One year after the COVID-19 outbreak disrupted the promotional products industry, demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) has dropped significantly.

In March 2021, “pens” were again the most-searched term in ESP, ASI’s database of products from around the promo industry.

Only two PPE-related terms (“face masks” and “masks”) cracked the top 10 in March, the fewest in a year. Furthermore, “hand sanitizer” was out of the top 10 for the first time since February 2020. “Koozie” replaced it, joining traditional industry staples, such as “mugs,” “water bottle” and “tote bags.” Month-over-month, searches for PPE terms like “KN95” and “nitrile gloves” were down 59% and 51%, respectively.

“The return to promo normalcy is in full swing as eight of the top 10 products in March were pre-pandemic promo items,” says Nate Kucsma, ASI’s executive director of research and corporate marketing. “As the economy and our industry slowly recover, I strongly anticipate more of the same in the coming months.”

The data indicates that distributors and their clients are preparing for a much more active spring and summer this year. Perhaps inspired by the Masters Tournament, “golf” saw a 129% increase in searches in March. “Golf balls” and “golf tees” were up 97% and 148%, respectively. Meanwhile, “Titleist Pro V1 golf balls” jumped 224%, illustrating the growing trend of retail brands’ popularity in the promo market.