Living Among Giants
ON PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS
The Participant: Marc S. Simon, chief executive officer, HALO Branded Solutions, Sterling, Ill.
Print+Promo (P+P): What are your thoughts on the current state of the promotional products industry?
Marc S. Simon (MSS): The current state of the promotional industry is excellent. The industry has enjoyed growth for each of the past 40 years with the only exceptions being 2000 to 2001 and 2008 to 2009. Further, of the 14 major advertising and marketing segments in our economy, the promotional products industry is the eighth largest and fourth fastest growing. If the pace of growth and shrinkage of each of the 14 segments in 2012 is repeated when 2013 numbers are announced, we would be the sixth largest advertising and marketing segment. Our growth is driven by the simple fact that promotional products work. [...] As our world changes, promotional products are flexible to change as well. Where buggy whips could have been decorated when they were a great sales meeting giveaway, flash drives and smartphone and tablet accessories are now being decorated with marketing messages and brand logos.