One of the things we’re asked most often by clients is for fresh ideas, and “what’s trendy” or “popular” at any given moment.
Taking a look at our industry & comparable retail trends, here’s what we anticipate being big in 2026:
Design Matters
More than the promotional item you choose, the biggest way to make sure your product is trending is by what you put on it. Sure, sometimes a basic logo is all you need — but more than ever, we’re seeing clients really flex their creativity and wit when it comes to the design and artwork they send us for their projects.
After all, the most popular items tend to remain the same: bags, drinkware, pens, and t-shirts. But what makes them feel fresh, new, and exciting is the design applied to those objects.
Functional Quality
Inexpensive promotional items have their place in the world, but more often, we’re seeing our customers lean into quality over quantity, and go with pieces that function beautifully and will stay with the end user for a long time.
But that doesn’t mean you need to blow your budget on expensive, name-brand items. We’re happy to help you find quality items without the name brand price tag.
Whimsy & Play
The world has a lot of awful going on right now, so it’s no surprise that a lot of people are turning to nostalgia, whimsy & playfulness for a respite. Fidgets, colorful gadgets, and items that spark creativity are big.
Embracing Analog
Tech accessories have really risen in popularity over the last decade, and while they still hold wide appeal, there’s a big push this year for a more “analog” lifestyle. We’re especially seeing a surge in popularity for the old stand-by journal notebooks, and a really great pen. Anything that can give the recipient a respite from their screens and devices is seen as a big positive.
Jag Forms 
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