As the promotional products industry recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional product categories bounced back in September, according to new exclusive data from ASI.

For the first time since March, personal protective equipment (PPE) didn’t make up the top four search terms in ESP, ASI’s database of products from around the promo industry. Although face mask remained the most searched term, searches for hand sanitizer and neck gaiter decreased. Meanwhile, industry staples like pens and mugs broke into the top four.

Last month, Nathaniel Kucsma, ASI’s executive director of research and corporate marketing, predicted PPE would lose its stranglehold on the top four ESP searches in September. “Traditional promo items are beginning to return to the forefront of many distributors businesses as companies begin to plan for Q4 and beyond,” Kucsma said.

Despite the challenges and limitations caused by the coronavirus, the industry is hoping for a somewhat normal Q4, historically the busiest time of the year for many promo firms. The end of 2020 looks promising, according to the data. With Halloween rapidly approaching, searches for pumpkin skyrocketed 1,357% from last month. Meanwhile, searches for holiday gifts and Christmas ornaments rose 501% and 264%, respectively. Even searches for wall calendars were up 254% as folks can’t wait to start a new year.

As of September, face mask, hand sanitizer and pens are the most-searched terms in ESP for 2020. In fact, four of the year’s top 10 search terms relate to face coverings – face mask, mask, neck gaiter and bandana.