Promotional Products Sales Jumped
5.1 Percent to Record $17.8 Billion in 2005
Promotional Products Industry Twice as Large as Internet Display Advertising

April 10, 2006 - Trevose, PA - The Advertising Specialty Institute® (ASI) released results of its annual promotional products industry sales analysis, indicating revenues jumped 5.1 percent from 2004 to $17.8 billion in 2005 - the third year of continuous increases and a new record.

Spending on promotional products was twice as large as Internet display advertising, five times greater than outdoor advertising and more than cable TV advertising*.

The exclusive analysis, conducted by ASI, shows that growth in 2005 was driven by increased recognition that promotional products should be included in marketing campaigns and by the overall strength of the U.S. economy.

“This analysis indicates that the promotional products industry continues to experience solid gains, including three years of increasing sales, as more and more companies realize that promotional products – apparel items, pens, mugs – have a lasting impression on recipients and provide a strong return on the marketing investment,” said Timothy M. Andrews, president of ASI. “We’re proud of how the 19,000 distributor firms in our industry have developed and advanced, and how the 3,300 suppliers continue to innovate and produce quality products that sell.”

Furthermore, the growth of the promotional products industry has outpaced the growth rate of the U.S. economy as a whole. The U.S. Gross Domestic Product, while healthy, posted a 3.5 percent gain in 2005. This figure declined from 4.2 percent in 2004.