Did you know that individuals and businesses have been using branded products to promote their services and messages for thousands of years? Evidence of branded products has been found from as early as 1500 BC when potters in ancient India, China, Greece, and Rome are thought to have used special markings on their pottery and porcelain.

The first promotional product in the United States was a commemorative button, dating back to 1789. The buttons were distributed to celebrate George Washington becoming the first President of the USA. Since then, promotional products have grown to be an integral part of marketing in North America.

Beginning in the 19th century, some large companies produced and distributed their own promotional products, including items like almanacs, bookmarks, rulers, and pocket knives. However, promotional products didn’t emerge as an industry in its own right until the late 1800s when Jasper Meek, often regarded as the father of promotional products, founded the Tuscarora Advertising Co. This was the first-ever promotional products company. He and his sole competitor, a man named Henry D. Beach, went on to offer a variety of customizable products to their customers including cloth bags, cloth caps, horse covers, buggy whips, metal trays, and more.

Elsewhere in the United States, two newspaper owners, Thomas D. Murphy and Edward Burke Osborne were working on developing the first art calendars on which their customers could have their business names and messages printed alongside creative and eye-catching images. The calendars were a huge success, with 2 to 3 million copies being printed by 1894.

Following these events, promotional products began to grow and expand as an industry in the early 1900s. By 1950, the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) and the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) had been instituted to meet the needs of the growing industry. Today, these organizations are key players who publish research and magazines, as well as host conventions and trade shows.

The promotional products businesses of today proudly offer an incredible variety of customizable items from apparel to home goods, office supplies, and even tech items, and they employ advanced techniques like laser engraving, screenprinting, DTG printing, embroidery, and more to bring their clients’ advertising ideas to life. There’s no doubt that future innovations are to come as the industry continues to grow and evolve.

From marked pottery to simple buttons, to an entire industry offering an endless selection of customizable items to choose from, promotional products have come a long way–and there’s no doubt that they will continue to play a key role in the advertising space for many years to come.