According to industry experts, jackets such as the one shown here are highly valued wearables. Promotional messages on jackets often are highly visible because the garments usually aren't hidden under other apparel.
Courtesy of American Image, Houston
The wearables market has exploded during the last decade. Sales of promotional apparel topped $4.8 billion in 2001, more than any other product category and up from approximately $1 billion in 1991, according to Promotional Products Association International.
Tom Loudis, president of Paragon Business Forms, an 8-year-old distributorship in Salina, Kan., recognizes that companies must keep their names in front of clients. "There's so much competition out there for businesses in all types of industries," he says. The distributorship began selling wearables and other promotional products four years ago after repeated customer inquiries. Today, promotional products account for 25 percent of its sales.
Firms often use promotional apparel to thank valued customers and acknowledge referrals. Wearables also are used to present unified company images, build trade-show traffic and motivate employees. Popular items include imprinted T-shirts, ties, baseball jerseys, vests, baseball caps, aprons, windshirts and more.
According to industry experts, jackets are highly valued wearables. Ski jackets, wind-resistant jackets, athletic jackets, bomber jackets, leather jackets, reversible jackets and polar fleece jackets are in demand by school athletic teams, corporate businesses, utility firms and more. Promotional messages on jackets often are highly visible because the garments usually aren't hidden under other apparel.
Today, many companies promote themselves with jackets, but display logos and slogans in non-traditional locations. Instead of the standard left-chest placement, logos and slogans are placed behind the collar, high or low on sleeves, and across the backs of jackets. Many jackets also now include a variety of pockets to accommodate individuals with cell phones, PDAs, electronic organizers and more. In fact, many promotional jacket manufacturers now call "mickey pockets" "cell phone pockets." (Pockets once designed to carry pints of liquor now are designed to hold cell phones.)
Recently, when a heating and cooling firm was selecting an employee holiday gift, it turned to Paragon Business Forms for help. The company's owner wanted to give each employee a jacket embroidered with the firm's logo. The firm's employees often work outside around duct work and sheet metal, so the company's owner wanted hooded, lined jackets that weren't too bulky and wouldn't tear if snagged on sharp edges of the metal. The owner also preferred matte-nylon material and wanted jackets with extra-long sleeves to accommodate several employees with long arms.
The distributorship provided the heating and cooling firm with 26 navy matte-nylon wind-resistant jackets embroidered in khaki with the client's logo on the left chest. The zippered jackets featured ash-gray lining, hoods, zippered pockets on the sides, 37-inch sleeves and built-in "rip-stops" to prevent tearing. The jackets were distributed to employees during the heating and cooling firm's annual holiday party.
--Kara S. Carpenter
Stress Relievers, Puzzles,
Cell Phone Holders, Yo-Yos
ALPI International Ltd., Oakland, Calif., offers Squeezie™ stress relievers in hundreds of designs, including astronauts, robots, tools, rubber ducks, dogs, cats, automobiles, sumo wrestlers, cows, pigs, fruits, vegetables, sports balls and more. Custom designs also are available. The company also offers games, puzzles, cell phone holders, yo-yos, pens and more. For more information, call (510) 655-6456 or (510) 655-2093 (fax). Visit www.alpiasi.com. Send email to asisales@alpi.net.
Time Pieces, Calculators,
Desk Accessories, Crystal Globes
Time Products International (TPI), Wheeling, Ill., offers premiums, gifts and awards including time pieces, calculators, desk accessories, crystal globes, piano-wood plaques, wood boxes, cameras, gumball machines, radios, Chinese therapy balls and more. Laser engraving, special projects and rush service are available. All items include 1-year warranties against defects in materials and workmanship under normal use (excluding batteries and glass items). For more information, call (800) 933-8885, (847) 459-8885 or (847) 459-8111 (fax). Visit www.tpi2000.com.
