Picture yourself as your sales prospect.

You’re working at your desk and a package arrives. You look at the return address and see it’s from someone you met at a trade show.

You’re curious what’s inside the box. Then you open it. And let out a sigh. It’s another boring swag package: a pen, a broken mug and a couple of other mundane items with a company logo on them.

Perhaps you have a collection of these types of gifts if they’re not already in the trash. Sending boring promotional products reflects your company in the mind of your customer.

On the flip side, when you take time to send cool and unique gifts, your prospect can’t help but notice. You stand out from the crowd. Perhaps it will even make them pick up the phone and call.

This article will introduce you to cool promotional products trends that make you look good to your clients. These promotional products are hot. They’re not only practical things your clients can use. They’re experiences.

Read on for the hottest promotional product trends to watch this year.

The Top Promotional Product Trends to Look Out for This Year

The old traditions of giving a pen as a promotional item are quickly becoming an act of the past.

Today, companies need to think differently. This year we’ve been seeing more innovating, unique products that can be used in people’s lives.

Why is this happening? A major part of the reason for this innovation is because decision makers at companies are getting younger.

As companies recruit more millennials to their teams, they’re fostering a new generation. And this younger generation is obsessed with technology products that offer experiences.

This change in decision making impacts the top promotional trends this year and in the future. Here are the top promotional trends and products we expect to see more of throughout the year, into 2019 and beyond.

Whether you’re mailing products to sales prospects, handing out giveaways at a trade show event or thanking customers for their loyalty, these are the top promotional trends that will make a good impression.

1. Promotional Products That Deliver Experiences

One of the biggest promotional product trends this year include products that create experiences for the user.

As digital technology prices continue to go down, companies can send branded devices that make an impression and are also affordable.

Two products that come to mind are virtual reality glasses that give the prospect a hands-free experience. Or give your potential client a mini camera prints mini photographs in a flash.

2. Wellness Gifts

Health and wellness are becoming more important to consumers this year. They crave items that provide relaxation, reduce stress and make them feel healthier. And you can find wellness products everywhere that you can put your logo on.

Some of these promotional products include yoga mats, candles, aromatherapy and essential oils, stress balls and yoga apparel like yoga pants and yoga tops.

3. Wearables

A wearable device is a technology product that you wear on your body. If you’ve heard of the Apple watch, that’s a good example of wearable technology.

Wearable devices can track your vital signs, record your heartbeat. Health and fitness wearables collect information from the human body and share it with you.

As wearables become the trend, so do wearable promotional items. A super way to tap the wearables promotional market is with cool branded merchandise like fitness bands, LED badges, earbuds.

And as the wearable market delivers new trends, you’ll have more branded merchandise to choose from. The client who receives your gift will know you put some serious thought into your giveaway.

4. Wireless Gadgets Make Great Promotional Gifts

We see wireless gadgets everywhere. They’re the speakers and streaming devices in our homes, the printers in our offices and wireless technology are even on the computer or phone that you’re reading this article from.

One of the top promotional trends in wireless gadgets is branded, wireless speakers. Send your sales prospect a set of wireless speakers and every time they sit down at their desk, they’ll see the name of your company.

5. New Colors, Materials, And Textures Make Trends More Fun

You’ve seen the design trends for promotional merchandise change from year to year. In 2018 products pose greater appeal than last year’s promotional products.

Here’s are the colors, materials, and finishes we’re seeing in design trends.

Copper Products

You can put your money on copper. It’s a fresh change to the traditional and typical stainless steel we’ve seen for decades. Copper provides a warm but vibrant metallic appearance that hot yet timeless.

Cork Products

If you’ve glanced through the pages of any leading interior design magazine, you can’t help notice cool items made of cork. And cork products are good for the planet.

They’re durable, have a warm feel and this year, people love them. They’re a smart idea for promotional branding items to send to your customers and prospects.

Wood Grained Products

You can’t go wrong with this trend! They’re available in many shades and products with wood grain present an organic attribute to any room.

Every day, people become more environmentally friendly and crave things natural. Especially the younger generation.

Vivid and Bold Colors

Vivid and bold colors rule this year. They’re taking the stage in promotional product giveaway trends.

When it comes to color, muted, subdued promo merchandise is a thing of the past. Pantone chooses a color every year, and in 2018 it’s purple, specifically ultraviolet.

Matte Finishes

Vivid hues might be the trend of 2018, but finishes are far from shiny. The top promotional product trends this year yield to matte finishes.

All is smooth, elegant and luster kept to a minimum. It’s sleek and tasteful when it comes to promotional branding.

6. Custom Buttons

Another trend in top promo products is buttons. Buttons come in a variety of shapes such as round, square and oval. And they’re a great way to broadcast your brand message. Here is more info about some cool buttons.

The Takeaway On Top Promotional Product Trends

Now you know the innovative top promotional trends to watch out for. They’re innovative, colorful, matte and wearable. When you’re ready to mail them out, cut your shipping costs.

Want to know more about what’s trending? Check out the latest trends on our blog.