Despite mask mandates or recommendations being reinstated throughout the United States due to the delta variant driving a surge in coronavirus cases, there has yet to be renewed demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) in the promotional products industry.

Nonetheless, it may be coming, ASI data suggests.

In July, for the third consecutive month, traditional promo products dominated the top 10 list of the most-searched items in ESP, ASI’s database of products from around the promo industry. 

In July, “pens” was the most-searched term in ESP for the eighth consecutive month. Industry staples like “water bottle,” “koozie,” “mugs” and “tote bags” rounded out the top five. However, searches for “mask” rose for the first time in several months, up 41% over June. In May, “face masks” fell out of the top 10, marking the first time since January 2020 that PPE didn’t make the list.

“Given the surge in COVID cases that is occurring, I anticipate that PPE may show a resurgence in the coming months,” says Nate Kucsma, ASI’s executive director of research and corporate marketing. “Nonetheless, I’m confident that traditional promo products are going to lead our industry’s continuing recovery.” 

As summer enters its final third, searches for “beach” and “beach chair” were down 61% and 41%, respectively. Conversely, with back-to-school season on the horizon, searches for “pencils,” “sticky notes” and “spiral notebook” were up 100%, 66% and 36%, respectively.

And, for the first time in ESP history, there were so many searches for “can cooler” that it cracked the top 10.