Each year, our Counselor State of the Industry report covers the biggest trends and most interesting data that affects the promotional products industry. And while there are shifts year-to-year in our most sought-after charts (from top markets to products to business challenges), it’s rare that the results are completely turned upside down. Last year was one of those years, and it’s reflected in the SOI 2021 report we’ve just released.

“One of the joys of my job, and I legitimately mean this, is I try not to make judgments about what I think is going to happen [with the data] because I’m going to be wrong,” said Nate Kucsma, ASI’s executive director of market research & corporate marketing. “This year I didn’t even have to make that conscious decision, because I had no idea what was going to happen. … It’s a different year than any we’ve ever experienced.”

This year’s SOI report yielded unexpected results, and in this episode of Promo Insiders we unpack the most fascinating findings and statistics. How widespread is supply chain upheaval? How much did margins suffer? How big did PPE get? And will all these trends last or just be a one-year anomaly? Kucsma, Digital News Director Christopher Ruvo and Editor-in-Chief C.J. Mittica join up to give just a taste of what’s waiting in our full SOI coverage.

Podcast Chapters (only available on desktop)
8:03 The current state of the supply chain
19:54 Is the industry moving away from China?
26:17 Margins and order values take a hit
32:08 Does PPE have a future?
38:53 New top end-buyer markets
45:26 Looking at the rest of the year

Watch on YouTube