The final three months of 2021, viewed quarter-to-quarter in PPAI’s recently released Q4 Quarterly Industry Sales Barometer, saw almost half (49%) of suppliers and distributors report their sales increasing as the year progressed. The quarterly survey, which was first launched in 2020, asked supplier and distributor member companies about their sales year to year and quarter to quarter, along with expectations for Q1 2022. The survey also asked about staffing and other issues relevant to promo industry businesses as they continue to ramp up their operations in the pandemic.

For distributors, key highlights of the sales survey include:

  • 49% of distributors reported an increase in sales in Q4 2021 over Q3 2021; 28% reported no change in sales that quarter
  • 52% reported an increase in sales in Q4 2021 over Q4 2020; 22% reported that sales stayed the same, year-to-year
  • Looking ahead to Q1 2022, 57% of distributors expect sales to increase in the quarter, and 17% anticipate they will stay the same.
  • Many distributors' work environments still reflect pandemic-related changes—27% are working remotely or plan for employees to work remotely, 23% have either returned to the office or plan for employees to return to the office, and 11% have implemented a hybrid work environment policy or plan to.
  • 26% said they were more confident in their business’s future viability in Q4 2021, 24% were less so
  • 52% said none of their sales were in decorated PPE in Q4 2021
  • 77% said none of their sales were in blank PPE in Q4 2021

For suppliers, key highlights include:

  • 49% reported an increase in sales in Q4 2021 over Q3 2021; 23% reported no change in sales in that quarter
  • 74% reported an increase in sales in Q4 2021 over Q4 2020; 16% reported that sales stayed the same, year to year
  • Looking ahead to Q1 2022, 68% of suppliers expect sales to increase in the quarter; 22% reported that sales stayed the same, year-to-year.
  • Most suppliers are back in the office, at least in part—39% have either returned to the office or plan for employees to return to the office, 36% have implemented a hybrid work environment policy or plan to, and 16% are working remotely or plan for employees to work remotely.
  • 29% said that they were more confident in their business’s future viability in Q4 2021, an equal share, 29 percent, said they were less so
  • 65% said none of their sales were in decorated PPE in Q4 2021
  • 81% said none of their sales were in blank PPE in Q4 2021

The full report is available to PPAI members here. A member login is required.