Two main business categories make up the promotional products industry:

Suppliers make up the production end of the industry. They are firms that manufacture, import, convert, imprint, or otherwise process the wearables, writing instruments, recognition awards, business gifts, and other items offered for sale through the promotional products distributor.

Distributors develop ideas for the use of promotional products as an advertising medium, buys such items from suppliers and sells them to advertisers (Promotion Buyer/Clients).

"Promotion buyers/clients" purchase promotional products from distributors, who place the order with the appropriate supplier. After the order is processed and produced, the supplier ships it to the client under the distributor's mailing label. The distributor then pays the supplier and bills the client who ordered the promotional products.