Headwear Promotions That Fit the Bill

Pull a rabbit out of your hat. At the drop of a hat. As mad as a hatter. Throw your hat in the ring. Keep it under your hat. Old hat.

There are quite a few expressions about headwear. Some good, some bad. Perhaps it's because there’s nothing like a favorite hat. For many, they're collectibles, and the style options are constantly increasing. No doubt about it: People love a great hat.

"People tend to hang on to a cap and wear it," says Yvette Acevedo, marketing manager for Otto International Inc. in Ontario, Calif. "There are so many options from inexpensive giveaway caps to custom caps that can be decorated endlessly. The creativity nowadays is virtually limitless."

With the inherent love of headwear, the immense options and the opportunity for large orders, headwear makes for great promotions, too. "It provides an ideal billboard to promote names, logos and ideas to the masses," says Mark Stern, vice president of sales for Hicksville, N.Y.-based Flexfit.

The visibility is often cited as one of the advantages of headwear promotions. "It’s one of the few promotional products that is worn in a location that is prominently visible across all ages and genders," adds Janet Franklin, marketing manager with Outdoor Cap Co. in Bentonville, Ark. "Headwear is such a reflection of an individual’s identity that it’s easy to translate an event’s or a company’s identity by selecting the right headwear for their promotional tool."

Typically, when we think of hats, we picture the baseball variety. But markets that require something out of the ordinary can still find a great headwear promotion with cowboy hats, foam sports-themed selections, beanies, top hats, straw caps or visors — just to name a few. Often, the more niche varieties are not the biggest sellers, but they can hit just the target your client is aiming for.

With so many options available for the most popular headwear varieties, you’ve got to be on top of the latest fashions. "Today’s trends range from comfortable worn looks, with distressed visors and garment washed materials to performance materials," Acevedo says.

Suppliers report that people are also leaning toward anything eco-friendly. "Sustainable headwear is the buzz right now," Franklin says. "Not only is it cool to go green, but wearing stylish headwear made from sustainable materials is a way for individuals to identify themselves with the movement and still maintain their individuality." Additionally, knit beanies for men and women of all ages are seen almost everywhere, regardless of the season, she adds.

Fortunately, headwear has proven to appeal to a broad range of clients — immense options provide something for everyone. "I would be hard-pressed to name an industry that hasn’t chosen headwear for a promotional item at one time or another," Franklin maintains. "However, industries that require