When times are tough the first thing ditched from budgets is promotional products. It's a common story across many industries in Australia. That's why after three hard years with declining client budgets we are delighted to report that the beginning of 2014 is the best in years. Enquiry rate, sales, website views and reorders from inactive clients have been beyond what was seen last year. Great news for the Australian economy and Fresh Promotions!

Also interesting is the product classes at which enquiry is focussed. The hot Summer is encouraging marketers to look at beverage solutions, classic products like umbrellas. But it's not the hot weather which is driving sales. Hot weather is traditionally revenue neutral for the promotional products industry while cold snaps and inclement weather forces buyers into action.

The trend towards higher expenditure has come from industry sectors which in recent years have scaled back investment. At the same time the mining companies and large engineering projects which have been the focus of much economic development have declined slightly as a percentage of business.

It's small and medium sized businesses which are leading the charge in 2014. Government continues to lag in terms of enquiry and redistribution of tax revenue to the business community. As always, it's the small companies run by entrepreneurs which are dragging Australia out of the business doldrums.

It's all good news in the early days of 2014. If trends continue 2014 looks like being the best year the Australian business community has enjoyed since the 2008 GFC.