Twenty Year Legacy

A Mission That Laid the Foundation for Two Decades of Innovation

Founded with a simple but powerful mission to make promotional advertising easier, smarter and more effective, Executive Advertising began in 2006 as a small entrepreneurial venture rooted in the belief that branded products should be both functional and meaningful for customers. 

From the earliest days, President Stewart Switzer and Rebecca Switzer understood that technology and service must work together to drive real results for businesses seeking to elevate their brands. This commitment propelled the company ahead of many competitors by embracing e-commerce at a time when online retail was still emerging and many promotional companies were heavily reliant on printed catalogs and phone orders.

Executive Advertising’s early adoption of a comprehensive online catalog coupled with hands-on customer support made ordering promotional merchandise more accessible to businesses nationwide. The focus on e-commerce was not just about selling products. It was about reshaping the way organizations approached promotional campaigns, encouraging them to think strategically about branded merchandise as a core component of marketing plans rather than a simple giveaway. Over time this combination of technology, service and innovation helped Executive Advertising grow from a modest startup into a trusted partner for thousands of customers across industries, establishing a legacy of adaptability and client-centric thinking that would set the stage for twenty years of sustained growth.

The Firsts That Started a Legacy

Every major journey begins with a series of firsts that quietly set the tone for future achievements. For Executive Advertising, the original logo was more than just a design. It was a visual representation of the company’s identity, reflecting professionalism and creativity at a time when many promotional suppliers lacked a cohesive brand presence. Similarly the company’s first website launched at a moment when many businesses were still skeptical of digital storefronts. That early online presence was not a polished enterprise platform but it was functional, inviting and groundbreaking within the promotional products space, allowing customers to browse items and place orders with unprecedented ease. 

The very first customer order was for a custom heart-shaped letter opener, a humble product that symbolized the beginning of something much larger. Every order since has added to a narrative of consistent service, trust and long-standing relationships. These early milestones reinforced Executive Advertising’s belief in innovation through technology and customer-focused solutions. Looking back at these firsts reveals not just a history but a set of choices rooted in foresight and optimism that shaped the company’s culture in profound ways.

Growth Through Strategic Moves and Team Expansion

As Executive Advertising matured through the late 2000s and early 2010s, growth was driven by a series of strategic decisions that strengthened the company’s operations and market reach. 

The move from Raleigh, North Carolina to Hendersonville, Tennessee in 2008 exemplified a commitment to finding the right environment for both family and business growth. This relocation not only facilitated deeper community ties but also laid the groundwork for establishing a permanent headquarters and expanding the team.

By 2010 Executive Advertising had hired its first full-time employee in Tennessee and by 2011 the company had secured its first official office space on Main Street in Hendersonville. These early expansions underscored the importance of building a strong internal culture rooted in collaboration, customer service and accountability. 

In 2014 the team began taking real product images and producing in-house full color printing and marketing videos, which elevated how customers experienced and understood promotional products online. Throughout these years of growth, the company continually refined its processes and offerings, creating a solid infrastructure that would support future innovations and allow for responsiveness to industry trends and market demands. 

Over the course of these two decades, Executive Advertising has grown steadily and thoughtfully, expanding its team to a dedicated staff of 15 employees who bring a range of skills, expertise and creativity to ensure the company continues to deliver exceptional service and innovative solutions for its clients.

2 Promotional Products Trends that Transformed the Industry

The promotional products industry did not grow in a vacuum over the last twenty years. Trends emerged that shaped buyer behavior and elevated the profile of branded merchandise as a core marketing tool.

One of the most visible cultural moments was the explosive rise of fidget spinners in 2017. These small handheld toys became a viral sensation across schools, workplaces and trade shows. Promotional professionals quickly recognized their value for brand exposure because they were fun, shareable and in high demand. Companies that customized fidget spinners with logos saw immediate visibility as recipients shared them within their networks. This moment illustrated how promotional products could tap into mainstream cultural trends to drive engagement and awareness in ways that traditional advertising could not match. 

Similarly, the viral popularity of the 40-ounce Stanley Quencher tumbler in 2023 reshaped drinkware from a basic giveaway item into a cultural phenomenon. The Quencher’s appeal went far beyond utility. Its widespread recognition through social media influencer content and limited-edition collaborations made branded versions highly coveted items. This surge in popularity underscored the power of aligning promotional products with consumer passions and interests. Branded Stanley tumblers became coveted incentives for employees, client gifts and event swag. The success of the Stanley Quencher highlighted a broader shift in the industry toward products that deliver both daily value and social currency, showing that promotional merchandise could be part of lifestyle trends rather than just functional peripherals.

Navigating the Pandemic and Pivoting with Purpose

The year 2020 presented challenges unlike anything the promotional products industry had ever faced. With in-person events cancelled, trade shows postponed, and entire economies disrupted around the world, businesses of all sizes were forced to rethink their marketing strategies, and promotional budgets were among the first to tighten. For Executive Advertising, this sudden shift could have meant a pause in momentum, but instead it became a moment to demonstrate resilience, creativity, and a keen understanding of evolving customer needs. Recognizing that the world was entering an unprecedented period of heightened health awareness, the company quickly pivoted its product offerings to meet the immediate and urgent needs of clients. Masks, hand sanitizer, and other health-related items became essential promotional tools, enabling businesses to maintain visibility while prioritizing the safety and well-being of employees and customers. While these products were not traditional marketing items, they provided pragmatic value and became a meaningful way for companies to remain connected with their audiences during a time of social distancing and uncertainty.

At the same time, Executive Advertising leveraged the disruption as an opportunity to strengthen its infrastructure and prepare for the post-pandemic world. The company invested in a full redesign of its website, which launched in 2021, building it from the ground up to improve performance, usability, and overall customer experience. This investment allowed clients to navigate products, place orders, and manage campaigns with greater efficiency, even when traditional in-person sales channels were unavailable. Beyond technology, the pandemic underscored the importance of adaptability, long-term thinking, and strategic foresight. By responding quickly to a changing landscape, Executive Advertising not only supported its clients in a critical moment but also helped redefine the role of promotional products in a world where connection, reassurance, and relevance became as important as branding and visibility. The events of 2020 marked a turning point, demonstrating how adversity could be transformed into opportunity, reshaping the company, the industry, and the way businesses approached promotional marketing for years to come.

Milestones That Shaped the Future

Following the pandemic pivot and website relaunch, Executive Advertising continued to innovate and expand its digital capabilities to provide deeper value to customers. In 2022 the company introduced a live inventory feed on its website, increasing accuracy and confidence in ordering by showing real-time product availability.

In 2023 the company achieved official trademark status, reinforcing brand integrity and solidifying its place in the industry. 

In 2024 Executive Advertising released multiple major innovations including a VIP Membership Program offering free setup and shipping benefits, a 3D promotional product preview tool and a mobile app to bring ease and accessibility to customers on the go. These enhancements demonstrated a commitment to blending technology with service to make promotional campaigns easier to plan and execute. By this time social media had also taken marketing and promotional products by storm, with platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and other short-form video apps creating trends that captured massive audiences overnight. Promotional products could now go viral, gaining attention far beyond traditional channels, and businesses increasingly leveraged these platforms to create shareable, culturally relevant campaigns that combined branded merchandise with trending content.

In 2025, the company expanded its support services with an in-house kitting and fulfillment program, enabling clients to streamline distribution and elevate their marketing initiatives with tailored brand packages. Each of these milestones built upon the ones before, reflecting a pattern of thoughtful growth rooted in listening to customers, anticipating their needs, and staying ahead of both technological and cultural shifts that continue to shape the promotional products industry.

A Celebration and a Look Ahead

As Executive Advertising celebrates twenty years of innovation, service and growth, the company stands firmly rooted in the same purpose that inspired its founding: to make promotional advertising easier, smarter and more effective for every customer it serves. Reaching this milestone represents far more than longevity. It reflects years of trust built through consistent service, thoughtful problem solving and meaningful partnerships with businesses across the country. This anniversary is not only an opportunity to look back with pride on past achievements, but also a moment to look forward with intention and excitement. The company’s journey over the past two decades demonstrates that true success in the promotional products industry is driven by the ability to evolve alongside changing technologies, shifting consumer expectations and emerging marketing trends while never losing sight of what matters most. That success has been shaped by a deep understanding of customer goals, careful attention to detail and a commitment to providing solutions that feel personalized rather than transactional.

Looking ahead, Executive Advertising remains focused on advancing its digital capabilities to make the customer experience even more seamless and intuitive while expanding the services that support clients beyond the product itself. From continued innovation in online tools and ordering experiences to enhanced fulfillment options and creative campaign support, the company is committed to helping businesses build stronger brand connections in increasingly competitive spaces. The story of these twenty years is ultimately a story of resilience, creativity and relationships built on trust. It is a reminder that growth is not only measured by numbers or milestones but by the impact made on the customers and communities served. That mindset will continue to guide Executive Advertising forward, shaping the next chapter with the same passion, integrity and customer-first focus that has defined the past two decades