Personal protective equipment (PPE) is our new normal, and a rapidly growing promotional product category. With the CDC recommending wearing face coverings in public settings and increased used of wipes and hand sanitizer, it makes sense that companies want to provide these items to their customers while also getting exposure for their brands.
In fact, ASI reports that six of the top 10 search terms in ESP were tied to PPE or related health-protecting items in June. Terms for face coverings, hand sanitizer and no touch tools all appeared in the top 10. Since it looks like PPE is sticking around for a while, now seems like a good time to explore what’s next in this booming promotional product category.
What’s Next for Face Coverings
Face masks are a necessity, but have also created new challenges since Coronavirus began impacting the way people interact. Individuals with hearing impairments experience even more difficulty when mouths are covered. In response you are starting to see face coverings with clear panels and increased use of face shields in public settings.
A negative impact of masks is that disposable options are most often not recyclable or biodegradable, and need to be treated as waste. (1) Reusable mask options help curb this problem and are (luckily) becoming easier to come by as we navigate through this pandemic. BIC Graphic NA launched an imprinted, reusable mask in July that helps people keep their faces covered while getting brand impressions. The #41164 Reusable Face Mask is available in six different fashion colors with up to 4-color imprint.
Minimal Touch with More Style
We’ve all seen the brass no contact tools that are effective and are handy for opening doors, carrying bags and more while helping to mitigate direct contact with public surfaces. The next generation of these new essentials include easy ways to clip the tool onto a keyring, bag or beltloop. They also come in well-designed shapes and colors with imprint areas that get brands noticed.
The #21277 No Contact Key Tool is lightweight but made of a hardened plastic material that easily opens doors and carries various weight loads. The #21278 Touchless Tool with Stylus takes it a step further a soft stylus, allowing you to use touch screens hands-free while the hook is perfect for holding doors, and a carabiner with ring is optional.
The New Must-Have Swag
Companies certainly don’t want to be seen as exploiting the pandemic, but corporations are starting to see that PPE may be around for the general public for quite some time. According to the Washington Post, sports teams, entertainment companies, apparel brands and even political campaigns are inquiring about PPE that can be imprinted with their logos or slogans.
More traditional giveaways, employee gifts and merchandise may be taking a back seat to PPE related products that still get brands noticed. The most popular promotional products are useful and attractive, and imprinted PPE that fits that criteria is sure to sell well while we are all dealing with COVID-19.
Visit bicgraphic.com to check out all the products that will help you get ready to tackle what’s next for PPE and promotional products. And visit our COVID-19 resource center for even more tools and resources to help boost your business.
