While cotton's rising prices have received a lot of attention, the cost of copper could ultimately be more troubling for the promotional products industry and manufacturing as a whole.
Unlike cotton, copper is not a renewable resource. There is a finite amount of copper on the planet, and while the majority of it is able to be reused, there is an upper limit on the volume available. And while there is a cap on the amount, the demand is unlimited: copper demand is increasing four times faster than mining can produce it. As with cotton, a great deal of this demand is due to China, which is increasing demand by 15 percent annually.
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.