Suppliers and distributors report sales on an upswing, quarter-to-quarter, in PPAI’s recent Q3 Quarterly Industry Sales Barometer, with 59 percent of suppliers and 61 percent of distributors saying their sales have increased as the year has progressed. The quarterly survey, which was first launched last year, asked supplier and distributor member companies about their sales year to year and quarter to quarter, along with expectations for Q4 2021. The survey also asked about staffing and other issues pertinent to promo industry businesses as they continue to ramp up their operations post-pandemic.

For distributors, key highlights of the sales survey include:

  • 61 percent of distributors reported an increase in sales in Q3 2021 over Q2 2021; 22 percent reported no change in sales that quarter
  • 75 percent reported an increase in sales in Q3 2021 over Q3 2020; 11 percent reported that sales stayed the same, year-to-year
  • Looking ahead to Q4 2021, 62 percent of distributors expect sales to increase in the quarter, 30 percent have either returned to the office or plan for employees to return to the office, 23 percent are working remotely or plan for employees to work remotely and 11 percent have implemented a hybrid work environment policy or plan to.
  • 14 percent said they were less confident in their business’s future viability in Q3 2021
  • 45 percent said none of their sales were in decorated PPE in Q3 2021
  • 73 percent said none of their sales were in blank PPE in Q3 2021

For suppliers, key highlights include:

  • 59 percent reported an increase in sales in Q3 2021 over Q2 2021; 22 percent reported no change in sales in that quarter
  • 78 percent reported an increase in sales in Q3 2021 over Q3 2020; six percent reported that sales stayed the same, year to year
  • Looking ahead to Q4 2021, 64 percent of suppliers expect sales to increase in the quarter, 50 percent have either returned to the office or plan for employees to return to the office, eight percent are working remotely or plan for employees to work remotely and 22 percent have implemented a hybrid work environment policy or plan to.
  • 17 percent said they were less confident in their business’s future viability during Q3 2021
  • 78 percent said none of their sales were in decorated PPE in Q3 202189 percent said none of their sales were in blank PPE in Q3 2021

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