Sale of everything from commemorative tea tins to
condoms could top $42 million
TREVOSE, PA – April
22, 2011 – The upcoming nuptials
of England’s William and Kate is causing a royal run on wedding-related
memorabilia and promotional products.
The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) today reported manufacturers are churning out mugs, plates and
commemorative pens along with William &
Catherine compacts, ashtrays, shot glasses, book marks, reusable bags and
car flags.
A report from ASI’s Counselor
magazine says more irreverent promotions include a commemorative plate
reading “Thanks for the free day off,” a “Keep Calm and Marry On” poster and
“Kiss Me Kate” beer. Retailers and suppliers and distributors of promotional
products are capitalizing on the April 29 royal wedding through a variety of
products suitable for all occasions.
Click
here for a Counselor news story
from London on the promotional trend and click
here for a reporter’s blog with photos of some of
the products.
“A royal wedding presents the
perfect opportunity for commemorative products that people will cherish for a
lifetime,” said Timothy M. Andrews, ASI president and CEO.
Annette Scott, CEO of Promota, a trade association for the ad
specialty industry in the UK, said products such as flags, pens, hats and mugs are
perfect giveaways at community parties or business events. Interest is so high,
Promota created a website where suppliers can
upload images of wedding related products, such as commemorative coaster sets
and crystal diamonds, engraved with the couple’s image.
The Telegraph
newspaper reports the sale of royal wedding merchandise could top $42.5
million.
James Biggin,
co-owner of Yorkshire-based Steel City Marketing, said clients are buying up
branded paper crowns, handflags and decorated bunting
to incorporate into events they are hosting to correspond with the celebration.
Lucy Stuart, co-owner of
Norfolk, UK-based distributor S R Print and Design, has filled orders for mugs
and small flags for wedding-themed events or in gift bags. The breadth of
products available, Stuart said, has made this occasion the biggest for
promotional product consumer sales since the change of the millennium in 2000.
About ASI
The Advertising Specialty Institute is the largest education, media and
marketing organization serving the advertising specialty industry, with a
membership of 26,000 distributor firms (sellers) and supplier firms (manufacturers)
of advertising specialties. Visit ASI at www.asicentral.com
and on Facebook,
Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube
and the CEO’s blog.