Our ASI Promo Insanity contest is underway as 16 products battle it out to finally determine which promotional product is the people’s choice. But as the voting goes on this week and throughout March, ASI Media staff couldn’t help but make a few predictions of how the contest will unfold. Which is the dark horse pick to reach the finals? What’s the toughest first-round matchup? And which product will be left standing at the end? Read on for our selections.

Favorite Product in the Contest

John Corrigan, Senior Writer: Food Gifts. Is there anything more exciting than a package of sweet treats ending up at your front door? Aside from our dulcet tones, the food baskets we give away to lucky commenters are the best part of our Promo Insiders podcast series.

Theresa Hegel, Executive Editor of Digital Content: Journals. I love a stylish notebook for jotting down to-do lists, doodling (I mean, taking notes) during meetings and writing down my thoughts.

Christopher Ruvo, Digital News Director: Hats. I came of age in the ’90s, when sporting your favorite team’s cap was part of your standard daily attire. That’s never changed for me; I usually have a hat on even at home, and my closets are overflowing with them – much to my wife’s dismay.

Sara Lavenduski, Executive Editor of Digital Content: Jackets & Sweatshirts. With all the time spent at home, sweatshirts have become such a big part of my life again, almost like my college days. And a well-designed jacket full of features is ideal for enjoying the snow … or shoveling it.

C.J. Mittica, Editor-in-Chief: T-shirts. I’m such a sucker for good shirt. It doesn’t take much for me to fall in love – a soft fabric, a comfortable fit and a clever imprint are all it takes.

Vin Driscoll, Digital Content Director: T-Shirts. People love pet products, food gifts and T-shirts. My personal fave? T-shirts. I still have some I wear regularly that are older than some of the people in this industry.

Closest First-Round Matchup

Corrigan: Water Bottles & Tumblers vs. Tech. On the surface, tumblers seem like a clear-cut favorite, but tech is such a broad category that includes Bluetooth speakers, earbuds, power banks, etc. Let me put it this way, when you’re in the car, what do you grab first: your water bottle or your car charger?

Hegel: Mugs vs. Beverage Accessories. I’m hot and cold on this one. On the one hand, a killer coffee mug can brighten up any workday. On the other hand, is the prospect of lukewarm beer without a trusty can cooler. Really could go either way.

Ruvo: Water Bottles vs. Tech. These are “hip” categories – ones in which sleek, cool products regularly come into play. That makes them popular, I suspect. Water bottles has to take it, I believe.

Lavenduski: Masks & PPE vs. Pet Products. Masks & PPE are critical right now, but at the same time, most people never let their pets go without. Which one will prove more essential in the end?

Mittica: Water Bottles vs. Tech. Yikes, even I can’t decide. When both are done right, there’s (nearly) nothing better.

Driscoll: Writing Instruments vs. Food Gifts. Both the #1 (Masks & PPE) and #2 (Writing Instruments) seeds drew very tough matchups in Pet Products and Food Gifts, respectively. I realize that #1 seeds rarely lose in the NCAA tournaments, but I foresee both of these heavy favorites going down.

Dark Horse Pick to Reach the Finals

Corrigan: Jackets & Sweatshirts. With spring on its way, people may be over them. But the fond memories of bundling up to grab a pumpkin spice latte and watch your high school football team will carry this product combo to the championship.

Hegel: Pet Products. My colleague John Corrigan noticed earlier this year a lack of pet promos when he adopted a dog, but the pet industry is massive and ever-growing. There’s a good chance the promo industry can leash itself to that success.

Ruvo: Water Bottles. Drinkware has grown in importance as styles have evolved to become sleek and “sexy,” and as end-clients increasingly wish to present themselves as supporting green efforts, something evidenced by an on-brand reusable water bottle. Plus, the category has fit in well as part of kitted/direct mail packages sent to end-users during the pandemic.

Lavenduski: Writing Instruments. As much as our world has gone digital, there’s still a lot of demand for this promo staple, especially in professional services, finance and real estate.

Mittica: T-Shirts. With a #9 seeding, this is the equivalent of a talent-laden basketball team that sleepwalks through the regular season. It’s got the easier half of the bracket, and a comfortable path to the finals.

Driscoll: Pet Products. It doesn’t get any more shocking than the last seed, Pet Products, and they will make it to the finals. Check out my prediction below for which product wins it all. Go Dawgs! (And cats!)

Biggest First-Round Upset

Corrigan: Pet Products over Masks & PPE. Masks and PPE may have dominated the industry in 2020, but nobody actually likes them. They’re simply a necessity during the pandemic. On the other hand, pet products are fun, adorable and creative.

Hegel: Food Gifts over Writing Instruments. Pens are a perennial favorite, but right now, there’s nothing hotter than a food gift – whether it’s high-end charcuterie, decadent chocolate or an assortment of healthy treats. People want to feel appreciated on a gut-level. The winner of this matchup really depends on how hungry the voters are.

Ruvo: Pet Products over PPE. It’s simple – pet products are more fun. Sure, PPE has been the category of the day because of the pandemic, but does anyone actually like PPE?

Lavenduski: Awards over Bags. End-buyers want to reward hard-working team members this year, while bags are more of a “going out” item, something we’re not doing much of right now.

Mittica: Food Gifts over Writing Instruments. Pet products is the obvious choice, but this isn’t too far behind. Throw out the seedings with this one. Until you’re able to eat your pen, food gifts are the obvious choice.

Driscoll: Pet Products over Masks. The same way people are tired of seeing UNC, Kansas, and Duke as the No. 1 seeds, the same holds true for masks in our industry. People are tired of them. The pets are hungry, and the masks are going down!

The Big Question: Which Product Wins It All?

Corrigan: T-Shirts. I can’t believe they’re the ninth seed. That seems way too low for such a ubiquitous product. Without events last year, people may not have been requesting them, but make no mistake – T-shirts are the champion of the promo industry.

Hegel: Water Bottles & Tumblers. People are obsessed with hydration (Tom Brady drinks between 14 and 37 glasses of water a day); plus, personalized drinkware is a fantastic idea as a pandemic-era gift, so that nobody drinks out of someone else’s cup.

Ruvo: T-Shirts. They’re a canvas for near limitless graphic creativity and messaging.

Lavenduski: Food Gifts. Comfort food has really been at the forefront of people’s minds during the pandemic. When it’s shipped to a home as a surprise and can be shared by everyone, it really has an impact. Plus, the industry is full of countless sweet and savory options, much of it in custom packaging and gift boxes that make a statement.

Mittica: Food Gifts. People love food and people love gifts. That’s good enough for me.

Driscoll: Pet Products. In case I wasn’t clear before.