2011 Year in Review: Politics
President Cuts Federal Promotional Products Spending by 20 Percent
In an executive order signed in November, President Obama directed federal agencies to cut spending on promotional products, referred to as "swag" and "unnecessary promotional items," by 20 percent. "The Executive Order directs agencies to stop wasting taxpayer money on non-essential items used for promotional purposes, such as clothing, mugs, and non-work related gadgets," the White House said in a statement. The budget cuts were heavily covered in the media, with outlets like Politico reporting that most federal agencies spend very little on promotional products, making any savings negligible.
Kyle A. Richardson is the editorial director of Promo Marketing. He joined the company in 2006 brings more than a decade of publishing, marketing and media experience to the magazine. If you see him, buy him a drink.