ADDING PROMO TO YOUR BUSINESS
Clients may start with signs or banners, but that’s rarely the whole story. Small businesses and startups are always on the lookout for smart, e ective ways to stand out. That’s where promo products come in. Think custom gear, giveaways, and branded must-haves that make a lasting impression. Ready to see what promo can do?
THE POWER OF PROMO of consumers enjoy receiving free stu from companies. of people like receiving a promotional product. 9 out of 10 people can recall the company that gave them branded promotional products. 2024 U.S. Distributor Sales Volume, PPAI.org | Hungry For Promo, PPAI.org Total U.S. promotional product sales reached $26.78 billion in 2024, growing 2.63%.
ADDING PROMO TO YOUR BUSINESS INCREASES REVENUE Sales Volume Distribution by Program Category When it comes to how companies use promotional products, it’s all about strategy—and this chart shows exactly where those investments are going. Here’s a look at how di erent program categories stack up based on sales volume: Your client base is likely ordering promotional items from somewhere else, but by including promo in your business, the success rate of selling to an existing customer is 60-70%. By adding promo to your line of products, you can increase your revenue with an average profit margin of 40%. 7.3% 8.4% 9.0% 9.1% 9.3% 14.9% 22.5% Employee Incentives Resales School Pride & Sports Teams Employee Relations Trade Shows Business Gifts 2.2% 1.4% 3.0% 2.9% 4.8% 5.2% Other Market Research New Product/Service Workplace Wellness Customer Retention Customer Acquisition Brand Awareness 0 5 10 15 20 25 Sales Volume by Percentage 2024 U.S. Distributor Sales Volume, PPAI.org
ADDING PROMO TO YOUR BUSINESS INCREASES ROI Price Code Information for Suppliers Pricing to Distributors is based on suggested (catalog) retail price less one of the following percentages. The industry standard is a 40% profit margin and if you can o er 50% o the suggested retail price, that’s even better. It’s rare for an item/product to be on a J or Y making 5%. If more than one code is given, the codes correspond with the quantity discounts.
TRADITIONAL VS. NON-TRADITIONAL Traditional vs. Non-Traditional Promo You can carry a variety of traditional and non-traditional promotional products for your clients. Examples of traditional and non-traditional promotional items include: Traditional Promo Pens Tote Bags Notebooks Watches Coolers Tumblers Logo Mats Non- Traditional Promo
TOP INDUSTRIES BUYING PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS The big question is, whom should you be selling promo to? Here is a list of the top industries that purchase the most promotional products: 1. Education 4. Health Care 5. Not-for-Profit Organizations 3. Construction 2. Business Services
9. Food & Beverage 10. Retail TOP INDUSTRIES BUYING PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS 7. Government 8. Manufacturing 6. Financial
TOP PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS TO INCLUDE IN YOUR BUSINESS What are the key promotional items to sell? Every industry looks for something di erent, but there are ten items that stay consistent throughout all industries alike. Here are the Top Promotional Product Categories Carrying a variety of promotional items for your clients makes your business a one-stop shop for all things print and promo will give you a head start over the competition. Top Promotional Product Categories 1 | Apparel 3 | Caps 4 | Bags 5 | Writing 6 | Accessories 7 | Awards 8 | Event 9 | Technology 10 | Office 2 | Drinkware
CREATING ACCOUNTS WITH SUPPLIERS & DECORATORS Samples A good way to establish a relationship with a supplier is to request samples. Samples may be o ered at a lower cost or free with pre-paid shipping. Samples are a great way to show what promotional items you can o er your customers. You can also create a sample kit or set up a display in store. These should include an array of the types of items your clients can purchase such as business cards, pens, signs, banners, name tags, etc. Think of items a new business might need and combine them into a small display case. Your clients can then easily envision what their logo would look like with your products! Self-Promo Order promotional items to represent your company and promote your business! Design logoed apparel, drinkware, banners, and more to display. Much like samples, self-promo items are usually o ered at a lower cost. This is a great way to promote your brand and show more examples of the types of promotional items you can provide to your customers. Decorators Search for local decorators to establish a relationship. Decorating services might include embroiderers or screen printers, etc. You can search for a decorator in SAGE Workplace by decorating service, location, by rating, and more. Blank Goods Refers to promotional products without decoration/imprinting. Most promotional product apparel is blank until a logo or image is designed onto the item.
START THE CONVERSATION! Pitching Your Existing Customers Promotional products o er an easy solution to increasing your ROI with your existing client base. Acquiring a new client can cost 5 times as much as retaining an existing client. Print products are your specialty, and if you add promotional items into the mix, your business becomes a one-stop-shop! Here are some questions you can ask your existing customers to get started: - Do you order other products with your logo on them? - How o en do you order those products? - What additional types of promotional products would you be interested in? Finding New Customers Start with people and businesses you know. You can also seek out new customers by connecting with your community. Ask for referrals regularly and consider creating a referral program Utilize your self promo in public spaces, wear your brand and pass out your business cards Get in touch with your local Chamber of Commerce Attend small business events Visit your local farmers markets Connect with schools, leagues, and teams in your area
PROMOTE YOUR BRAND AND INCREASE YOUR REACH Update Your Website Having a company website is just the beginning. Having an effective website is essential for both your existing customers and to gain new ones. Make sure you have all of your available products and services listed, that it is easy to navigate, and has your contact information readily available in multiple places. For more tips on how to drive traffic to your website, check out our guide 10 Ways to Drive Traffic to your Website here. Social Media Promoting your products and services on your social media is also essential for gaining new business. Here are a few tips to get you started. Develop Your Strategy Developing a social media strategy for a small business involves setting clear goals, knowing your audience, and creating engaging content tailored to each platform. Consistency, analytics tracking, and community engagement are crucial for success, as is staying adaptable to changing trends and algorithms. Plan Ahead Plan ahead on what you are going to post for the week. It can be as simple as a weekly calendar where you jot down what you want to post each week, so long as you’re able to clearly visualize what needs to be published, where, and when. Stay On Brand Keep all your posts on brand is an easy way to make your social media presence cohesive across all platforms. That way, your clients can build brand recognition with your company!
Keep it Simple! Your posts are supposed to help drive tra ic to your website, so instead of typing out lots of info, try a short, exciting caption that entices the reader to click through and read more. Keep Your Contact Info in Sight! Make sure your contact info is easily available. Link to your website in your bios of each social media platform. That way, you can drive clients to your website! Whenever someone comments on your posts, make sure to respond! Starting conversations and engaging with your audience is essential to creating a connection with your customers. Engage
Explore over 1.5 million promotional products in our extensive industry database. It’s the only database with Verified by Supplier certification so that you can trust accurate product information and pricing. Enjoy an unparalleled range of search and sort options, surpassing any other research tool. Stay up to date with continuous and suppliers. With SAGE Project Management, you know where each of your projects are, so you can easily hit deadlines and get results. Elevate your customer service with our comprehensive Customer Relationship Management (CRM) module. a robust Order Management tool that seamlessly integrates with QuickBooks™. Unleash your creativity and impress your customers with our powerful presentation publishing tool. Expand your knowledge with a wide range of FREE educational resources and support from your personal Account Advisor. YOU NEED A PRODUCT SEARCH TOOL SAGE is the leading provider of information, marketing and business management solutions to the promotional products industry. Trusted by small businesses and industry giants alike, SAGE Workplace is the complete and seamless solution to handle all the aspects of your business. To learn more about selling promo, view our New Distributor Guide and see how you can become a verified distributor in SAGE. See why over 45,000 distributors choose SAGE
Ready to jump into the world of promo? We can't wait to have you! Click here to get your 30-day free trial of SAGE. Want to take a deeper dive into the world of promo? Check out additional resources here!
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