Top 17 Industries That Buy Promotional Products (2025 Data)

Promotional products are not a one-industry thing. In 2025, organizations across education, healthcare, construction, and dozens of other sectors invested in branded items because they keep brands visible long after a campaign ends. Using the charts you provided, here are the top 17 industries buying promotional products, with total sales and market share of the $27.7 Billion industry, plus a quick note on how each industry typically uses them.1

All research, statistics, and charts are provided by Advertising Specialty Institute.2

1. Education - $3,458 Million - 13%

Education leads the pack by a wide margin, and it makes sense. Schools, colleges, and booster clubs use promotional products for spirit wear, fundraising, events, staff appreciation, and student recruitment. The best-performing items tend to be usable and repeatable, like custom apparel, stadium giveaways, and everyday school essentials.

2. Healthcare - $2,208 Million - 8.3%

Healthcare organizations use promotional products to build trust, improve patient experience, and support community outreach. Branded items are often tied to wellness initiatives, recruitment, employee recognition, and patient education. Practical products like drinkware, totes, and comfort-focused giveaways tend to fit this industry well.

3. Construction - $2,101 Million - 7.9%

Construction companies rely on promotional products that can hold up in real-world conditions. Branded apparel, jobsite gear, and safety-focused items help reinforce professionalism while keeping crews and partners equipped. These products also work well for recruiting, trade events, and client thank-you programs. Home service professionals such as HVAC companies, electricians, and plumbers also fall into this category.

4.Manufacturing/Distribution - $1,889 Million - 7.1%

Manufacturing and distribution businesses use promotional products to strengthen relationships with vendors, dealers, and customers. They also use them internally for safety programs, onboarding, and employee recognition. The strongest options usually lean toward practical, durable, and easy-to-use daily items.

5. Financial/Insurance - $1,729 Million - 6.5%

Financial and insurance organizations use promotional products to stay top of mind in a relationship-driven business. Client appreciation gifts, community sponsorships, and referral campaigns often include branded items that feel professional and useful, which helps keep the brand visible without feeling pushy.

6. Nonprofit - $1,649 Million - 6.2%

Nonprofits use promotional products to spread awareness, drive donations, and unify supporters. Event giveaways, volunteer appreciation, and fundraising merchandise all help build a community around the mission. When supporters use the items in public, it turns into ongoing visibility for the cause.

7. Restaurants/Travel/Lodging - $1,516 Million - 5.7%

Hospitality brands use promotional products to enhance guest experiences and encourage repeat visits. Branded items also show up in grand openings, seasonal promotions, loyalty programs, and tourism partnerships. Products that travel well, or get used on the go, tend to shine in this category.

8. Associations/Clubs/Civic Groups - $1,357 Million - 5.1%

Associations and civic groups often use promotional products to build belonging and increase participation. Conferences, membership drives, community events, and sponsorship programs all benefit from branded merchandise. The right products help turn members into walking reminders of the group.

9. Technology - $1,303 Million - 4.9%

Tech companies use promotional products heavily for recruiting, onboarding, user conferences, and product launches. Items that feel modern and high-use, like desk accessories and tech-friendly essentials, tend to match the brand image and get kept longer. This is a growing category, with newer NFC tap promotional items that add digital engagement to physical products.3 Plus, combining AI with the NFC technology is making promotional products in this category take off.4

10. Ad Agencies/Marketing Companies - $1,197 Million - 4.5%

Marketing organizations use promotional products both for their own branding and as part of campaigns for clients. They typically choose items that feel creative, on-trend, and campaign-ready. The goal is simple: make the brand memorable and the product shareable.

11. Professional Services - $1,197 Million - 4.5%

Professional services firms, like legal, accounting, consulting, and similar fields, use promotional products to reinforce credibility and relationships. Branded items often show up in client onboarding, referral programs, and event sponsorships. Clean, useful products that feel premium usually perform best here.

12. Government - $1,114 Million - 4.3%

Government agencies use promotional products for public education, community outreach, safety awareness, and internal programs. Branded items can support initiatives like preparedness, health messaging, hiring, and civic engagement. When the product is useful, the message sticks around longer.

13. Retail - $1,064 Million - 4%

Retail brands use promotional products to drive traffic, increase loyalty, and support seasonal promotions. Giveaways, gift-with-purchase offers, and in-store events often include branded items that encourage repeat visits. These products work best when they are both practical and easy to keep.

14. Automotive - $1,037 Million - 3.9%

Automotive businesses use promotional products to build repeat service business and referrals. Dealership events, service reminders, and customer appreciation campaigns often include branded items to keep the business top of mind. If the item stays in a car, a glove box, or a garage, it keeps working.

15. Real Estate - $851 Million - 3.2%

Real estate professionals use promotional products to stay visible between transactions. Closing gifts, open house giveaways, and neighborhood marketing all benefit from branded items that feel helpful and consistent. The goal is to be the first name someone remembers when it is time to move again.

16. Consumer Products - $692 Million - 2.6%

Consumer product brands use promotional items to support launches, influencer-style giveaways, sampling events, and retailer promotions. These campaigns often aim to create buzz, encourage sharing, and drive trial. When the giveaway feels like a real product, not just advertising, response rates tend to climb.

17. Elections/Political Events - $213 Million - 0.8%

Political campaigns and election events use promotional products for name recognition, volunteer motivation, and turnout efforts. Items like signs, apparel, and rally giveaways help supporters show visible backing. In this category, repetition and visibility are the whole point.
Before we wrap up, the charts also show the Other category, which represented $1,995 Million, or 7.5% of all promotional products sales in 2025. That “Other” bucket is a reminder that even outside the biggest industry groups, thousands of niche organizations still invest big time in branded products because they work.
No matter the industry, the winning formula stays the same: choose promotional products that people actually use, and your brand keeps getting repeated exposure. If you want help picking the best bulk custom-printed promotional products for your industry, Perfect Imprints can help you match the right items to the right audience, so your marketing does more than just get handed out. Be sure to see the top 21 promotional products from 2025 sales here.
References:

1. “North American Promotional Products Industry Hits Record $27.7 Billion in 2025, Outperforming U.S. Economic Growth.” Yahoo Finance.
2. “State of the Industry 2025 - Top Markets for Promo Products Sales."” Advertising Specialty Institute.
3. "Why NFC Tap Promotional Products Outperform Traditional Giveaways." Perfect Imprints.
4. "10 Ways to Combine Promotional Products and AI using NFC Tap Technology." Perfect Imprints.