The promotional marketing industry in the United States is alive and well. According to SellersCommerce, promotional products companies have reeled off several consecutive years of growth and are expected to see revenues of nearly $28 billion in 2025 — a welcome rebound after the pandemic-era disruptions.
However, “promo marketing” is easily misunderstood by those not familiar with the finer points of business promotional products. This blog will answer four questions as it explores the concept of promotional marketing — and how online company promo website stores are revolutionizing promotional branding strategies for organizations nationwide:
- What do you mean by “promotional marketing” and how does it fit into an organization’s overall marketing mix?
- What are the most popular promotional products and company promotional items?
- What is a company store and how are these company promo stores enhancing brand compliance and awareness?
- Who benefits most from a company store and why?
1. What do you mean by promotional marketing?
As a concept, promotional marketing refers to the use of branded merchandise to promote a company, product or service. These items — sometimes referred to as “swag” — are typically given away at events or as part of customer loyalty programs. They are also commonly used within organizations for employee reward, recognition and incentive programs.
The purpose of promotional marketing
Promotional products serve several key purposes:
- Brand awareness: A well-designed promo marketing product, such as branded apparel, can turn a customer or employee into a walking billboard. These promo items keep an organization top-of-mind as the brand impressions add up.
- Brand loyalty: Giving customers and employees useful, practical, branded gear builds goodwill and strengthens relationships.
- Lead generation: Promotional items are often used as incentives to encourage sign-ups, referrals or purchases. Promotional marketing solutions are almost synonymous with trade shows and events, for example.
- Employee engagement: When used internally, company promotional items can boost morale, reinforce corporate culture and recognize employee achievements.
Promotional items in the marketing mix
In the traditional 4Ps of marketing — Product, Price, Place and Promotion — promotional branding falls squarely under Promotion. However, in today’s more nuanced marketing mix, promotional marketing solutions also intersect with:
- Content marketing: Promotional items can be tied to campaigns, events or product launches, reinforcing messaging in a tangible way.
- Experiential marketing: Promotional products enhance live events, trade shows and pop-ups shops by creating memorable, hands-on brand experiences.
- Digital integration: QR codes, NFC chips and augmented reality features can be embedded in promo marketing products, bridging the gap between physical and digital engagement.
2. What are the most popular promotional products?
The promotional marketing industry is incredibly diverse but certain categories consistently rise to the top. Today, the most popular promotional branding items share three key traits: usefulness, visibility and sustainability. Here are the categories expected to dominate the industry in the coming year:
Apparel
Branded clothing remains the king of promo marketing. T-shirts, hoodies, hats and jackets offer high visibility and a long useful life. Research shows that a majority of people keep promotional products for more than a year and apparel is often kept even longer.
- Trends: Eco-friendly fabrics (like organic cotton), minimalist designs and gender-neutral sizing
- Used for: Employee uniforms, event giveaways, customer loyalty rewards
Drinkware
Reusable water bottles, tumblers and mugs are both practical and align with sustainability goals. These items are used daily, offering repeated brand exposure.
- Trends: Stainless steel, bamboo lids, collapsible designs and personalization
- Used for: Conference giveaways, onboarding kits, fitness and wellness campaigns
Tech accessories
As remote work and digital lifestyles persist, tech-related promotional marketing items are in high demand. Think wireless chargers, Bluetooth speakers, webcam covers and branded USB drives.
- Trends: Wireless everything, eco-conscious packaging and multifunctional gadgets
- Used for: Virtual event kits, client gifts, product launches
Bags and totes
Tote bags, boat totes, backpacks and drawstring bags are versatile, cost-effective and offer a large imprint area for branding.
- Trends: Recycled materials, foldable designs and bold colors
- Used for: Trade shows, retail promotions, nonprofit campaigns
Office and desk items
Despite the digital age, physical office supplies still hold value. Notebooks, pens, sticky notes and desk organizers are go-to items in the world of custom promotional products.
- Trends: More sustainable materials, minimalist branding and hybrid work themes
- Used for: B2B outreach, internal communications, educational institutions
Health and wellness products
Post-pandemic, wellness remains a priority. Branded hand sanitizers, lip balms, fitness bands and even mental health journals are popular choices for promotional items.
- Trends: Natural ingredients, wellness kits and mindfulness themes
- Used for: Healthcare campaigns, HR initiatives, wellness programs
3. What is a company store?
One tool that’s gaining traction among promotional products companies is the online company store. These web-based platforms for ordering business promotional products are transforming how companies manage their branded merchandise.
An online company promo website store is essentially a dedicated portal where employees, departments or even external business partners can order branded promotional marketing products. The promotional items ordered typically include:
- Apparel (e.g., T-shirts, polos, jackets)
- Office supplies (e.g., notebooks, pens, mugs)
- Event materials (e.g., banners, tablecloths, giveaways)
- Client gifts and incentives
- Recognition and reward items
Unlike traditional ordering methods that rely on spreadsheets, emails and manual approvals, online company promo stores provide a self-service experience. Users can browse pre-approved promotional items, customize them if needed, and place orders directly through the platform. Whether used by sales and marketing teams, HR departments or even individual employees for personal purchases, these online promotional product tools are popular across a wide range of industries including:
- Healthcare: For uniforms, patient giveaways and recruitment fairs
- Technology: For trade shows, branded employee merchandise and onboarding kits
- Retail: For seasonal promotions and customer loyalty programs
- Finance and insurance: For client gifts and internal employee recognition
- Education: For recruiting, community outreach, intern gifts, welcome kits and student events
4. Who benefits most from a company store?
So, who reaps the benefits of a company store? Is it the company or the employee who uses one? As it turns out, company promo stores are a win/win proposition for company and employee alike. Let’s break it down in detail.
How company promo stores benefit the company
For the organization itself, the benefits of a company store revolve around control, efficiency and flexibility.
Brand compliance and control
Maintaining a consistent brand image is critical, especially for companies with multiple locations or departments. Online company stores effectively eliminate one-off promo marketing purchases, ensuring that company brand compliance and control are maintained:
- All products meet brand guidelines (logos, colors, fonts)
- Only approved vendors and items are available
- Customization options are limited to pre-set parameters
Operational efficiency
Manual ordering processes are time-consuming and prone to errors. Online company promo stores streamline operations by:
- Automating order workflows and approvals
- Integrating with inventory and fulfillment systems
- Providing real-time tracking and reporting
Visibility and budgetary control
With centralized ordering, companies gain greater visibility into promotional marketing spend. Online company stores can:
- Track purchases by department, user or campaign
- Set spending limits and approval hierarchies
- Generate reports for budgeting and forecasting
Scalability and flexibility
As companies grow, their promotional branding needs evolve. Online company stores can scale to accommodate:
- New product categories
- Seasonal campaigns
- International shipping and multi-language support
Benefits of a company store for employees
Meanwhile, the employees using a company store enjoy a better experience on multiple levels.
Ease of use
Online promotional product stores are designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. No need to navigate complex procurement processes or wait for approvals. Employees can simply:
- Browse products by category or use case
- View detailed descriptions and images
- Place orders in a few clicks
Empowerment and engagement
Giving employees direct access to business promotional products fosters a sense of pride and belonging. Whether it’s a hoodie with the company logo or a custom water bottle, these items:
- Reinforce company culture
- Boost morale and team spirit
- Serve as rewards and recognition for job performance or employment milestones
Personalization and convenience
Many online company stores offer personalization options, such as adding a name or choosing a color. This makes the experience more engaging and allows employees to select items that suit their preferences. In addition, online company promo website stores often support direct shipping to home addresses, which is especially valuable for remote or hybrid employees.
Access to exclusive items
Online company stores often feature limited-edition or campaign-specific products that aren’t available elsewhere. This exclusivity adds excitement and encourages employee participation in business branding initiatives.
Taylor: Online company store for promotional products
Taylor is one of the leading providers of promotional marketing solutions in North America. As both a distributor and a manufacturer of custom promotional products, we combine a vast assortment with supply chain control and unbeatable pricing.
We also specialize in the type of online company stores described in this blog. Our company promo stores use industry-leading technology to create a B2C-like shopping experience as employees and stakeholders choose from a wide range of promotional marketing items.
Looking for an efficient way to offer company promotional items while maintaining company brand compliance and control? Contact Taylor to learn more about our online company promo website store capabilities.
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