Last updated on February 4th, 2025 at 07:29 pm
With tariff from Canada, Mexico, China and other oversea areas looming, many of our customers are wondering if they should consider domestically made promotional products in their next marketing campaign. In this blog post we will discuss and go over the categories of promotional products that are made in the USA.
The new tariffs are going to be a real possibility soon. When making plans for future promotional products campaign, it will be wise to includes USA made items as options in case the costs of overseas made promotional products are too high and affect your overall budget.
The upward price pressure will play out in the promotional products industry, if the tariff continues. Prices will not hike overnight; most likely what will happen is the existing inventory will be exhausted stateside, once that stock is gone, prices will go up because products will cost more with the additional tariff.
Most majority promotional products sold in both the U.S. and Canada are from manufacturers overseas, particularly in Asia, with China being the main production hub, especially for popular hard good categories like drinkware and technology items. Meanwhile, Mexico has emerged as a popular spot for production of some promo categories as well.
Moreover, tariffs may cause shipping and logistic delays for overseas products. Domestic manufacturing means they do not have to travel far, so you will more likely to have products that meet your deadlines.
If you have plans for purchasing promotional products this year, it will be beneficial to purchase sooner rather than later. In a few months after the tariffs are in effect, as shipments come in from overseas, costs for promotional products will no doubt increase, so purchasing earlier in the year will save you some money!
Last but not least, buying American made promotional products keep manufacturing jobs right here in the US, benefitting our local community and economy.
Plastic Water Bottles: bike bottles that are made with polyethylene or PET materials
Plastic home/kitchen Products: pill box, bandage dispenser, bag clips, luggage tags and various household items that are made of plastic
Office Items: adhesive notepads, scratch pads, wall calendars, vinyl decals, vinyl sticker sheets, die cut stickers
Apparel: t-shirts, sweatshirts, polos, socks
Personal Items: Lip Balm, Sunscreen, Mints
Tradeshow Displays: Retractable banners, table covers, pop-up tents, flag banners, vinyl banners
While we do not have a crystal ball of how extensive the effect of the tariff will have on the promotional product industry, we are keeping a close eye on the situation. If your company is planning for any kind of promotional products campaign this year, contact us for a consultation so we can help you plan this out as best as possible.