Top 5 Trending Events & Promotional Items in 2024

We have researched the industry and we have found what we can expect to trend in 2024 for promotional products. These are the categories, products, materials and events that can expect to see nice growth next year. Let's jump right in!

Trend 1: Live Events

Live events have always been popular, but we expect them to continue to grow in popularity in 2024. This is a great way to network with people within your industry. Not to mention, it is also a great way to assess first-hand how your competitors are doing things. Attending events like this, you can get inspired by others to give yourself a boost in the new year.

➥ Extra Tip: Some of the most common events you can expect to find in 2024 include trade shows, career fairs and business conferences.

Make the most of your time at these live events and bring trending products printed with your logo. Here are some cool swag items we expect to make an appearance at a majority of these live events.

• Tote bags - Perfect for holding a variety of smaller promotional giveaways
• Lanyards - Ideal for large audiences where attendees can wear these with their name tags
• Power Banks - A must-have in this digital age

Trend 2: High-End Promotional Products

Gone are the days where companies will hand out flimsy and cheaply made products printed with their logos. Now, companies are looking to invest in corporate gifts for their target audience. This means more high-quality items are being purchased.

Laptop Backpacks

One of the biggest trends in recent years is laptop backpacks. Laptop backpacks, laptop bags and other computer bags are very practical for anyone who travels for work.

Brand Name Items

Another trend we see could be a very popular one is the use of brand name promotional items. This means, companies and brands are looking to bulk order products from well-known brands, such as Arctic Zone or Thule. 

➥ One of the great things about high-quality promotional items is that they often low minimum order values. Which means, you can stay within your budget by only purchasing a few items at a time. This also allows your brand to be more flexible and change up the promotional items more often.

Trend 3: Eco-Friendly Products

Sustainability has been growing a lot in recent years, not just in promotional marketing, but everywhere. This will continue to be a trend in 2024, but even more so. This means, people will be looking at company swag even more closely.

Sustainable & Recycled Materials

When they look for something eco-friendly, they are often looking for something that is made from sustainable materials.

➥ Did you know: Bamboo and other wooden materials are quickly becoming a popular trend within the promotional product industry. Natural materials, such as wheat grass, cork, glass and jute are growing in popularity.

Social Responsibility & Accountability

Target audiences care about the products they receive, but they also want to make sure they are working with companies who hold sustainability as a core business value. That is why companies like ours have committed to more social responsibility. Check out the partnerships we have and the donation campaigns we have run to show that we care about a variety of world causes.

Trend 4: Uncommon Items

Image this - you are walking around a trade show collecting a variety of promotional items and you look down. You have a bag full to the brim with pens, lanyards, notebooks and more! Everything is the same, nothing stands out. You can barely remember or quickly see who gave you what. This is where unique promotional items come into play.

Items like mugs, keychains, USB sticks, those are all classic items for a reason, but that doesn't mean they are the only items! A trend we will see take off in 2024 is the fact that companies and brands are tired of thinking inside the box. Stand out from the crowd and choose items that are industry-specific or items that will make a lasting impression on your target audience.

Trend 5: Promoting Positive Health

I know we just talked about how you should try to bulk order products that are unique, but there is just something about the classics. You could say, they never go out of style!

With all the social media trends about getting outside and staying hydrated, why not join in on the conversation. Consider adding your logo to these practical, tried and true items to encourage more healthy lifestyles amongst your target audience.

Here are some great ways to combine the promotional classics with unique items to help further your health-concise approach to promotional marketing.

• Yoga mats - They are unusual items, but would be perfect for any office! Consider branding some mats and hosting morning yoga classes for everyone.
• Water bottles - These are company swag staples. Consider keeping these around the office to encourage drinking throughout the day. More water means more trips to the bathroom, which means everyone is that much closer to their 10,000 daily steps.
• Lunch boxes - Combine healthy eating with team building! Hand these out to boost employee engagement and interaction with each other.
• Coffee mugs - Much like lunch, nothing bonds teams and coworkers alike than coffee. While these are very traditional, you can always find a unique spin on a typical design.

Looking Forward to Trending Events & Promotional Items 2024

That is it! Those are the top 5 trending events and promotional items for 2024. Based on what we saw this year and the research we did to figure out what people like you want to see from us, we have found these top 5 trends. Hopefully this will help you think about the upcoming year and you were inspired for what is to come.

Until then, if you have any questions or comments about ordering promotional products, please reach out to our knowledgeable sales and customer success team for more information. Contact us via our contact form or call us at (786) 550-8068. We can’t wait to hear from you!