People keep promotional products that are useful. In ASI's 2026 Global Advertising Impressions Study, the largest shares of people kept fleece and jackets, power banks, bags, drinkware and t-shirts for a year or more, and outerwear made the most impressions per item.
How long people keep each item
| Category | How long people keep it | Impressions per item | Cost per impression |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fleece and jackets | 87% keep more than a year | 9,000 | 0.4 cents |
| Power banks | 85% keep at least a year | 1,800 | 0.7 cents |
| Bags | 84% keep at least a year | 4,900 | 0.1 cents |
| Drinkware | 80% keep more than a year | 1,300 | 1 cent |
| T-shirts | 80% keep at least a year | 3,500 | 0.33 cents |
| Desk and office accessories | 77% keep at least a year | 1,200 | 1 cent |
| Polo shirts | 73% keep at least a year | 2,900 | 0.7 cents |
| Writing instruments | 65% keep at least a year | 1,900 | 0.1 cents |
| Headwear | 64% keep at least a year | 4,000 | Not reported |
| Notebooks | 61% keep at least a year | 500 | Under 1 cent |
| Umbrellas | More than half keep five years or more | 2,300 | 0.7 cents |
| Blankets | Half keep more than five years | 1,200 | Under 2 cents |
Across all categories, the average cost per impression was 0.6 cents. Source: ASI Global Advertising Impressions Study 2026.
What this means when you choose items
- Wearables and bags travel with people, so they make the most impressions.
- Useful beats clever. Items people use daily stay out of the drawer.
- Quality matters for keep time. A better jacket or bag is kept for years.
- Low cost items like pens and notebooks still work for large giveaways, but expect a shorter life.
Matching items to the goal
| Goal | Best fit |
|---|---|
| Brand reach at events | T-shirts, bags, headwear |
| Long term thank you | Jackets, blankets, quality drinkware |
| Daily presence at a client's desk | Desk accessories, notebooks, drinkware |
| Large giveaways on a tight budget | Pens, bags, stickers |
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Frequently asked questions
- What promotional products do people keep the longest?
- Blankets, umbrellas and outerwear. Half of people keep blankets more than five years, and 87% keep fleece and jackets more than a year (ASI 2026).
- Which promotional products make the most impressions?
- Fleece and jackets, at about 9,000 impressions per item, then bags at 4,900 and headwear at 4,000 (ASI 2026).
- What is the average cost per impression of promotional products?
- 0.6 cents across all categories in ASI's 2026 study.
- Are cheap giveaways worth it?
- For large events, yes. Pens and bags cost about a tenth of a cent per impression. For gifts meant to last, spend more on fewer, better items.