Sales are up this year, but promotional products distributors are concerned about the size and frequency of orders, as well finding the items they need in stock.

Such were a couple of takeaways from real-time text-in flash polls ASI conducted with distributors who attended a standing-room-only Education Day wrap-up session at ASI Chicago on Tuesday, July 19.

Attendees packed the room for the Education Day recap session at ASI Chicago.

The event featured quick-hit recaps from expert speakers who led business-building professional development classes at the show. The five-minute-long sum-ups enabled attendees to pull an essential takeaway or two from every session on offer throughout the day.

Topics were wide-ranging, including everything from social media and product decoration, to the best markets for promo sales, tips for better leveraging ASI tools, strategies for capturing buyers in your local market, and word on how to improve sales, profitability and productivity.

Amid the recaps, ASI conducted real-time polls of the room. The first asked if sales were up in 2022 compared to 2021. No less than 100% of respondents said that revenue has so far increased year over year.

Inflation pressures that have fueled higher prices for promo products are driving some of that topline gain, but the rise is also being compelled by what’s been intensified demand for branded merchandise as society advances toward a pre-pandemic-like openness.

Distributors’ annual sales increased 12% in 2021 compared to 2020, while first quarter 2022 sales were up 5.4% when marked against the prior year’s Q1, ASI research shows. The ASI Distributor Quarterly Sales Survey on Q2 2022 performance is due out in August.

Distributors were also asked about their biggest concerns. Topping the list was the size and frequency of orders, with 35% of respondents identifying this as their main worry. At 25% of respondents, second was finding enough inventory of a needed product. Next came getting orders on time and accurately executed (17%). Finding people to hire took up 13% of the vote. Inflation was 10%.

Responding to a flash poll at #ASIChicago today, #promoproducts distributors listed the below as their top concerns. Feel similarly? ⁦@EliezaB_ASI⁩ ⁦@asicentral⁩ pic.twitter.com/sLxrVdAFwq

— Chris Ruvo (@ChrisR_ASI) July 20, 2022

Meanwhile, roughly half of distributors reported that client requests for eco-friendly products have increased compared to two years ago. A bit more than four in 10 said the level of requests has remained about the same. Less than 10% reported that requests for sustainability-focused items have declined.

A growing number of promo industry thought leaders and executives believe that sustainability – in operations and in products – will become increasingly important for the industry in the years ahead. ASI Media’s Promo for the Planet resource center is focused on sustainability in the industry and beyond.

Another poll asked distributors if they’d experienced an uptick in requests from clients for Made-in-the-USA products. About one in five said there’d been no change. Another roughly 10% said requests have gone up and that Made-in-the-USA is growing.

Still, by far, the most common response was that “yes – until they get the prices, that is,” indicating that while clients might be showing more interest in domestic-produced goods, they’re not necessarily buying them due to concerns over the cost.

Jay Busselle, managing partner of consultancy FLEXpoint Social Selling and an Education Day speaker who covered social media topics, rounded out the session of polls and sum-ups with a thoughtful takeaway for distributors to apply to how they market their businesses – and those of their clients.

“Marketing,” he said, “is about trust. It’s not about tricks.”