The term wearables can mean different things to different people. To much of the tech-savvy world, “wearable” usually means any sort of gadget you might wear on your head, arm or even your waist. Wearable devices might pump out music, make phone calls, or serve up useful data. Items like the Fitbit and the Apple watch are changing how we work, play and live. They are also somewhat of a fashion statement for those on the cutting-edge. From a financial perspective, wearable items are driving heavy investments and revenues.

For those of us steeped in marketing, advertising and promoting small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in a competitive and ever-changing market, “wearables" can mean something different.

We’ve become accustomed to presenting SMB customers with the means to boost their reputations and business names, through branded and logoed promotional products, which includes hard goods and wearables. Traditionally, these kinds of “wearables” include classic items like t-shirts, outerwear, hats and caps, as well as campy and unusual products like ugly holiday sweaters or the branded fanny packs.

Now it looks like now these two worlds have collided. This month in Advantages magazine, the Advertising Specialty Institute featured an article about “6 Supercharged Pedometers”. These wearables are becoming popular additions to the branded apparel mix for SMBs.

Some are solar-powered and others run on batteries. Light, sleek and water-resistant wearables like these enable people to count calories, track steps and monitor sleep. More advanced models from companies like Leed’s, Hammacher Schlemmer and Acehigh, can also connect with BlueTooth to help their owners receive texts and other data. It all depends on how hi-tech you want your wearables to be.

As we’ve reported before, tech-related giveaways are a growing category among businesses that showcase at trade shows. The Advertising Specialty Institute reports generally that tech-related items have as much staying power as traditional specialty advertising. For example, 11% of Americans already own and use branded USB drives, and the number is even higher in Spain, as 34% of Madrid residents surveyed own a promo USB drive. Along the same lines, a 2016 study by ASI says USB drives are one of the top promo products along with outerwear, drinkware, writing instruments and sportswear.

Other voices such as Steve Randazzo, a contributor to the Trade Show News Network, wrote that it’s not so much about the items that are chosen. Now, it’s more about SMBs having purposes for their promotional products. “Give your audience something they need,” Randazzo writes. “Remember, this is something your customer plans to have in his or her home for years to come. Be proud of what you’re offering, and make sure it reflects the right brand image.”

From simple devices like the USB drive to the more advanced wearable tech pieces like the Fitbit, portability is an attribute that is increasingly important. Although recent reports question the accuracy of Fitbit’s most recent model, the popular product (along with its imitators and rivals) results in a market capitalization of over $6 billion for Fitbit alone.

More importantly, anything tech-related that is portable and can be put to use is here to stay. While ownership and use of desktop and laptop computers has remained flat from 2004 to 2005, the Pew Center reports that ownership of tablet devices has risen to 45 percent among adults in the last five years. Meanwhile, smartphone ownership was at 35 percent in 2011 and has skyrocketed to 68 percent.

Ever since 1965, Moore’s Law has hinted that as technology keeps advancing, its costs will keep falling in multiples. Now, it’s probably true that not every SMB will be giving out smartphones or tablets to the masses at trade shows anytime soon. But the appeal of wearable technology continues to grow.

Businesses can keep their brands at the forefront of this demand from consumers by offering tech-related promotional products featuring their logos. With items such as pedometers, smartphone accessories, earphones and even USB drives, you can help your customers tap people’s natural interest in tech by offering items everyone will want and use.

We can help you make the most of these tech wearables by creating top quality embroidery digitizing and vector artwork files so your customers’ brands are spotlighted for the life of the products.