The document reports the results of a survey of 1244 British business people about the promotional products on their desks. It found that most common items were desk pads (89%), mugs (65%), notebooks (54%), and pens (51%). When asked which single item they would keep, the most popular answers were desk pads (18%), mugs (13%), and notebooks (8%). The majority of respondents said promotional products increase brand awareness and that they are likely to consider them for future marketing campaigns.

1. WHAT’S ON YOUR
DESK ?

2. Business people across the UK participated in the survey, commissioned by the BPMA from
June to August 2014. The aim of the survey was to find out which promotional products
people kept on their desk

3. Total Responses
1244

4. Question 5 | Are you?
Female 56%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Male
44%

5. Question 6 | In which UK region do you work?
North East & Yorkshire
North West
Midlands
London & South East
South West
Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland
Outside UK
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
44%

6. Question 7 | Which best describes your job title?
44%
Executive
Manager
Director
CEO/Chairman/MD
17%
24%
39%
20%

7. Question 8 | Which industry do you work in?
Academic Institution
Agency
Association/Professional Body
Automotive
Banking/Financial Services
Brand Owner
Business/Industrial Manufacturing Services
Charity/Voluntary Organisations
Consultancy
Consumer Durables
Education
Emergency/Armed Services
Entertainment/Leisure
FMCG
Healthcare
IT
Marketing Services - Advertising/PR/Design/DM
Media/Media Services
National/Local Government
Professional Services
Public Sector
Telecoms
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
44%

8. Question 9 | What is your total marketing spend?
44%
Under £50,000
£50,00 - £100,000
£100,001 - £250,000
£250,001 - £1 Million
£1,000,001 - £5 Million
£5,000,001 - £10 Million
Over £10 Million
5% 1% 1%
10%
9%
60%
14%

9. Question 10 | What promotional merchandise do you have
on your desk right now?
54%
8%
39%
89%
6%
16%
51%
65%
49%
14%
26%
35%
14%
54%
38%
Calculator
Calendar
Clock
Desk Pad
Diary
Executive Puzzle/Toy
Mousemat
Mug
Notebook
Paper Clips
Paperweight
Pen
Pencils
Photo Frame
Post it Notes
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

10. Question 11 | If you could only keep one of the items of
promotional merchandise on your desk which one would it
be?
6%
1%
1%
18%
1%
0%
13%
13%
8%
3%
7%
5%
3%
14%
9%
Calculator
Calendar
Clock
Desk Pad
Diary
Executive Puzzle/Toy
Mousemat
Mug
Notebook
Paper Clips
Paperweight
Pen
Pencils
Photo Frame
Post it Notes
0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16% 18% 20%

11. Question 13 | Can you name a brand or
company/organisation featured on promotional products on
your desk?

12. Question 14 | In general, how clear is the call to action on
promotional products that you receive?
No call to action
Unclear
Clear
Very clear
50%
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
19%
15%
50%
16%

13. Question 15 | What is your reaction when you receive a
promotional product(s)?
Throw away Pass onto a family
member
Pass onto colleagues Keep it yourself
90.00%
80.00%
70.00%
60.00%
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%

14. Question 16 | Have you purchased anything from any of the
companies that you have supplied you with promotional
products?

15. Question 17 | How likely are you to integrate promotional
products in your next campaign?
Definitely
More than likely
Undecided
Definitely not
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
26%
37%
34%
4%

16. Question 18 | Do you think that branded promotional
products increase a company’s brand awareness?

17. Question 20 | How likely are you to ensure your promotional
products comply with legislation(s)?
60.00% Question 21 | If so, how important is this to
Definitely More than
likely
Undecided Definitely
not
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
you?

18. Question 22 | Would you be more or less likely to buy promotional products
from a company that has a ‘measurable industry standard’ in regards to
legislations and policies?
40.00% Question 21 | If you had the choice between 2
Definitely More than
likely
Undecided Definitely
not
35.00%
30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
promotional product companies offering the same
product, one is more expensive but their products
comply with important legislation and one is cheaper but
does not comply with important legislation, which would
you choose?