Ever held a promotional item and pondered its origin? We can trace the evolution of promotional products back to 1440 when mechanical innovations allowed us to print with movable type! Embark on a journey through the history, innovation, and evolution of promotional products.
- The inception of promotional products trace back to 1440 with Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the first mechanical printing press. (Source: Britannica)
- In 1789, commemorative buttons emerged to celebrate George Washington’s inauguration, featuring phrases such a “Long Live the President”. (Source: Mount Vernon)
- Anheuser-Busch, immerging in 1852, distributed corkscrews adorned with the company logo, creating a unique marketing approach by offering them with beer sales. (Source: Anheuser-Busch)
- Jasper Meek, the “Father of Promotional Products,” earned recognition in 1887 for crafting promotional burlap bags for a side hustle. (Source: PrintGlobe)
- The souvenir keychain made its debut in 1893 at the World Columbia Exposition in Chicago. (Source: Ways to Say)
- By the 1900s, Coca-Cola’s popularity surged. Two Chattanooga lawyers acquired franchising rights and initiated nationwide bottling of Coca-Cola. (Source: The Coca-Cola Company)
- Around 1906, shortly after the introduction of Coca-Cola bottles in the United States, bottle openers gained widespread popularity as a favored giveaway item. (Source: The Coca-Cola Company)
- In 1935, promotional pens made their debut, offering an affordable and convenient way to showcase brands. (Source: Pinnacle Promotions)
- The iconic bumper sticker emerged in 1946 when Forrest P. Gill established Gill Studios, a screen-printing shop. (Source: wtop News)
- In 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers broadcaster Myron Cope, as a strategy to rally fans for a playoff game, urged attendees to bring yellow dish towels to show support for the Steelers. (Source: Steelers)
- In the 1990s, promotional t-shirts gained widespread popularity, influenced by brands, bands, and movies. (Source: Real Thread)
- By the early 2000s, floppy discs had gradually phased out with the introduction of USBs as the new hardware standard. Companies embraced this technology, branding USBs with their logos. (Source: TechWalla)
- In 2004, Nike introduced the immensely popular Livestrong bracelets in yellow, serving as both a fundraising item and a symbol of support for cancer patients. (Source: Livestrong)
- The fidget spinner experienced a sudden surge in popularity in 2017, becoming a sought-after promotional item. (Source: Natural Beach Living)
- Finally, in 2020, the global COVID-19 pandemic prompted a surge in demand for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including gloves, gowns, masks, and more, highlighting the industry’s adaptability to changing needs.
Things to Remember...
Today, in the digital age, promotional products have transformed into a brand powerhouse. Reflecting on the promotional products industry’s remarkable growth from its humble origins, the question arises: What do you envision as the next trending promotional product craze?
SOURCES
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Johannes-Gutenberg
- https://www.anheuser-busch.com/about/heritage
- https://www.printglobe.com/blog/2019/08/15/the-history-of-promotional-products/
- https://wayssay.com/7-facts-about-the-history-of-keychains-starting-from-its-origins-until-now/
- https://www.coca-colacompany.com/about-us/history/the-history-of-the-coca-cola-contour-bottle
- https://www.pinnaclepromotions.com/blog/whats-the-story-behind-ballpoint-pen-day/
- https://wtop.com/jiffy-lube-sponsored-content/2021/08/a-brief-history-of-bumper-stickers-decade-by-decade/
- https://www.steelers.com/history/bios/cope_myron#:~:text=It%20all%20began%20in%201975,of%20the%20Terrible%20Towel%20began.
- https://www.realthread.com/blog/history-of-the-tshirt
- https://www.techwalla.com/articles/the-history-of-usb-flash-drives#google_vignette
- https://www.livestrong.org/who-we-are/our-history
- https://www.naturalbeachliving.com/history-of-fidget-spinners/