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Promotional Products in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Alex Petridis Alex Petridis New York, United States Last Updated: October 2024 NAICS 54189CA

Revenue

$2.6bn

2024

$2.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

9,164

Businesses

5,328

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Promotional Products in Canada industry analysis

The Canadian Promotional Products industry has been navigating a landscape marked by both challenges and opportunities in recent years. The industry generates revenue by distributing specialty advertising on everyday items like mugs, calendars and T-shirts. Industry enterprises do not manufacture these products, but rather imprint and distribute a client's advertising message on blank products that are purchased from manufacturers and industry suppliers worldwide. Like many sectors, the industry faced a tough operating environment due to economic volatility and the impacts of the pandemic, which saw corporate profit dip and advertising expenditures shrink. Yet, despite the setbacks, the number of businesses has grown since 2019, which has provided a buffer to revenue declines. The industry's resilience was also bolstered by its ability to tap into new markets and expand its customer base. Industry revenue is forecast to inch forward an annualized 1.3% to $2.7 billion in 2024. In 2024 alone, industry revenue is expected to incline 1.0% due to growth in consumer spending and an associated influx of retail sales.

Trends and Insights

  • The promotional products industry is feeling the pinch from digital advertising. As more businesses shift online, traditional promotional items face stiff competition from digital platforms that offer broad reach and lower costs.
  • Demand from each downstream market segment decreased in 2020 due to the adverse economic effects related to the pandemic. In particular, the decrease in corporate profit was detrimental to the industry's major market demand since businesses are the largest market segment for industry enterprises.
  • The distribution of establishments in this industry is heavily concentrated in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta. The distribution of industry facilities is largely the result of the geographic spread of the industry's key downstream clients, including retail stores, which generally follow the distribution of Canada's population.
  • Although all companies in this industry are related, they are not necessarily substitutes for one another. Not all companies within the industry are directly competing with one another; instead, they focus on market niches rather than attempting to dominate the industry in totality.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $2.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The industry follows the ebb and flow of the economy

  • Like other advertising industries, the industry is highly cyclical and dependent on downstream corporate performance and broader advertising expenditure. Years in which total retail sales, advertising expenditure and corporate profit waned took a toll on the industry overall.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Promotional Products in Canada
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Economic recovery spells success for industry enterprises

  • Growth in total advertising expenditure and higher corporate profit levels as a result of the economy's growth are poised to drive a climb in revenue for the Promotional Products industry in Canada.

Biggest companies in the Promotional Products in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2023
Revenue ($m)
2023
Profit ($m)
2023
Profit Margin (%)
2023
4imprint Group PLC
166.1
17.1
10.3
Staples Canada Inc.
129.0
12.3
9.5
Proforma Inc.
84.9
8.1
9.5

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Promotional Products in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Wearables, Desk and office accessories and Writing instruments. Wearables is the largest segment of the Promotional Products in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Wearables benefit from quality over quantity

  • Wearables are not the industry's largest product by volume sold, but industry enterprises can sell wearable products at a higher cost to clients, ultimately making them account for the largest share of industry revenue among all product segments.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Operators in this industry provide promotional products, such as key chains, magnets and pens. They also offer a variety of advertising-related services, including promotional product distribution, sign lettering and window dressing. This industry does not include advertising services, public relations services, media buying services, media representation services, display advertising services, direct-mail advertising services or marketing consulting services.

What's included in this industry?

Selling wearable promotional productsSelling desk and office accessory promotional productsSelling writing instrument promotional productsSelling drinkware, housewares and other home promotional productsSelling other promotional products

Companies

4imprint Group PLCStaples Canada Inc.Proforma Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

ADVERTISING SPECIALTYBELOW-THE-LINE PROMOTIONBLANKTRADITIONAL MEDIA

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 54189 - Promotional Products in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The promotional products industry is feeling the pinch from digital advertising. As more businesses shift online, traditional promotional items face stiff competition from di...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Demand from each downstream market segment decreased in 2020 due to the adverse economic effects related to the pandemic. In particular, the decrease in corporate profit was ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The distribution of establishments in this industry is heavily concentrated in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta. The distribution of industry facilities is large...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Although all companies in this industry are related, they are not necessarily substitutes for one another. Not all companies within the industry are directly competing with o...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Staples continues to expand in the Promotional Products industry through strategic acquisitions. For example, in 2015, Staples acquired Accolade Promotion Group, a leading di...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of 4imprint Group PLC's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Staples Canada Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Proforma Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for 4imprint Group PLC, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Staples Canada Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Proforma Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Associated growths in the number of businesses, retail sales and total advertising expenditure have supported the industry and controlled some of the volatility inflicted by t...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Prominent companies can reduce per-unit purchase costs through quantity discounts. The market power of large enterprises also gives these participants an advantage when defin...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Promotional Products industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Promotional Products industry in Canada is $2.6bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Promotional Products in Canada industry in 2024?

There are 5,328 businesses in the Promotional Products industry in Canada, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Promotional Products industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Promotional Products industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 0.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Promotional Products industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Promotional Products industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Promotional Products market in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Promotional Products market in Canada are 4imprint Group PLC, Staples Canada Inc. and Proforma Inc.

What does the Promotional Products in Canada include?

Selling wearable promotional products and Selling desk and office accessory promotional products are part of the Promotional Products industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Promotional Products in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is 4imprint Group PLC.

How competitive is the Promotional Products industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Promotional Products industry in Canada.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Advertising Agencies in Canada
  • Billboard & Outdoor Advertising in Canada
  • Direct Mail Advertising in Canada

Complementors

  • Public Relations Firms in Canada

International industries

  • Promotional Products in the US
  • Advertising Agencies in Australia
  • Promotional Product Distribution in the UK

View all industries in Canada

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.