The hISTORY OF pROMOTIONAL pRODUCTS

Commemorative buttons are the first known promotional products in the U.S., traced back to 1789, when George Washington was elected president. Advertising calendars, wooden specialties and the Farmers' Almanac date back to the early and mid 1800s. The latter part of the 19th century is when an abundance of promotional products were developed and marketed, leading to the birth of the industry as it's known today.

Jasper Freemont Meek, a small newspaper owner in Coshocton, Ohio, became the earliest significant contributor to this industry by simply looking for a way to supplement revenue between editions of his newspaper.

In partnership with a local shoe store owner, Meek imprinted "Buy Cantwell Shoes" on a burlap bag for school children to carry their books. Meek went on to start his own successful promotional products company, The Tuscarora Advertising Company.

Living in Texas Gary Rugoff loves to add that Bumper Stickers were created by the nationally famous Radio Pioneer Gorden McClenden who lived in Dallas.  We can't forget that every cow and ranch gate has a brand (aka logo).