The promotional products industry is massive. In fact, more than $23.3 billion were spent on promotional products in 2017, according to a PPAI study. You can get a piece of that pie for yourself without even leaving your home. At Distributors First International, we’ll help you learn how to start an advertising specialties and promotional products business...from your home.

When you are starting your promotional products business, we understand that you might have some questions (in fact, a lot of questions). We have answers to some of the most frequently asked questions by those who aren’t familiar.

How are promotional products used?

Promotional products are typically used as an item that can be given away to prospective customers in order to promote a business. These are commonly small and inexpensive items like a stress ball, a lanyard, stickers, a pen, or some other item that a logo can be printed on and is still used regularly. Businesses will use this as a way to engrain their logo and brand into the mind of customers.

What are the most popular promotional products?

The popularity of individual promotional products typically changes each year. However, there are a few steadfast items that you can’t go wrong with. Pens, hand sanitizer, bags, and water bottles have withstood the test of time. Insulated tumblers have grown in popularity in recent years as well as wireless smartphone chargers.

Who are promotional products distributors and what do they do?

They are "promotional consultants" working directly with the industry supplier companies to find the most effective ways to use promotional products in their client's marketing strategies. This can include providing recommendations for what products to use, when best to use them, how to distribute them and the best ways to showcase their clients businesses. A promotional products consultant works directly with their clients and the suppliers to create effective advertising & promotional products campaigns to help their clients brand themselves better in their marketplace. From idea creation, product selection to delivery, the promotional products consultant is an integral part of helping their clients achieve their marketing goals.

What products are available for promotions?

Anything you want. Any item that you can get your hands on can be used as a promotional product. From apparel to workout equipment to luggage to coffee mugs. If there is something you or a client wants to put a logo on, you can use it as a promotional product. Whether it’s printing or embroidery, just about anything can be used as a promotional product.

Do promotional products work?

You bet they do! Quality Logo Products Blog says that 89% of people who receive a promotional product can recall the name of the company from which they received it two years later. Many companies know this and will continue to pay for promotional products as a method of effective advertising.

What’s the difference between a supplier and a distributor?

The difference between a promotional products supplier and a distributor lies in the supply chain. A supplier will import products, then print or embroider an image onto a product. The distributor then buys these products from the supplier and will turn and sell them to a company that’s going to use them for promotion. A distributor can also assist in developing ideas for what products to use as well as how to use them.

Get in touch with Distributors First

If you’d like to get into the promotional products industry, get in touch with our team at Distributors First. We make it easy to understand how to sell advertising specialties and break into the industry. Give us a call at 888-540-5402 or send a message using our contact form. We can offer the experience and knowledge that you need to be successful.