14 / 116
12 •
PPB
• DECEMBER 2015
INNOVATE
ACCESSORY APPRECIATION
EYE ON APPAREL
A
CCESSORIES SUCH AS CAPS, headbands, neckwear, footwear and
aprons are some of the items that help make up the wearables category,
the largest selling category in the promotional products industry at
nearly 31 percent of total sales, according to PPAI’s 2014 Estimate of
Distributor Sales. Bags came in fourth in that report, at 7.45 percent of
total distributor sales. So at nearly 40 percent of the total promotional
products market, wearable accessories and bags are a popular promo-
tional investment.
When you’re recommending accessories to your clients, it
helps to know what’s trending in the market. Trends to be
aware of in 2016 include products that are made in the U.S.
and products that are eco-friendly and manufactured by socially
conscious companies.
“Made in the USA always sees a surge in sales in presidential
election years,” says David Bronson, Unionwear (UPIC: MADEI-
NUS) director of national accounts. He believes that in 2016 over a
billion dollars could be spent on branded merchandise promoting can-
didates who do not want to be associated with ‘Made in China.’
“Buying goods made in the U.S. means that the workers who produce
the goods benefit from the same labor and social compliance standards as
the consumer who buys them,” Bronson adds. Unionwear is committed to
product responsibility; every Unionwear product is both union-made and
American-made, he says.
Another bonus of using products made in the U.S. is that they don’t have to
be shipped from overseas, and many are less harmful to the environment.
Eco-friendly companies, such as those that offer upcycled products are
becoming more popular in the industry, partly because of the Millennial
effect. According to the Pew Research Center, Millennials took over as the
largest generation of the U.S. labor force in 2015 and they now comprise 46 per-
cent of B2B buyers. Buying from companies that give back to society (such as by sav-
ing landfill space through upcycling and recycling) is important to 75 percent of
Millennials.
Jamie Allen, marketing director for Head To Toe (UPIC: HTTH0002), says,
“We have calls daily asking about our recycled products. With so much awareness
in our world today about recycling products, more and more people are in search of
products that are sustainable.” For example, products made from recycled plastic
bottles (RPET), are becoming more prevalent in the industry.
“With today’s technology, using RPET in apparel is more affordable and
available to everyone. HTT continues to grow with RPET products,” Allen adds.
JULIE RICHIE IS ASSOCIATE EDITOR FOR
PPB
.
WHAT 2016 HOLDS FOR THE PROMOTIONAL EXTRAS
THAT GARNISH YOUR LIFE
BY JULIE RICHIE