9 Bold Predictions for 2025
A trio of ASI Media editors weigh in on industry sales, tariffs, AI and their guess for Product of the Year.
The prediction business isn’t for the faint of heart. For example, in last year’s “Bold Predictions” Promo Insiders episode, we predicted (a bit tongue in cheek, we should add), that the merch in the 2024 presidential election would “suck.”
“Of course,” said ASI Media Editor-in-Chief C.J. Mittica, “we didn’t anticipate that Biden would drop out of the race and someone would try to shoot Donald Trump.” The result was the most memorable election in modern history, which inspired incredibly unique and attention-getting merch.
So, as we said, making predictions isn’t easy. But here we are again, with a fresh set of nine predictions for 2025. ASI Media Executive Editors Theresa Hegel and Sara Lavenduski join Mittica to weigh in on a number of topics, including industry sales, tariffs, TikTok, drinkware and AI. Stick around to the end for our informed guess at what will be the 2025 Product of the Year.
Key Takeaways
• Measured Expectations: The economy and promo industry sales in 2025 are expected to experience modest growth.
• Tariff Policy: President Donald Trump’s tariffs may be more strategic and measured than promised, causing uncertainty but allowing businesses to adjust and move forward.
• Supply Chain Improvement: Port strikes are expected to decrease in 2025, but companies should be flexible in the face of potential supply chain disruptions.
• Future of TikTok: Even if TikTok is banned, appealing alternatives will emerge that social media users will gravitate to.
• Drinkware Jumps the Shark: The popularity of drinkware has peaked, and while it will remain a staple in the promo industry, its growth is expected to stabilize rather than continue rising.
• Future of AI: Similar to the dot-com bust, the AI bubble will burst at some point, but the technology isn’t going away.
• Eco Innovations: Traceability will be the next big thing in sustainability, providing proof of a product’s eco-friendly claims through detailed tracking of its supply chain and carbon footprint.
• Attention-Getting Campaigns: Brand collaborations will get even weirder … or at least continue to be quirky and attention grabbing, maintaining their current level of weirdness to attract social media buzz and consumer interest.
• Product of the Year: Pickleball products are predicted to be the 2025 product of the year due to their growing popularity, especially among younger players, and the increasing number of suppliers offering pickleball items.