There are very little surprises in this year’s top promo product categories. T-Shirts are once again the most-sold item – a run of dominance that’s only been interrupted by the once-in-a-lifetime events of 2020. The rest of the top five – drinkware, polos, caps and bags – finished in the exact same order as last year. It’s noteworthy that drinkware declined slightly, ending three years of growth and signaling that perhaps the ultra-popular product category may have finally reached its peak. Here’s a look at what products were sold in 2024, along with a quick rundown of the categories that stand to gain and lose this year due to tariffs.
Top Product Categories
(As Percentage of Overall Promo Products Sales)
(Dollar amount in millions)
Product Shifts – 2025 Edition
Going up
- ✔ T-shirts: After a down year, tighter spending and relative tariff immunity should give promo’s #1 item a bump.
- ✔ Bags: Fabrics and textiles of all kinds stand to benefit, especially compared to hard goods.
- ✔ Food Gifts: Not imported but always delicious seems like a winning combo at this moment.
Coming down
- ✘ Drinkware: The Stanley craze has passed, and tariffs on steel and aluminum hit this category directly.
- ✘ Electronics: Notable market share gains in 2024 will be overshadowed by price-sensitive spending.
- ✘ Recognition Awards: It’s hard to honor employees when the economy’s struggling and reps can't hit their budgets to win awards.