We produce a lot of stories here at ASI Media, including a few that we do every year, like exploring the biggest markets for promo and honoring the industry’s top salespeople. And it’s nice to know that such efforts resonate with readers, since they’re typically among the most viewed pieces on our site. But this year’s ASI Media Top 10 list of features and fun also includes some surprises, whether it’s an examination of the contents of a swag bag at a particularly trendy conference or an early alert to a trend that would ultimately become 2023’s Product of the Year.

As the calendar inches ever closer to 2024, here’s a look back at the features, awards and trend reports that garnered the most page views and captured your collective attention over the last 12 months.

1

2023 Salespeople of the Year

Each year, we honor some of the best and brightest salespeople in the industry – highlighting what makes them stand out in their field. In addition to being well-deserved recognition, the profiles of these sales stars provide insight, inspiration and ideas to their peers. Where else are you going to learn the secret to landing Meta as a client or how to wow a beverage brand with an outside-the-corrugated-box solution like a custom-branded mini-display cooler?

2

2023 Big Markets

Another annual fixture is the Big Markets report, where we break down the ins and outs of leading verticals such as education, healthcare, construction and finance. In each of these major markets, ASI Media’s editors offered a top-down view, surefire strategies from distributors who know the markets like the back of their hand and a curated selection of winning product picks to make the sale. It’s a veritable wealth of actionable information at your fingertips.

3

2023 State & Regional Sales Report

Do you know which state had the biggest increase in promotional products sales in 2022? Or how many states grew promo sales by double-digit percentages? How about which geographical region boasted the most robust growth? If you were one of the many who read our annual state and regional sales report this year, you’d know the answers to all of those questions and many more. Chock full of stats and interactive visuals, the report was a great way to explore geographic opportunities for your business.

4

Get in on the #StanleyCup Trend

We all know the story of the Stanley Quencher now – and clients’ seemingly unquenchable thirst for the genuine article and all its many dupes. Back in February, though, the trend was still relatively new as it was just starting to blow up on TikTok. ASI Media Executive Editor Sara Lavenduski’s story in early 2023 explaining the phenomenon and sharing some worthy alternatives to the coveted tumbler was a welcome read for promo pros on the prowl.

5

Promo Campaign Awards

ASI Media’s annual Promo Campaign Awards showcase just how creative and resourceful the branded merch industry can be, whether it’s sending a self-promo tiki bar in a box or helping rideshare company Uber with a global employee awards program that entailed an elaborate kitting and fulfillment project. A pair of companies also used well-thought-out promo campaigns to open customers’ eyes to the benefits of sustainability. Each of the categories highlighted proved the unmatchable impact of finding just the right promo for the right occasion – and who doesn’t want to read about that?

6

10 Promo Lifers Share Their Wisdom, Wit

So often, we’re focused on the idea of newness: fresh faces, up-and-coming voices, novel perspectives. That’s all well and good, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of experience. This feature profiled 10 veteran voices – suppliers, distributors and multi-line reps with a collective 463 years of promo industry experience. They shared their best advice, biggest lessons learned and what keeps them motivated after more than four decades in the promotional products realm.

7

Fact vs. Fiction: Debunking 5 Decorated-Apparel Myths

When it comes to the decorated-apparel world, there’s a lot of accepted wisdom that simply isn’t true anymore (or perhaps never was), thanks to the rapidly advancing pace of technology and innovation in that space. This informative listicle turns five common decorating myths on their head – a must-read for newbies and veterans alike.

8

4 Major Sustainability Trends for 2023

Sustainability is becoming a bigger focus for promo suppliers and distributors, and it’s important to keep an eye on the horizon, so you’re prepared for client requests – and potential regulation – that may be coming down the pike. Here, we shared some of the biggest sustainability concerns, from pushing out PFAS to building a circular economy. The story was a teaser reel for the months to come.

9

3 Fun Merch Trends From Apple’s WWDC Swag Bag

Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) swag bag is a bellwether of the branding world. The event has some of the tech world’s most sought-after event giveaways. So, perhaps it’s a given that a story teasing out the trends from this year’s bag would resonate. The products included in the bundle – caps, enamel pins and drinkware, to name a few – weren’t unusual, but they were deployed to perfect effect, spurring promo FOMO across social media.

10

Person of the Year 2023: Andy Shape, Stran & Company

The big reveal of our annual Person of the Year (as well as the rest of the recipients of the Counselor Awards) is always a highly anticipated moment, and 2023 was no exception. Readers were eager to learn more about how Andy Shape took Top 40 distributor Stran & Company (asi/337725) public as part of an ambitious strategy to make the company one of the biggest players in the industry.