PPB October 2019

What’s Trending In Tech O h, technology—how we love thee. Life without phones and other devices is unimaginable. If you’ve ever left home without your phone or lost your phone, you know the feeling. Disoriented. Helpless. Disconnected. Personal tech products are how people in the 21st century stay connected, informed and entertained—and how they do business on the go. “Technology is such a big part of everyone’s daily life,” says Lindsey Farm, marketing coordinator for New Ulm, Minnesota-based supplier Beacon Promotions. “This makes tech promotional products useful and universally appealing with the ability to provide a high rate of impressions.” A Fun Favorite Technology’s usefulness may be part of the reason this product category is so popular. Technology product sales in 2018 reached $1.32 billion, comprising 5.5 percent of total industry sales by distributors, according to PPAI research. “Tech is popular because it’s just plain fun,” says Carrie Lewis, marketing and communications manager for Clearwater, Florida-based supplier BIC Graphic NA. “Tech products are inherently popular because they are used while people are having fun—listening to music, connecting online, playing games, etc. A fun, branded tech product is one that end users are likely to keep, and they will have positive associations with the brand that provided the item.” Techno l ogy Pr oduc t s by Brittany Glenn Technology products solve problems, fill needs and connect with recipients in smart and meaningful ways. 42 | OCTOBER 2019 | GROW