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January 11, 2016
PPAI
EXPO DAILY
™
TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS LEAD HARD GOODS
By Julie Richie
It should come as no surprise to
anybody in the promotional products
industry that the biggest trend in hard
goods in 2016 will be the expansion
of items to support, protect, enhance,
amplify and store our ever-growing
stash of technology products.
“The biggest trend for 2016 will
be mobile completely dominating the
desktop,” says Jeff Schmitt, MAS,
account executive with Cedric Spring
and Associates (UPIC: CEDR0001).
Google confirmed in 2015 that more
internet searches now take place on
mobile devices than on computers in
10 countries, including the U.S. and
Japan.
“Many suppliers have tried to up
the game in offers for the technology
area,” Schmitt says. “USB Type-C is
already on the new Nexus devices that
have come out, along with a few Mac
items. It will only be a matter of time
before we as an industry will have to
adapt to this new standard. With new
phones coming in on a rather quick
cycle, hopefully the manufacturers are
forward-planning on items that they
are making using these standards.”
Mobile technology is so
integrated into life and so important
to businesses that many people trade
in their phones for new versions more
frequently than they change the oil
in their cars. Because of this, “any
product that is ‘techy’ is a very hot
trend. Our society is on the go more
than ever and we are all tied to our
mobile devices almost 24/7,” says
Gwen Brey, marketing coordinator
at Beacon Promotions, Inc. (UPIC:
BEACONP). “Techy products such as
power banks, chargers and earbuds
are very popular and definitely on
trend,” she adds.
Robyn Elenowitz, vice president
of Mineola, New York-based Essef
Distributors (UPIC: 7414140), says,
“Cell phone-related promotional
products are smart for distributors to
focus on as most people now are so
cell-phone centered. Products like our
cell phone wallets or screen cleaners
that stick to the back of your phone
offer incredible branding visibility of
your company logo and are a no-
brainer for a promotion across all
industries,” she says.
Kendra Kirks McDougal, MAS,
marketing and branding specialist
with HALO Branded Solutions (UPIC:
HBS), says suppliers are going to get
creative with technology solutions in
2016. “I think you’re going to find more
unique tech items. For example, I love
the new Leed’s power bank that has
three different outlets. Plus, they have
a power bank that also works as a car
charger. So you charge your phone in
the car and then take the power bank
with you,” she says.
Given the constant need for a
charged device, power banks continue
their immense popularity. Tustin,
California-based supplier Logomark
(UPIC: logomark) recently announced
a partnership with Pisen to bring Asia’s
largest retail power bank brand to
the promotional industry. “In today’s
mobile-dependent world, Pisen Power
Banks are perhaps one of the most
relevant corporate promotional items
we have yet to offer,” says Trevor
Gnesin, Logomark president and CEO.
“Smartphones are getting faster but
battery life seems to fall short when it
comes to dependability and longevity.
Having a power bank to ensure on-the-
go connectivity is a must in today’s
world.”
With all the devices brimming
from our pockets and purses these
days, we need products to hold
and protect them. “Laptop bags
with dedicated padded pockets for
gadgets are increasingly popular,
and proven to give your customer
a long lasting branded product,”
says Mathew Olivolo, director of
marketing at Mobile Edge (UPIC:
Mobile), who predicts that his
company’s new SmartPack will be a
hot seller in 2016.
In addition to technology
products, multi-use and quality
brand-name products will continue
to be popular in 2016, says Dan
Livengood, CAS, senior national
account executive at Business
Impact Group (UPIC: Busin946).
And he believes the trend toward
retro colors will continue, although
many of his customers still choose
neutral colors and opt for minimal
decoration. “Products like the
Leatherman multi-tool are trending
well. Any item that makes the
recipient’s life easier will be a great
item. The longer the recipient uses
the item, the longer the brand
is exposed and the better your
customer feels about purchasing it,”
he says.
Digital technology utilizing
four-color imprint capability has
been trending for quite some time,
Livengood adds. “This method of
imprinting on tech items such as
Bluetooth speakers and headphones
is on the rise. And suppliers are
becoming more and more flexible
allowing à la carte selections of this
hot category while offering lower
quantity minimums.”
Livengood emphasizes that “no
matter what product you choose to
recommend for a promotion, ask
yourself, ‘What’s truly relevant to the
target demographic and can produce
long lasting results?’ You want the
lifespan of your product or service to
be the longest it can be while having
the ROI the largest it can be.”
n
JUICE
®
XE6
Leatherman
Tool Group, Inc.
Booth # 627
It may not be high-tech, but this
handy tool does it all. Saw away
branches for a perfect picnic
spot, tighten chair bolts, open the
Pinot and slice the cheese.
PISEN
®
POWER BANKS
Logomark
Booth # 2713
This power bank’s lithium
polymer batteries provide
10,000mAh of backup power
with charging indicator lights and
a USB cable for recharging.
CHECK OUT TUESDAY’S
PPAI EXPO DAILY
FOR 2016 TRENDS IN APPAREL
IN
SMARTPAK
Mobile Edge
Booth # 2163
With designated spaces for both
a laptop and a tablet, this tech-
friendly backpack comes in six
color combinations and has a
lifetime warranty.
THE WITZ
SMARTPHONE
LOCKER III
Witz Sports Cases
Booth # 1246
Solid security and crush-resistant
ABS plastic protection for the
iPhone Plus, larger Samsung
phones and other items while
traveling or just on the go.
CUSTOM SHAPED
BLUETOOTH
SPEAKER
Promobilia Corp.
Booth # 6223
Play music via Bluetooth, USB
and TF with a built-in microphone
and hands-free speaker for
phone calls with a range of up to
10 meters.
EASY SEAL
Gill Studios, Inc.
Booth # 3925
Offer your clients a
unique, repositionable
and reusable decal that
effectively seals food storage
bags. Three durable, full-color
vinyl decals come on every sheet
with a convenient pull tab for
easy removal.