Best Industries for Custom Apparel
By: Jennifer Posted on: Jun 16, 2022The promo products market in the US had a 12% sales increase in the last year despite the challenges of Covid19. With the rebound getting strong, the promotional products market is expected to reach $4 Billion by 2024. In short, the prospects for apparel sellers look bright. But how do you tap into this opportunity? What sectors and products should you focus on? Read on to find the answers.
Education
Schools and universities need promotional items to improve their reach, foster school spirit, or for other uses. Every year, a fresh batch of high school graduates gets welcomed with a swag bag filled with orientation materials such as hoodies, writing materials, drinkware, and so on. Besides, there are student clubs, athletes, and cultural events that require custom shirts and apparel.
Yes, the industry did take a hit when the sales figures plummeted following the pandemic when education switched gears to online mode. Even then, there was some demand, as institutions started handing out branded hoodies, t-shirts, and joggers to keep students engaged. But as the normal state of affairs is restored in all sectors, the demand for promo apparel is set for another spike. As the pandemic has encouraged campuses to focus more on the health and hygiene of the students, good demand for masks, hand sanitizers, and face shields is also expected.
Today USB flash drives and other gadgets are essential for digital learning and they can work as a great gifting idea for both students and faculties. You can even turn it into a branding effort by choosing colors that match your school’s logo.
Best Products for the Educational Industry
Hoodies and Sweatshirts, Uniform Polos, drawstring backpacks, bags, soccer jerseys, headwear, athletic gear, blanket
Nonprofits and Charities
With the return of in-person events, nonprofits are finally back with large fundraisers and other gatherings. And this might be a great time to start refocusing on these groups. As consistent brand visibility facilitates a nonprofit’s mission, this sector favors long-lasting products more. Surveys show great market prospects in this sector, with close to sixty percent of nonprofits willing to pay more for better quality promo products. You should also keep a deep inventory of sustainable products as buyers from this category favor it.
Top Products for Nonprofits and Charities: T-shirts, Water Bottles, Tote Bags, T-shirts, Bracelets, Antimicrobial Pens
Gaming and Streaming Communities
Audiences of video game streamers and online content creators, eager to support their favorite content creators by buying branded merchandise from them, are an emerging market in the custom apparel industry.
Buyers from these sectors are mostly Gen Z and Millennials. So make sure that you offer products like hoodies and sporty t-shirts which are favored by them.
Decorators can cater to the gaming and YouTubing communities on different levels. Find an online content creator and offer to help them create a steady income stream from branded merchandise. The best way to get started might be by partnering up with small but growing content creators.
Products: T-shirts, hats, hoodies, and other frequently worn apparel.
Health Industry
While the demand for promo products fell off during the pandemic in other sectors, it had an increase in the healthcare market mostly due to the pandemic. The promo product sales in the healthcare market increased by 4% the year.
Today, community outreach events like health fares are picking pace, increasing the demand for promotional products. Besides, healthcare agencies are setting aside funds for kitting for virtual events as well as work-from-home employees while retaining their investments in safety products and employee recognition. This means Safety Masks, Hand sanitizers, and other PPE products will have a large demand. There is also rising popularity for the cozy and versatile athleisure scrubs that can be used outside the workplace.
Music Industry
Music bands and companies do a lot of things to keep the money rolling in - extensive tours, royalties, licensing fees, and what we like to hear - branded merchandise. During the peak of last year’s concert season, U.S. music events collectively generated $108.9 million in gross merchandise revenue. As live events are expected to come back strong this year, there is no doubt that the number is going to go higher.
Music fans love to buy t-shirts, pullover hoodies, hats, and other popular merchandise. There is also a sharpening preference for retro prints and graphics in music apparel. Keep in mind that fans of pop, rock, k-pop, and other different genres will have different tastes, especially when it comes to the designs. The best strategy is to see what is trending in each community before you start customizing for them.
Top Products for Music Industry: T-shirts, Pullover Hoodies, Hats
Conclusion
The custom apparel industry is a goldmine if you focus on the right markets. Hopefully, you now have a better idea of who to target and which products to offer. Get started now with top-quality blank apparel from YouApparel.