Successful coverage of promo encompasses so much more than just breaking news of new C-suiters or company acquisitions – though there was no shortage of either this year. Our work here at ASI Media wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t delve into the new product trends, innovative case studies and unique industry stories that shaped how promo looked in 2024 and what will impact it in the years ahead. Ranging from political coverage during a particularly tumultuous election cycle to the next big thing in decoration, to the story of how catalogs and fidget toys are both making a comeback, here are ASI Media’s top 10 trend and analysis stories from this year.

1

What ‘I Voted’ Stickers Look Like Across the U.S. This Election

With the presidential election top of mind for Americans in 2024, it’s no surprise that an election story topped this year’s list. In recent years, individual states and counties have branched out from the classic “I Voted” flag sticker with design contests for young people to be more involved in the democratic process, resulting in stickers that are a bit out there to say the least. This feature explores the quirkiest stickers from this election – from werewolves and unicorns to landscapes – that voters used to brag about completing their civic duty.

2

The Unofficial Official Merch Vendors of Trump 2024

Even as both presidential candidates made headlines for their official merchandise, there was another entity in the election merch game for President-elect Donald Trump: the unofficial vendors that followed his campaign to rallies all throughout election season to peddle their wares. In this story, reported from a summer Trump rally in Philadelphia, we shared the details on how the symbiotic relationship between Trump and these vendors operates to the benefit of both.

3

Fanatics & Cactus Jack College Merch Collab Flies Off Rack

News of a collaboration between Fanatics and Cactus Jack – rapper Travis Scott’s music and clothing label – garnered interest almost as quickly as the resulting merch items flew off college bookstore shelves around the country. The collection, dubbed “Jack Goes Back to College,” featured the reimagined logos of 28 top universities on headwear and apparel items in Cactus Jack’s signature streetwear style. While the cache of Scott’s name certainly made the collab successful, it also demonstrates how promos that smartly tap into streetwear aesthetics can be the backbone of a successful campaign.

4

The Triumphant Return of Physical Catalogs

Circling catalog items for a holiday wish list seems to be a universal childhood experience, so it’s no surprise that top retailers from Amazon to J.Crew have turned back to the classic physical catalog this year to infuse their brands with an extra dose of nostalgia and advertising prowess. This feature exploring that phenomenon and its potential applications in promo clearly resonated with readers – and it landed Dan Brown, ASI’s vice president of distributor services, on The TODAY Show to talk about why catalogs are so effective.

5

This Shade of Pink Is an ‘It’ Color of 2024

After months of exuberant “Barbie” hot pink in 2023, designers and stylists kicked off 2024 reaching for a softer, cool-toned shade for their spring and summer fashions shows. Whether due to its closeness to Pantone’s 2024 Color of the Year, “Peach Fuzz,” or a desire to keep the pink trend alive, readers were eager for ways to apply the blush hue to their promo campaigns.

6

M&M’s Releases a Branded Snack Jacket Aimed at Moviegoers

This fun case study explores the M&M’s branded snack jackets the candy giant released in partnership with the holiday action-adventure movie Red One and Amazon’s MGM Studios. Designed to look like the red M&M spokescandy, the jackets were the perfect vessel to encourage stocking up on snacks before enjoying the film in theaters. The catch? Only 14 of the jackets were made, creating the sense of urgency and buzz that only comes with exclusivity.

7

Sherwin-Williams Celebrates Least-Loved Color With Custom Apparel

Instead of hiding or discontinuing its least-purchased paint shade, Sherwin-Williams turned to the fashion industry and custom apparel to draw some publicity for the color. Partnering with streetwear designer Dapper Dan, the paint brand auctioned off an apparel line featuring the neglected hue – a burnt-yellow shade called “Kingdom Gold” – alongside a curated collection of complementary shades. “The Loneliest Color,” lonely no more.

8

Trump Tariffs: 5 Big Questions on How Promo Will Be Impacted

With tariffs serving as one of Donald Trump’s top initiatives both during his first term as president and his 2024 campaign, promo pros – particularly those who import from overseas – undoubtedly had questions about what’s to come for the industry after Trump came out on top on Election Day. In an in-depth Q&A-style analysis, ASI Media broke down which tariffs could be on the way, as well as explored potential impacts on supplier pricing and the future of U.S. manufacturing.

9

The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of Fidget Toys

Remember the year of the fidget spinner? While the viral promo item may have died down in popularity since its 2017 heyday, the “fidget toy” as a product category has only grown. This analysis dives into ESP data and supplier experiences to show how the fidget toy market has exploded since the COVID-19 pandemic, both in interest and product variety. “It initially started as a fun little novelty toy, and now it’s grown into something much bigger,” said Brent Elenowitz of NY-based supplier Lincoln Line (asi/52710).

10

Everything You Want To Know About Direct-to-Film, the Hottest Trend in Decoration

ICYMI, direct-to-film is everywhere in the world of promo decoration. The tech allows for the production of vibrant, detailed designs on almost any substrate with little prep work, and it’s especially conducive to print-on-demand models because of its efficiency. It might sound like a miracle tool, but there’s still some key points decorators need to keep in mind when making the switch. As the title of this detailed guide implies, readers were eager for information about anything and everything DTF this year.

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