US 2011 Industry Sales Top $18.5 Billion.

The Advertising Speciality Institute (ASI) have announced that their distributor sales research report on the US market shows total industry sales of $18.5 billion, up 6.2% from 2010.

Sales in the US have increased for eight straight quarters, with a 6.5% 2011 fourth-quarter sales increase reported, the highest since the first quarter of 2011. What this proves is that the industry rebound that begun two years ago is real – and lasting. A majority of distributors feel optimistic about 2012 sales, which is another indication of continued growth.

The bottom line is that companies, charities, schools, hospitals, teams, you name it and there’s a logo on it, are continuing to buy promotional products for a very simple, undeniable reason - They work.

Highlights of the survey, conducted by ASI’s executive director of research, Larry Basinait, include:

• Eighty-five percent of larger distributors (over $1 million in revenue) reported an increase in sales in 2011, while over two-thirds (70%) of all distributors reported an increase.
• Over one-half (54%) of all distributors reported an increase in the fourth quarter, with distributorships of at least $250,000 in annual revenue reporting greater percentage increases in sales than small distributorships.
• More than three-quarters (77%) of all distributors feel sales for 2012 will be higher than sales in 2011.