Posted on April 11, 2025
Promotional products—often referred to as promo items, swag, trinkets, or even tchotchkes—are branded items used to promote a company, product, or service. These items typically feature a logo, name, or message and are either given away or sold at low cost to increase brand visibility.
Examples include:
- Apparel – T-shirts, hats, jackets, socks
- Office Supplies – Pens, notepads, sticky notes, calendars
- Tech Gadgets – USB drives, phone chargers, wireless speakers
- Drinkware – Mugs, water bottles, tumblers
- Bags – Totes, backpacks, drawstring bags
- Food & Beverage – Snacks, energy bars, bottled drinks
- Event Items – Lanyards, badges, keychains, awards, table covers, tents
In recent days, the U.S. has introduced a range of tariffs on imported goods as part of efforts to reshape global trade dynamics. Since the promotional products industry depends heavily on goods sourced from countries with lower manufacturing costs, these tariffs directly influence pricing and product availability. We’ve been actively participating in vendor meetings and staying up to date on industry developments. While the landscape continues to shift, and in many instances suppliers have indicated their intentions to raise costs, these messages stand out: products manufactured overseas but already in stock in the US (on-hand inventory) are not affected by these new tariffs. Additionally, products made in the USA, while often slightly more expensive, are a viable alternative. Our recommendation: Now is the time to order. Taking advantage of current inventories can help you avoid potential price increases tied to upcoming import restrictions. Additionally, if the items you want do come from overseas, we will get a binding quote of their current costs and the time frame in which one can take advantage of the quoted pricing. Reach out to us for additional information or any questions.