Effective branded merchandise is not simply a case of sticking your logo on a piece of stationery and hoping for the best. It’s a multifaceted promotional tool that begins with finding the right product.
In creating branded merchandise, companies will often target cheap, bulk items. But these are ubiquitous, especially at events, and most end up in the trash.
The best items are useful, relevant products that recipients will use both at the event and when they return home. Quality pens are a great example, as are power banks, as many attendees need to charge their devices and will appreciate anyone who helps them do that.
If you’re targeting marketing campaigns, you need to think a little differently.
For promotional campaigns, choose items that tie to the business as well as the promotion. It could be bamboo drinkware for campaigns that emphasize your eco-friendly approach, for example.
Apparel is a good option for employees. It’s not just a branded tee or hoodie—it’s a uniform that promotes brand awareness, enhances company culture, and shows customers that you’re professional.
The ROI of a branded merchandise campaign is often hard to measure. You don’t get detailed analytics on clicks, engagement, and lead costs like you do with many online marketing campaigns.
But that doesn’t make it any less effective.
A well-executed merchandise campaign drives immense growth and visibility. You’ll encourage more customers and appease existing ones, all while getting your brand seen.
You create 100 branded hoodies and give them out at an event. They were expensive, but they’re good quality, so most recipients are happy to wear them. Every time they wear that hoodie, they’re exposing your brand. Effectively, you have a squad of people flashing your logo and message to everyone they pass at the event, on the street, and in the office.
They may keep that hoodie for years, adding up to a lot of organic advertising. What’s more, unlike a strategically placed billboard or online advert, your brand is being seen in everyday situations.
Who doesn’t love a freebie? Give a prospective customer some branded apparel and they’ll want to return the favor, potentially by exchanging details or buying your products/services. Give it to an existing customer and they’ll stick around, showing you their appreciation in the form of a higher lifetime value.
Branded merchandise gets you noticed during promotional events and conferences. It helps you to stand out from a crowd of brands all vying for attention. If it’s useful, high quality, and well-presented, it could be the difference maker.
Usable, everyday items are the most popular branded merchandise. But popular isn’t necessarily a good thing. You want to stand out, after all.
Many promotional items are cheaply made and poorly branded. Companies opt for simple tees and accessories with a copy-and-paste brand name. To stand out, choose higher-quality items, such as cotton tees and hoodies, and use understated yet stylish branding.
You want to get your message out there, but if it’s big and garish, no one will wear it.
Reusable, eco-friendly drinkware has gone down really well in recent years. In place of plastic, disposable cups and tumblers, brands are opting for glass and stainless steel. As we’ve seen with Stanley and Starbucks, customers will fully embrace a brand if the drinkware is high quality, limited, and collectable.
Other ideas include tote bags and office products. Tote bags are especially useful for events, as customers can use them to store all other gifts, while office products could find a permanent home on desks.
Although expensive, gadgets can be a show-stealing gift. Power banks are an excellent choice. They’re simple, but useful, with event attendees often desperate for something to charge their devices. Protective phone cases go down well, and customers also love phone and laptop stickers if they are well-designed.
To step things up for executive clients or VIPs, invest in luxury merchandise. We can help you to source clothing and accessories from designer brands, putting your name right alongside fashion and tech heavyweights. They’re expensive, but what’s a $100 gift to a client that could generate 6-figures of revenue?
Launching an effective branded merchandise campaign begins with some quality swag and ends with capable fulfillment providers. Here’s how to get started:
Think about your customers for a moment.
How old are they? What do they like? Young, tech-focused customers may appreciate a power bank, but for older, tech-phobic customers, it’s a waste of money.
Consider the event or campaign, focusing on items that are relevant and useful; items they will use now and in the future.
Once you find the product, design your branding. A simple, bold font won’t suffice; include your logo and message where possible, and create a unique design. The more information you include, the more you need to work on the design. Customers don’t want to be walking billboards, but will happily do it if they like the design.
Branded merchandise companies like Foxtrot Marketing do all of the work for you. We can help you find the right products, create your design, and ship orders. We work on campaigns of all sizes and offer various website solutions for direct ordering.
Branded merchandise supports marketing campaigns, encourages loyalty, and gives you more impactful exposure at events.
The best products are the ones customers can use now and in the future. They include quality apparel, accessories, drinkware, and office products.
A branded merchandise hub is a centralized hub where businesses can manage inventory, orders, and shipments. Enterprise scale branded merchandise providers like Foxtrot Marketing offer various solutions for companies and campaigns of all sizes.