Current figures on the size of the promotional products industry, how branded merchandise performs as advertising, and the recognition and hiring data behind employee programs. Each number links to its original source.
Key statistics
- U.S. promotional products distributor sales reached $27.1 billion in 2025, up 1.3% from 2024 (PPAI, January 2026).
- Online sales were $7.1 billion, 26.3% of the 2025 total (PPAI, January 2026).
- Sustainable products accounted for $3.8 billion, 14% of 2025 sales (PPAI, January 2026).
- A promotional product earns about 3,300 impressions over its life at an average cost of $0.006 per impression (ASI Global Advertising Impressions Study, 2026).
- 85% of consumers remember the advertiser that gave them a promotional product (ASI, 2026).
- 76% of consumers are more likely to do business with a brand that gave them a promotional product (ASI, 2026).
- 78% of consumers keep promotional items because they are useful (ASI, 2026).
- T-shirts are the top selling category, with $4.2 billion in sales (ASI, 2026, via Printing Impressions).
- Well recognized employees are 45% less likely to have left their company after two years (Gallup and Workhuman, 2024).
- Only 22% of U.S. employees say they get the right amount of recognition (Gallup and Workhuman, 2024).
- U.S. employers hired an average of 3.3% of their workforce each month in 2025 (BLS JOLTS).
Industry size
| Metric | 2025 figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total U.S. distributor sales | $27.1 billion (+1.3%) | PPAI, January 12, 2026 |
| Large distributors (over $2.5M in sales) | $14.6 billion, 54% of sales | PPAI, January 12, 2026 |
| Small distributors | about $12.5 billion, 46% | PPAI, January 12, 2026 |
| Retail branded products | about $6 billion | PPAI, January 12, 2026 |
| Online sales | $7.1 billion, 26.3% | PPAI, January 12, 2026 |
| Sustainable products | $3.8 billion, 14% | PPAI, January 12, 2026 |
| Products from non-industry suppliers | about $4.4 billion, 16.3% | PPAI, January 12, 2026 |
ASI estimates the industry at $27.7 billion (April 2026); estimates differ by method.
Outlook: 60% of distributors expect higher sales in 2026 (PPAI).
How promotional products perform
Findings from the ASI Global Advertising Impressions Study, 2026:
- About 3,300 impressions per item on average.
- Average cost per impression of $0.006.
- A $6 tote bag earns nearly 5,000 impressions, about $0.001 per impression.
- Fleece and outerwear earn about 9,000 impressions at $0.004 or less per impression.
- 85% of consumers remember the advertiser.
- 78% keep items because they are useful.
- Nearly 80% have a more favorable impression of the advertiser.
- 76% are more likely to do business with the advertiser.
- Promotional products are preferred over TV, social media, radio and online advertising.
Study basis: about 5,000 consumers, 19 product categories.
Impressions and cost per impression by item
| Item | Lifetime impressions | Cost per impression (as published by ASI) | How long people keep it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fleece and jackets | 9,000 | 4/10 of a cent | 87% keep more than 1 year |
| Bags | 4,900 | 1/10 of a cent | 84% keep 1+ year |
| Caps and hats | 4,000 | Not published | 64% keep 1+ year |
| T-shirts | 3,500 | 1/3 of a cent | 80% keep 1+ year |
| Polos | 2,900 | 7/10 of a cent | 73% keep 1+ year |
| Umbrellas | 2,300 | 7/10 of a cent | More than half keep 5+ years |
| Writing instruments | 1,900 | 1/10 of a cent | 65% keep 1+ year |
| Power banks | 1,800 | 7/10 of a cent | 85% keep 1+ year |
| Drinkware | 1,300 | 1 cent | 80% keep more than 1 year |
| Desk and office accessories | 1,200 | 1 cent | 77% keep 1+ year |
| Housewares and tools | 1,200 | 1/3 of a cent | Nearly half keep 5+ years |
| Blankets | 1,200 | Less than 2 cents | Half keep 5+ years |
| Magnets* | 800 | 1/10 of a cent | 67% keep 1+ year |
| Buttons, lanyards and stickers | 600 | 1/4 of a cent | 62% keep 1+ year |
| Calendars | 550 | 1 cent | Used weekly |
| Notebooks and notepads | 500 | Less than 1 cent | 61% keep 1+ year |
| Health and safety items** | 400 | Less than 1 cent | 64% keep 1+ year |
| USB drives | 400 | Less than 2 cents | Nearly half keep 5+ years |
| Food gifts | Not published | 1/3 of a cent | 72% keep and consume |
* Magnets: ASI's report shows both 750 and 800; we use 800, the category page figure.
** Health and safety items: ASI's report shows both 400 and 4,000; we use the lower figure.
Model your own program with the cost per impression calculator.
Recognition and retention
Gallup and Workhuman, September 2024, tracked about 3,500 employees from 2022 to 2024:
- Well recognized employees were 45% less likely to have turned over after two years.
- 22% of employees get the right amount of recognition.
- 55% get no recognition, or recognition that meets none of the five pillars of strategic recognition.
- Employees whose recognition meets at least four pillars are 65% less likely to be looking for another job and nine times as likely to be engaged.
- Gallup estimates replacing an employee costs about 40% of salary for frontline workers, 80% for technical roles and 200% for leaders and managers.
Plan the year's appreciation dates with the recognition calendar.
Hiring and onboarding
U.S. employers hired an average of 3.3% of their workforce each month in 2025 (BLS JOLTS). Monthly hires rates by industry:
| Industry | Monthly hires rate (2025) |
|---|---|
| All industries | 3.3% |
| Construction | 4.0% |
| Manufacturing | 2.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 2.2% |
| Retail trade | 3.7% |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 3.8% |
| Information | 2.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 2.1% |
| Real estate | 2.6% |
| Professional and business services | 4.6% |
| Private educational services | 2.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 3.1% |
| Leisure and hospitality | 5.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 5.5% |
| Other services | 3.4% |
| Federal government | 0.9% |
| State and local government | 1.5% |
Turn your headcount into kit quantities with the onboarding kit planner.
Trade shows
- A well run exhibit reaches about 45% of its target audience (Exhibit Surveys benchmark, cited by Competitive Edge).
- Plan about one booth staffer per 50 square feet of open space (Competitive Edge).
Size your show giveaways with the trade show giveaway calculator.
Sources
- PPAI Research: U.S. distributor sales reached new height in 2025. PPAI, January 12, 2026. https://www.ppai.org/media-hub/ppai-research-u-s-distributor-sales-reached-new-height-in-2025-but-hampered-by-volatility/
- Promotional products deliver impressions at a fraction of a cent. ASI, April 21, 2026. https://members.asicentral.com/news/press/press-releases/april-2026/asi-research-promotional-products-deliver-impressions-at-a-fraction-of-a-cent-outrank-all-other-ad-channels/
- Five major insights from the 2026 ASI Ad Impressions Study. Printing Impressions. https://www.piworld.com/post/five-major-insights-from-the-2026-asi-ad-impressions-study/
- Employee retention depends on getting recognition right. Gallup, September 18, 2024. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/650174/employee-retention-depends-getting-recognition-right.aspx
- Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, Table 18. BLS. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/jolts.t18.htm
- How to Right Size Your Exhibit for Maximum Productivity and Profit. Competitive Edge. https://www.oda.org/wp-content/uploads/How-to-Right-Size-Your-Exhibit-for-Maximum-Productivity-and-Profit.pdf
Citing this page
You are welcome to quote these figures. Please cite the original source listed with each number, and link to this page if it helped.
https://brantonpromo.com/resources/promotional-products-statistics
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the promotional products industry?
- U.S. promotional products distributor sales reached $27.1 billion in 2025, according to PPAI.
- Do promotional products work as advertising?
- Yes. In ASI's 2026 study, 85% of consumers remember the advertiser that gave them a promotional product and 76% are more likely to do business with them.
- What is the cost per impression of promotional products?
- About $0.006 per impression on average, according to ASI's 2026 study.
- What is the most popular promotional product?
- T-shirts, with $4.2 billion in sales, according to ASI.
- Does employee recognition reduce turnover?
- Yes. Gallup and Workhuman found well recognized employees were 45% less likely to have turned over after two years.