Jasper Meeks, a printer in Promotional Items Coshocton, Ohio, is considered by myriad to be the originator of the crew when he convinced a local shoe store to supply book bags imprinted with the store name to local schools. Henry Beach, another Coshochton printer and a competitor of Meeks picked up on the concept and presently the two men were selling and printing bags for marbles, buggy whips, card cases, fans, calendars, dry goods caps, aprons and even hats for horses.

• In 1904, twelve manufacturers of promotional luxury articles got together to found the first merchantry association for the industry

• That formation is now down pat as Promotional Products Association International, which currently disappointment amassed than 7,500 global members.