“After the pandemic, our sector restarted with some momentum, showing that even in the most uncertain times anything is possible and that there is much still to be discovered. Promotional companies in particular are increasingly recognising the importance of relying on competent intermediaries to give the right recognition and visibility to their brand". With these words Antonella Sorrentino, sales manager of the agency Cadò Promotion, expresses her predictions and hopes for the future. The sentiment is imbued with a certain optimism which is also shared by the other agencies and promotional products distributors we interviewed, to sound out what the expectations and market trends are in the opinion of those who visit the trade fair to discover new products and business opportunities.

With regard to the most interesting sectors as a business outlet for customised gadgets, the most popular are those related to food, technology, personal care/wellness, pharmaceuticals and education (schools, universities and other training institutions). Federico Vitolo, chief operating officer of Nbl Vitolo highlights the event organisation industry: ‘After a long period of standstill due to the pandemic, that is the sector that shows the most vitality both in tourism and in b2b in general'.

The promotional trend considered most promising by all is undoubtedly that of sustainability: “The demand for eco-friendly products ,” remarks Vittorio Sannoner of Stampasì - “is always very high, as is the demand for environmental and social certifications. Today, the focus is not just on the material with which the articles are made but also on the traceability of the entire production chain: sustainability is no longer just a trend but an element and a 'lifestyle' that is involving our entire industry, from manufacturers to suppliers and retailers'. For Federica Francione, manager of Alkimie another trend to watch out for is digital: "Although there is still some resistance to abandoning paper catalogues, which still remain an indispensable tool for us, there is a greater openness than in the past towards digitisation, both in terms of sales tools and the additional marketing support services provided by our suppliers.