy, bumper stickers, and more. Promotional items are often used extensively in politics to promote candidates and causes.

The industry is generally divided between suppliers and distributors, Suppliers manufacture and customize the products based upon orders placed by distributors. Distributors advertise and distribute promotional products, The suppliers normally ship the promotional items directly to the customer.

Based on industry data, on average, 80% of businesses keep their promotional products for 12 months or more.

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