People keep promotional products they use: a mug, a tumbler, a pen that writes well, a tote strong enough for groceries, an umbrella. In a 2021 PPAI Research survey of 5,674 consumers in the US and Canada, 75.4 percent of people who kept a promotional item said they kept it because it was useful, and 48.7 percent said they had kept promotional products for more than five years.
The flip side matters as much. In PPAI Research's 2025 study, The 5-Second Impact, over 60 percent of consumers said they reject a promo product immediately because of poor material or construction. A cheap item that breaks is a bad advertisement with your name on it.
Which promotional products do people actually keep?
The items that last are the ones that earn a place in a daily routine. The table below covers the products we supply and where each one tends to end up.
| Product | Where it ends up | Choose it when | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Mugs | Office desks and kitchens | You want a logo seen at every coffee break | Ceramic for the office, stainless for commuters |
| Insulated Tumblers | Car cup holders, gyms, desks | Clients commute or work on their feet | 20oz suits a desk, 30oz suits all-day use |
| Branded Pens | Pockets, bags, reception counters | You need volume at a low cost per piece | Weighted metal for clients, quality plastic for counters |
| Custom Notebooks | Meetings and onboarding | New hires, conferences, workshops | A small logo on the cover so people use it in meetings |
| Tote Bags | Grocery runs and commutes | A broad local audience | Cotton canvas heavy enough to carry groceries |
| Umbrellas | Bags, cars, office stands | Clients walk to meetings | Folding for commuters, golf size for doormen and events |
| Keychains | Every set of keys | A small, permanent reminder | Acrylic, metal or leatherette, chosen to suit the brand |
| Lanyards | Conference badges, staff IDs | Events and staff credentials | Flat or tubular, with badge clips |
| Business Card Magnets | Fridges and filing cabinets | Clients call you when something breaks or they get hungry | Full color, standard business card size |
| Conference Swag Kits | Hotel rooms and desks after an event | You want several items to arrive together | Assembled, packed and ready to hand out |
Why does quality matter more than quantity?
Because the item carries your name for as long as it lasts, and a poor one fails in public. A pen that stops writing is a bad advertisement. The lines we stock are chosen to survive real use: ceramic and stainless mugs, insulated tumblers, weighted metal pens, cotton canvas totes and quality notebooks.
If the budget is fixed, give fewer people a better item. Five hundred metal pens for clients do more than two thousand plastic ones scattered across a trade show floor. PPAI's 2025 study also found that nearly 90 percent of consumers say design plays a role in whether they keep a product, so a clean logo on a good object beats a busy one on a cheap object.
Which items work best at a conference or trade show?
Choose items people can carry home without a second bag: pens, notebooks, lanyards and small tumblers travel well, while full-size umbrellas do not. For a booth, keep the giveaway small and save the better item for the people who stop and talk.
- Lanyards: printed flat or tubular with badge clips. They are on every attendee's chest all day, which is a lot of exposure for a small cost.
- Keychains and Lanyards: short wrist lanyards and keychains in acrylic, metal and leatherette, for people who will not wear a badge again.
- Custom Notebooks: branded journals for onboarding kits and conferences. People write in them during the sessions.
- Conference Swag Kits: assembled welcome kits, packed and ready to hand out, so your team is not filling bags in a hotel ballroom at midnight.
If you are also printing the booth, our trade show printing checklist for the Javits Center covers banners, displays and signage. For event credentials and programs, see event and gala printing.
Why do tote bags work so well in New York?
Because New Yorkers need a bag for every shop. Since March 1, 2020, New York State has banned stores that collect sales tax from handing out plastic carryout bags, and cities and counties can add a five-cent fee on paper bags, according to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. A good canvas tote gets used for groceries every week, and your logo goes with it.
Weight is what separates a tote people keep from one they throw away. Our Tote Bags are cotton canvas heavy enough to carry groceries, which is the test that matters.
Where should the logo go, and what should it say?
Keep it to the logo and one way to reach you. Pens, keychains and lanyards have a small imprint area, and a logo plus a website is all that will read. Business card magnets are the exception: put the phone number large, because that is the reason the magnet is on the fridge.
- Mugs and tumblers: logo on one side, so it faces the user or the room. Avoid fine text that disappears at a distance.
- Umbrellas: panel printing places the logo on one or more of the panels between the ribs, so it is seen from outside.
- Notebooks: a small logo on the cover looks better than a large one, and people are more willing to carry it into a client meeting.
- Calendars and magnets: these stay up all year, which is why our custom calendar guide recommends the phone number on every month.
Send the logo as a vector file, and send a one-color version with it. Pens, keychains, lanyards and many mugs print in one or two ink colors on a small area, so a full-color logo with gradients or a drop shadow has to be simplified before it can print. If you already have a one-color version, the proof comes back faster. Also leave the date off anything you hope people keep: a tote that says 2026 conference looks dated in 2027, while a tote with just the logo does not.
Promotional product questions
What promotional products do people keep the longest?
Useful ones. In PPAI Research's 2021 survey, 75.4 percent of people who kept a promotional item said usefulness was the reason, and 48.7 percent had kept promotional products for more than five years. Mugs, tumblers, quality pens, totes and calendars are used daily.
Are cheap promotional pens worth it?
For a reception counter, a quality plastic pen is fine. For clients, a weighted metal pen is better value, because PPAI Research found that over 60 percent of consumers reject a promo product immediately when the material or construction is poor.
How many items should we order for a conference?
Start from the registration count, then add a margin for staff, speakers and walk-ups. Leave dates off the design so any leftovers can be used at the next event.
Can you assemble and deliver conference swag kits?
Yes. Kits are assembled, packed and delivered ready to hand out, and delivery is free anywhere in Manhattan.
What is the difference between a lanyard and a keychain lanyard?
A lanyard goes around the neck and holds a badge, usually with a clip. A keychain lanyard is a short wrist strap that holds keys.
See the full range of promotional products and branded merchandise, or tell us the event date and how many people you need to reach for a quote. If apparel is part of the plan, read screen printing vs DTG vs embroidery first.
Need this printed? We are at 40 Wall Street, and we deliver free anywhere in Manhattan.