Keeping up with the news cycle doesn’t just mean noting personnel moves or a sea of tariff updates. Especially in a tumultuous year like 2025, it’s become crucial to go deeper into the “why” behind the news to help give promo pros insight into how they – and their sales – might be affected by current events, tech innovations or other shifts in how the industry operates.

Our coverage here at ASI Media reflects that, whether it’s exploring the potential of artificial intelligence, diving into exclusive, industry-specific data from ASI Research or showcasing the latest and greatest product trends (including, yes, the Labubu). Here are ASI Media’s top 10 trend, analysis and commentary stories of the year.

1

Top Apparel Trends for 2025

Topping this year’s list was January’s forecast for the anticipated top apparel trends of 2025, where suppliers broke down the items they expected would dominate the year ahead, from oversized, structured hoodies to classic foam trucker caps and professional but playful polos. As a retrospective, many of the top promo merch trends spotlighted here – including increasingly versatile outerwear pieces and retro-style tees made from heavyweight fabric – did prove popular in 2025.

2

Sales Compensation Survey: Commission Possible

For the first time since 2017, commission-based plans outpaced salary-based plans as the primary compensation model for industry sales reps, according to ASI Research’s annual Sales Compensation Survey. Distributors say it’s a shift likely driven by a tough sales environment where reps with an already established book of business might be more likely to use commission for a potentially higher payout. In this comprehensive report, we broke down the scope of the commission-versus-salary debate, as well as decreases in some benefits for sales reps and differences between full-time workers and independent contractors.

3

10 Promo Pros Reveal How They’re Using AI & Automation

Aside from tariffs, “artificial intelligence” was arguably one of the biggest buzzwords of 2025, as generative AI tools continued to advance and their adoption by companies of all sizes became more widespread. Promo has been no exception, and ASI Media spoke with a number of suppliers and distributors to get the specifics on how the industry is making use of AI and automation technologies. Answered varied widely, with promo pros using AI tools for everything from customer-facing chatbots to graphic design to even dealing with tough situations.

4

PRINTING United Expo 2025 Wrap-Up: Stats, Figures & Storylines From Orlando

The 2025 PRINTING United Expo in Orlando, FL, in October was reportedly the Alliance’s biggest show to date – and ASI Media editors were there to capture it all, from education sessions on busting promo myths and the future of direct to film to the top trends on the 1 million-square-foot show floor. This final wrap-up from the show is chock-full of insights, particularly on the convergence of the print and promotional products worlds, thanks to ASI and PRINTING United Alliance’s partnership beginning last year.

5

5 Charts That Show How the Economy Is Impacting Promo

As tariff news seemingly shifted every week for much of 2025, the economy did the same. Despite rising inflation, low consumer confidence and a tough labor market, Americans were still spending this year, and the stock market has hit record highs in the midst of volatility. How does promo fit into those seemingly contradictory metrics? Data analysis from ASI Research revealed that the industry’s low confidence mirrored that of the overall consumer marketplace, as well as promo-related verticals like manufacturing and wholesale trade experiencing significant job declines. But inflation, while rising, may have been slower to hit promo end-buyers than other categories.

6

2025 State & Regional Sales Report

This annual report curated by ASI Research breaks down the promotional products industry’s $24.6 billion in U.S. annual sales by both region and individual state. The consensus? Nearly all states kept things slow and steady in 2024, recording modest but still noticeable gains despite economic challenges. The South, West and East regions all posted about 2% growth, with the nation’s smallest state, Delaware, posting the fastest growth in 2024 at 6.6%. The South remained the largest region for promo sales, thanks largely to contributions from Texas, Florida, North Carolina and Georgia, which all topped $1 billion last year.

7

ASI Chicago 2025: Top Finds From the Show Floor

Suppliers no longer debut new items only in January – which has made ASI Chicago an ideal opportunity to get an early push on innovative Q4 campaigns. That was certainly the case this year, as ASI Media editors discovered on the show floor. Distributors found new items, including elevated pickleball gear and a spinning charcuterie board, alongside classic products, helping them keep up with key trends like textured apparel, sustainable materials and more.

8

Best in Branding: Root Beer Float in a Tote, Dinner Roll Sweatpants & More

Promo in the wild can sometimes be, well, wild, but in a world where we’re constantly bombarded by media, sometimes that weirdness is what it takes to stand out. A tote bag designed as root beer float storage, free vibrant sweatsuits for Chicago travelers who were willing to make a daring swap, a coffee collab that perfectly captured its Gen Z target audience – these marketers knew exactly what they were doing with their merch drops this year. In our opinion, their gambles often paid off.

9

Labubu-nomics & the Blind Box Boom: How the Viral Trend Could Be a Promo Opportunity

There was a point in 2025 when you couldn’t scroll your social media “For You” page without being accosted by images of beady-eyed plushies in a variety of pastel or vibrant shades. Yes, of course, I’m talking about the Labubu: the small plush creatures often sold in “blind boxes” that conceal the specific version within. But the trend isn’t just an indicator that the oddest things can go viral – it’s also a perfect example of using psychology to sell by tricking the brain into thinking that receiving a more desired product is a reward. That phenomenon can create its own type of opportunity for the promo industry.

10

Sticky Clients, Repeat Sales: Why Company Stores Have Become a Must-Have

Nearly half of distributors now offer company stores as an option for their clients, a significant uptick from just a decade ago. In fact, the service is a more essential tool than ever before for promo pros to keep in their back pockets. Why? Company stores are a key starting point for distributors to become a “one-stop shop” for end-buyers. And it’s not only that: These days, everyone wants to be a brand, and everyone knows that well-designed merch can help them get there. This comprehensive breakdown looks at the potential benefits and challenges of building out a company store, with lots of tips for using data, personalization and products to make an impact.

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