Stran’s 95% Q2 Growth: What It Signals for the Future of Promotional Products
Big Growth, Bigger Questions
When Stran Promotional Solutions reported a 95% year-over-year sales increase in Q2 2025, reaching $32.6 million, it sent shockwaves through the promotional products industry. Their growth, fueled by acquisitions and a new loyalty segment, shows just how much demand exists for branded merchandise.
However, the story isn’t (just) about revenue. It’s about what kind of promotional partner businesses actually need in this new growth era. And here, the lessons are clear: scale creates visibility, but agility creates value.
The Double-Edged Sword of Scale
Nevertheless, Stran’s numbers are impressive! 80% gross profit growth, $10.8 million in new segment sales, but they come with tradeoffs:
Margins dropped from 32.8% to 30.3%
Operating expenses jumped 44%
Multiple segments mean more complexity, slower decision-making, and standardized solutions
That’s the paradox of corporate growth: the bigger you get, the harder it becomes to stay flexible and personal.
Why Agility Wins in 2025
For businesses investing in promotional products, the future belongs to partners who can move fast, think locally, and tailor solutions and not just churn out volume. This is where smaller, leaner players are rewriting the playbook:
Speed over Scale: The ability to pivot overnight when a client’s needs change.
Relationships over Revenue: Knowing clients by name, not by account number.
Local Expertise over National Reach: Understanding community context that big distributors often overlook.
These aren’t just “nice-to-haves.” They’re the differentiators that drive real ROI on promotional spend.
What the Future Looks Like
Stran’s surge proves our industry is at an inflection point. Here’s where we see promotional products heading next:
Hyper-Personalization: AI and data analytics will ensure the right product reaches the right audience, at the right time.
Sustainability at Scale: Clients will demand eco-conscious options, making local and regional sourcing more attractive.
Experience-Driven Merch: Branded items will increasingly be designed to create moments, not just impressions.
Agility as Strategy: Businesses will value partners who can adapt in days, not quarters.
The Takeaway
All in all, Stran’s growth is great news, it validates the strength of our industry. On the other side, it also highlights a truth: bigger isn’t always better for the end customer. The companies that win in the next chapter of promotional products will be those who combine market opportunity with small-business agility.
In other words, the future of promotional products won’t be defined only on Wall Street. It will be built on Main Street, by partners who put relationships, creativity, and speed at the center of their model.
We’d love to hear from others in the promo and marketing world: Do you think scale or agility will matter more in the next 5 years?
