2015 hot trends in promotional items

Expect to see more practical and high-tech battery-operated premiums, and products bundled in gift sets.

"Function," "bundles" and "tech" will be the 2015 buzzwords in the premiums industry.

In its 2015 market forecast, US-based promotional products distributor Quality Logo Products or QLP said practicality, bundling and technology will drive the industry this year.

Regarding with the first, promotional items are already becoming less kitschy and more functional as buyers opt for products that consumers will actually use than simply store as a keepsake. Industry insiders first took notice of this trend in 2014 and BIC Graphic communications manager Margit Fawbush expects the functional premiums segment to grow even bigger this year. Fawbush added that the trend is being driven by the growing number of brands searching for items that customers use every day, "not just something they will throw in a drawer and forget about."

Hand sanitizer sprays and wipes are a good example of functional premiums as they have ample space for logos and messages, and are extremely useful amid growing health concerns. China suppliers are generating further interest in the line by introducing models in playful containers.

Promotional items packed in bundles or gift baskets are also hot this year. According to Sarah Sumner, inside sales and marketing representative of Bay State Specialty Co, bundling is an effective pricing strategy particularly for suppliers of lower-end premiums because doing so allows them to target more price points. Bay State is already putting together various silicone kitchenware, including oven mitts, spatulas and spoons, into corporate gift sets.

Premiums industry specialists also agree that technology will continue to drive innovations this year. Suppliers are selecting fast-moving mobile electronics and imprinting these logos and brands. In China, this expanding selection includes promotional power banks, Bluetooth remote controls, styluses and even touchscreen gloves.

See a comparison table of promotional pens suppliers on GlobalSources.com