Once upon a time, a company would slap its logo on a pen, maybe a stress ball, and call it a day. Simple. Predictable. Safe. But safe doesn’t exactly cut it in a world where #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt racks up billions of views and suddenly everyone is emotionally attached to a cup the size of a toddler.
Welcome to the chaos—and opportunity—of TikTok-driven promo trends.
The Stanley cup effect: when hydration becomes a personality trait
Let’s start with the obvious elephant (or rather, oversized tumbler) in the room: the Stanley cup. No, not the hockey one—the $50+ stainless steel one that has people queueing like it’s a limited-edition sneaker drop. How did a rugged camping brand’s cup become the “it” accessory of soccer moms, influencers, and desk dwellers alike?
Simple: TikTok. Videos of people organising their lives, their bags, their entire existence around this cup turned it from functional to aspirational. And guess what? Now, every promo product catalogue has some kind of premium, colour-coordinated tumbler because staying hydrated but make it aesthetic is a vibe people can’t resist. (By the way, yes—we’ve obviously got Stanley tumblers on our website.)
Tip: It’s not just about slapping your logo on any cup—it’s about picking products people are already obsessed with and making your brand part of the story.
Nostalgia reloaded: retro merch, TikTok style
TikTok has a thing for reviving old trends—but louder, flashier, and with a bit of irony. Slap bracelets, chunky 90s keychains, bucket hats, smiley-face everything… suddenly, it’s all back and cooler than ever.
The genius? Retro merch isn’t just fun—it’s instantly recognisable and shareable. Give someone a neon accessory or pixel-art keyring, and they’re not only using it, they’re probably posting about it too.
It’s not about reinventing the wheel—it’s about tapping into what people are already sharing, wearing, and unboxing online. Whether it’s a classic design or a cheeky throwback twist, the goal is the same: get people talking, posting, and remembering where they got it.
Classic is fine. Viral is better.
Now, don’t get us wrong—there’s a reason why the promo staples (think pens, totes, mugs) are timeless. They’re reliable, useful, and universally appreciated. We love them. You probably love them. Your customers definitely love them.
But trends move fast, and attention spans move faster. That’s where a little strategy comes in. What if, alongside the classics, you sprinkled in something unexpected? A gadget, a retro piece, a quirky item that’s already lighting up feeds. Suddenly, you’re not just handing out merch—you’re handing out something shareable. At IGO Promo, we don’t just stock what’s safe. We keep tabs on what’s trending, what’s getting liked and looped, and what’s flying off shelves for a reason. That way, you get the best of both worlds: the reliable favourites and the fresh, attention-grabbing stuff that’ll have people asking, “Where’d you get that?”