Promo’s 2025 kicked into gear at ASI Orlando.
The largest promotional products industry trade show on the East Coast and the first major trade show of the new year, ASI Orlando brought together approximately 4,000 distributors, suppliers and thought leaders for three days of learning, networking, trend-spotting, collaboration and to get sneak peeks into new technology emerging in the market, like ESP+ Stores, which allow for the creation of fully branded, customized online stores in just five clicks.
In this Promo Insiders, ASI Media’s Christopher Ruvo and Brendan Menapace break down some of the significant trends in apparel, hard goods, headwear and printing that were on display at the show. They also deliver highlights from professional development sessions and insights from an inspiring keynote.
Podcast Chapters
1:10: Print trends
4:41: Hard goods trends
7:46: Apparel and headwear trends
14:10: Education: Understanding and adapting to different personality types
15:35: Education: “A crash course in the printing industry”
16:32: Education: Optimistic change, glimmers and more
19:04: Education: Personal branding
21:56: Education: Practical ways to use AI for your business
25:00: An inspirational keynote
Key Takeaways
1. Sustainable Initiatives Were Everywhere: Suppliers across product categories showcased items made from more eco-friendly materials and were eager to discuss how they were working to minimize environmental impact in their operations.
2. Apparel & Headwear Trends Ran the Gamut: There is continued interest in retail name brands, increased demand for “Made-in-the-USA” apparel and a focus on sustainability with recycled materials. Heavyweight garments with softer fabrics, hybrid jackets, retro throwback mock necks, softer color tones and printer-friendly hats are rising in popularity.
3. Professional Development Sessions Provided Value: Classes included topics that covered tailoring sales approaches to different personality styles, the importance of selling print services along with promo, personal branding, and practical ways to use artificial intelligence to generate ideas and create content that helps advance business goals.
4. Printing & Hard Goods Trends Pervaded: Direct-to-film printing is gaining popularity due to its efficiency and ability to handle complex, colorful designs, making it ideal for print-on-demand. The practice of kitting remains significant. Embedding tech like near-field communication in traditional products like drinkware and keychains is gaining traction. While other brands have picked up in popularity, Stanley tumblers and styles inspired by them continue to dominate drinkware.
5. A Keynote That Inspired: Stephanie Stuckey’s keynote, which discussed how she bought back her family’s business and resurrected it from the ashes, provided valuable personal and professional lessons. Among them: When major challenges rear, confront them head-on and determine to make the adaptations necessary to overcome them.
