People are spending more times in their cars now more than ever—whether it be for commuting or traveling for pleasure. As such, consumers see safety and convenience as a top priority when it comes to automotive products. They want their driving experience to be smooth and hassle-free. Items in this market sector include charging cables, phone accessories, stickers, tumblers, cleaning cloths, air fresheners, wireless earbuds, coasters, and safety lights.
Lindsey Farm at Beacon Promotions points out that convenience and safety are top trends when it comes to auto accessories. “People are constantly looking for solutions to make their lives easier and safer so we see the accessories made for the auto industry to accommodate those desires,” she says “People are also spending more time in their cars so they want features and accessories to make that time comfortable and hassle-free.”
In agreement is Tracy Bohmbach of Clegg Promo, who notes that the company’s charging cables, and phone accessories are trending. “As more and more people have mobile phones, and as states go ‘hands free’ with a focus on safety, items like our Deluxe Magnetic Phone Holder or our Magnetic Air Vent Phone Holder—along with our charging cables—are useful products.” She adds that emergency lights are also performing well.
Courtney Butler of Gill-Line agrees that trends are being driven by convenience. “People are looking to make their lives easier and more convenient through technology and products that help them be more efficient,” she comments. “We are also seeing people want to express themselves more, share who they are and what they do by adding stickers to their vehicle back window or bumper to say, ‘I camp, ski, hike, kayak, love dogs or I love my local football team.’” She adds that from a convenience standpoint, the company is seeing dynamic growth in the areas of a more effective absorbent stone car coaster and a thicker paperboard coaster, which tells Gill-Line that people are willing to pay more for more effective products.
Over at KTI Promo, Joshua Pospisil has seen interest in the company’s True Wireless Earbuds skyrocket, along with higher interest in larger capacity power banks and wireless chargers. “As we are on the go more and more these days, the need for less wires is more important than ever—which is what is driving the surge in popularity in the True Wireless Earbuds, such as our Air-Buds.
“Also, as our phones and tablets continue to grow in size and capacity, the need for 10,00mAh and larger capacity power banks is steadily on the rise as these bigger phones/tablets use a lot more of their battery power,” he continues. “Therefore, it is a must to keep a larger capacity power bank with you at all times to keep your phone and tablet charged.” He adds that interest in wireless chargers is also growing.
These trends have “driven” suppliers to rely on a variety of new and best-selling automotive products. Clegg Promo has introduced several charging cables to its line, which make great auto accessories, according to Bohmbach. The company’s best sellers are the 6.5-foot Bottled Long Cable, 9.8-foot Extra Long Bottle Cable, Retract-It Cable, and Deluxe Magnetic Phone Holder.
KTI Promo has rolled out a 3-in-1 Power Bank 10,000, which Pospisil says boasts a powerful 10,000mAh battery and has all the charging cables built in to charge a phone. “We also brought in our Tech-Folio, which a padfolio with an 8,000mAh power bank built into the back of the padfolio,” he comments. “It also has all of the needed charging cables attached.” He adds that the company’s best seller has “easily” been its Air-Buds. “These things are flying off the shelf and people absolutely love them.”
Several ice scrapers are up-and-coming automotive items from Beacon Promotions. “The Chiselit COB light up ice scraper allows you to clear your windows on those dark mornings and nights,” she reports. “We also have our new Window Wonder clip-on ice scraper that conveniently attaches to visors with a strong clip and features a full color imprint option. Also new is the Safesaber magnetic COB safety light, which is a great item to store in your car as it features three light modes: one-watt, COB, and red flashing.” Beacon’s Auto Phone Holder has also been a best seller in the auto category—especially recently with many states enacting hands- free laws in cars, she adds.
Bay State has introduced a credit card ice scraper, which Josette Bosse says is a “great USA- made item that is durable with a large imprint area and even better price point.” She reports it is perfect for car dealers or mailers.
Travel Tumblers are Garyline’s strongest and fastest growing item in the automotive segment, according to Scott Denny, joining the company’s best sellers The Traveler and Explorer Acrylic Tumbler. “These are budget-priced plastic insulated tumblers,” he elaborates. “It’s not a new category, but the trend toward reusable drinkware is very strong. It is good for the environment to have your morning coffee in a reusable cup—rather than a single use disposable cup. Commuters will use the product every day, which gives an auto mug a very positive advertising benefit.
“Everyone loves the high-end, stainless steel cups, but the price is really too high for a giveaway, so our less expensive reusable plastic cups are very attractive to the promotional market,” he adds.
One of Gill-Line’s newest products is its Digitally Printed Stone Car Coaster, which Butler notes has been extremely popular, due to it being super absorbent and available to showcase a logo in digital full-color.
Paul Christensen at Natural Trends maintains that the demand for auto air fresheners continues to grow, which makes it a great place for distributors to focus. “The Febreze CAR Vent Clip is the number-one automotive air freshener sold at retail and brings instant credibility to a promotion,” he emphasizes. “It delivers a fresh, clean scent and eliminates vehicle odors with its unique OdorClear™ technology.”
A wide range of customers choose this product, Christensen continues. “Besides the obvious auto- related industries you might expect like travel, shipping, insurance, oil and gas, auto makers, dealers and detailers, etc., we’re also seeing orders from just about every other market imaginable,” he states. “We get orders for Febreze for health care and medical, hi-tech, financial, education, hospitality, manufacturing, food services, and many more. We’ve concluded that there are no market limits because just about everyone has a car and a logo in a prominent spot in a car is a great way to reach the client on a daily basis.”
Christensen adds that the package presentation makes it unique as well—with the product being clipped onto a mini retail backer card containing all product info, or it can be upgraded even further with a protective mini clamshell.
Another new product from the company is the Microfiber Auto Cloth. “Every driver knows what it’s like to have that annoying dust and dirt build up on the interior dash of the car or find that missed spot on the exterior after a wash,” Christensen says. “The Microfiber Auto Cloth is the perfect answer. It conveniently removes dust, oils and smudges from auto interiors and polishes up external surfaces as well.” The 11 x 11 premium cloth is made of a high-tech 250 GSM soft woven fabric (grams/square meter) and has a sewn edge for extra durability. Christensen says it is a handy item for any vehicle owner which they’ll hang onto and use for a long time. “The Auto Cloth is available with a classy deboss imprint, or brilliant spot or full color image, and comes packed flat or in individual vinyl pouches,” he comments. “It makes a perfect promo gift for anyone who drives a car!”
Selling automotive products to clients is a matter of education, suppliers agree. Clegg Promo’s Bohmbach suggests that automotive products can be used as a promotion for driving schools, driver’s education, and safety awards.
KTI Promo’s Pospisil suggests pushing as much tech-related items as possible. “The need for tech products is only going to keep growing, so it is best to get people on the tech train as quick as we can, so they are not left standing alone at the station,” he comments.
“Besides the obvious answer of dealerships, many of the automotive products can be sold to almost any company,” Gill-Line’s Butler details. “We spend a lot of time in our vehicles and it should be a company’s aim to provide their customers products that they will use, that are efficient, convenient, and effectively advertising their brand. So, what we are finding today is that it is not just the lower cost item that is getting purchased, but it is the better, more effective products that companies are reaching for to ensure their customer uses their promotional product and sees their brand.”
Farm at Beacon Promotions shares her selling strategy. “Being that the automobile is the most popular form of transportation, this makes auto accessories universally appealing and useful,” she concludes. “Many different industries—from car repair shops to insurance companies—can use promotional auto products to increase awareness and build loyalty.”
CASE STUDIES
Tracy Bohmbach, Clegg Promo: A delivery company recently included our 6609 6.5-foot Bottled Long Cable and #6132 Deluxe Magnetic Phone Holder in their gift bags to all drivers that completed their safety certification prior to the due date. The promotion was a hit and they’re now looking at offering our item # 2691 Safety Bright Emergency Light as a holiday giveaway.
A large police department purchased our item # 2691 Safety Bright Emergency Light and placed a few in each squad car. The policemen, when arriving to an emergency call prior to fire or rescue, placed these items at the end of the driveway to alert the arriving crews of the location. Several neighborhood homes look the same, this was a way to expedite their arrival by helping them see the location in sooner.
Josette Bosse, Bay State: The sales team at an auto dealership carried these small ice scrapers with them while assisting customers and used them to scrape the windshield clean for test drives. Each car sold had a scraper in the glove box for the customer to keep. The scrapers were also for sale at the dealership.
Lindsey Farm, Beacon Promotions: A car repair shop had just opened for business and was looking for a giveaway to spread the word about their work. Every car that came in for repair went home with a new Window Wonder clip-on ice scraper. They wanted something that stayed in the car and would keep their name top of mind—but also fit their $2 budget per piece. The shop saw many of their initial customers return for future work, so they continue to give all new clients a Window Wonder when they leave the shop.