The first known promotional products were memorial badges/buttons dating back to the election in the United States for George Washington in 1789. During the 19th century, there were some advertising items like promotional calendars, promotional rulers, wooden products, but there was no recognized industry for promotional product distributions like today until later in that century. The originator of the industry, Jasper Meeks, a printer set up a local shoe shop that sold printed book bagswith the name of the local shop and schools. Soon other businessman picked up on the idea and offered other items like marbles, fans, cloths, aprons etc. In the UK and Ireland, the promotional

1. History of Promotional Products
The first known promotional products were memorial badges/buttons dating back to the election in the United
States for George Washington in 1789.
During the 19th century, there were some advertising items like promotional calendars, promotional rulers,
wooden products, but there was no recognized industry for promotional product distributions like today until
later in that century.
The originator of the industry, Jasper Meeks, a printer set up a local shoe shop that sold printed book bagswith
the name of the local shop and schools. Soon other businessman picked up on the idea and offered other items
like marbles, fans, cloths, aprons etc.
In the UK and Ireland, the promotional merchandise industry only really became more sophisticated in the late
1950’s, but the real growth came in the 1970’s. It was the realization by corporate companies that
these promotional products had great benefits and then became part of their marketing mix. These companies
added their logo’s and marketing strap lines to the products, but it was the 1980’s that large ranges of products
increased. Promotional distributors then offered catalogues with over 1,000’s products available to brand.
How the Industry Works
The promotional products industry is made up of distributors and trade-only suppliers. In the early days, for
example a “mouse mat” supplier would phone around companies trying to convince them to spend part of their
marketing budget on mouse mats. It soon became apparent the enormous task involved, much easier to sell to
distributors and let them sell their products buying at a reduced rate and move to a trade-only operation.
Even today, often suppliers start on their own then once they’re recognized move over to the trade as they’re
guaranteed income.
Distributors
In the 1990’s there were a expansion of Catalogue Groups who offered their limited members a unique
catalogue service. For the distributors it meant they could pay a monthly charge and have a yearly catalogue

2. and website made for them. Unfortunately large organisations offered unlimited companies including print
and stationery companies the same service for “free”.
Still till this day the best and most successfulpromotional distributors are independent like Concise Media
Branding Ltd.