PPB January 2019

Hea l t h Pr oduc t s by Brittany Glenn Y ou may scoff at ketogenic diets and sensory deprivation tanks, but don’t underestimate the health and wellness industry. The numbers are on its side. In October 2018, the Global Wellness Institute reported that the wellness market is now valued at $4.2 trillion, having grown 12.8 percent in the past two years. Among the 10 top buyers of promotional products, the health care industry is No. 5, according to the PPAI 2017 Sales Volume Study. This category—which includes pharmaceuticals, medical devices, laboratories, veterinary clinics, hospitals, independent practitioners and family planning centers— accounted for 7.1 percent of the $23.3 billion sales total in 2017. Brands use health-related promotional products for their campaigns in a number of different ways. A company with a corporate wellness programmight give pedometers to employees who participate in a fitness or weight-loss program. A hospital may decide to distribute hot/cold packs at a health and wellness fair. A doctor’s office could give patients pocket-sized bottles of hand sanitizer to promote good hygiene. Health-focused promotional products could also be used for cause-related awareness and fundraising campaigns. For instance, a nonprofit could sell logoed water bottles at a fundraising event to earn money toward a goal and help keep participants hydrated. A Healthy Dose Of Promotion For brands that want to show they care, health-related promotional products are just what the doctor ordered. 44 | JANUARY 2019 | GROW