It is no secret the the UK love a festival. In fact it’s been predicted that UK sales of festivals and concerts will hit a huge £2.79 billion this year, and increase to £3.22 billion by 2026. Whether it is a celebration of music, food, literacy, or art (to name a few), there are a magnitude of different local and national festivals to attend and get your brand seen by vast numbers of people. And with pent-up consumer demand for live experiences on the rise following restrictions in 2020 and 2021, they make for a fantastic opportunity to gain maximum brand exposure!
10 Festival Merchandise Ideas
1. Festival Cup
The perfect item to get your brand seen at a festival or concert! These re-usable plastic cups are shatterproof, dish washer safe and recyclable, making them more of a souvenir than a throwaway single use item. They come in half pint and pint sizes with a full wrap around print to make a big impact with your marketing designs!
2. Recycled Whistle
One thing is for sure, when it comes to a festival there is no denying it that they are noisy. Amplify the noise and encourage people to let their hair down with these branded whistles! They are made in the UK from recycled plastic and fully recyclable – so they tick all the sustainable boxes too.
3. Eco Suncare Stick
There’s nothing worse than being sunburnt at a festival, so offer a handy sun care stick which will provide sun protection (SPF 30) for the face and lips. It comes in an ecological push-up container made of cardboard, so good for the environment too!
View prices here.4. Ear Plugs
There is nothing worse than waking up too early after a late night, in a tent from loud music or noise. Rectify that issue with a pair of these branded ear plugs! Team with a branded eye mask and blanket to ensure a great night sleep!
View prices here.5. Powerbanks
Being without your phone at a festival is not ideal, especially if you get lost and need to contact friends, or want to capture the moment with a photo or video! A branded powerbank is the perfect solution. They are small, handy and come in a huge range of styles, colours and sizes.
View all our branded powerbanks here.
6. Foldable Hairbrush with Mirror
Tame those wild locks after days of partying with this foldable hairbrush which also includes a mirror! Get your brand printed up to full colour on the handle to remind the receiver of your company!
7. Foldable Bamboo Fan
For hot summer festivals, in the midst of a bustling crowd of people, you will do anything for a breeze of fresh air! Welcome to the foldable fan! It may be old school but ‘if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it’! Plus your potential customers will be very pleased with you for giving it to them!
8. Poncho
UK festivals can often be wet, or have wet showers even in the midst of summer. Be the lifesaver in a storm by offering a waterproof poncho in branded packaging. Colour co-ordinate with your brand colour and the word will spread quickly about your super hero credentials!
View prices here.9. Hat/Cap
A popular piece of festival clothing is a branded hat/cap. Not too bulky and very useful to protect festival goers against strong sunrays when shade is not easily accessible. Plus, the ideal way to cover up messy festival hair!
View all our hats and caps here.
10. Cross Chest Bag
Make a big impression with a high quality cross chest bag! There are many styles to choose from and incorporate a shoulder strap for comfort. Carry all your festival essentials in this small bag – and there is even room for a water bottle too. This could be a very special pre-festival gift to encourage VIPs to sign up or as a reward for signing up to a service plan or purchasing a big ticket item at a festival stand.
View prices here.Why invest in festival merchandise?
Raise brand awareness
The number one reason to invest in festival merchandise is to maximise your brand reach and engagement. With such a huge audience of potential clients in one place at one time, getting your brand out there is an opportunity not to be missed! By offering or selling festival merchandise with your brand logo on and a call to action, those potential clients are likely to remember your company well after the event itself. What’s more, you will be aligning your brand with good vibes and great memories of what is for many people a highlight of their year.
Increase your earnings
Organising a festival or festival event is expensive. One way to compensate the cost of the event itself is by selling merchandise with the festival logo on. Equally, if you have a stand at a festival to promote your product or service, by selling merchandise with a genuine use for a festival (like sun cream, sunglasses, hand sanitiser or hang over kits), you can help to recover your costs.
Security
Again, for those putting on a festival, branded wristbands or lanyards are essential identifiers which can be offered to customers who have been checked in to the event. They act as an instant visual aid for festival security and will ensure a smooth, successful event. It is now possible to choose eco-friendly wristbands and lanyards too, made with recycled PET and branded up with your artwork and logo. Silicone wristbands make a great durable marketing giveaway.
See our event essentials here.
What is the draw of merchandise at festivals?
We like a souvenir
Having a souvenir from a festival is a great way to remember and look back at the great memories made. Many souvenirs become collectable and are bought year after year. Think wristbands, badges, keyrings and magnets, right up to wearable items like t-shirts, hats and hoodies – there are so many souvenir style merchandise options to choose from.
To be part of something bigger
As humans we tend to want to be part of a collective, and belong to a group of people with similar interests and values. By owning a piece of festival merchandise and having it on display, whether on our person or by broadcasting it on our social media, we are able to easily identify and connect with others who also experienced the event.
It can be a life saver
Another more practical reason for the popularity of festival merchandise is that when given out at the opportune moment, they can be extremely useful. Giveaways like mints, ponchos, sunglasses, hand sanitisers, blankets, heat pads, toothbrushes, eye masks (the list goes on and on!) will not only make our lives easier and more comfortable at a festival but could be life savers!
How to make the most our of your festival merchandise
Maximise the impact of your stand
Whether you have a merchandise stand or are promoting your product/service, making sure your space is clean, inviting and professional is a must to create the right impression. Promotional display banners, flags and tablecloths will help to bring together a cohesive brand image. Dedicated photo backdrops with printed hashtags are a good way to encourage people onto your stand so they can take photos and share with the world on social media. Creating specific areas for merchandise will help potential customers to get an instant impression of what you have on offer. Let’s face it, there are plenty of stands to peruse and we only have a limited attention span! If a stand is too confusing, people tend to switch off and move on.
Draw in the crowds with a freebie
One way to make sure the crowds flock to your stand, is by offering a free gift. Have your sales people get out there with the festival goers, and spread the word about what’s on offer if they visit your stand! Freebies don’t need to cost the earth either, something as simple as a pack of branded sweets, a bottle of water, energy drinks or bottle openers can be the difference between clinching that initial conversation or not. You could also offer a freebie as an incentive if they were to buy a higher valued item such as festival clothing or a branded gadget.
Make sure you stand out
A question we often get asked is can you source me something quirky, an unusual promotional gift. With an occasion like a festival, it is the perfect canvas to get creative and have some fun with your merchandise! Depending on your branding and budget, you could really go to town with a giveaway and your marketing message, and get everyone talking. Fun and nostalgic items like whistles, fans, bubbles, face paints, tubs of ice cream or spoon/forks could be just the trick to draw in all of those potential customers. You can also have them made in rHips.b a sustainable and biodegradable material if you are looking for an eco-friendly option.
Have a variety of merchandise
If you are selling merchandise at a festival, make sure you don’t alienate or put anyone off by offering a range of merchandise at different price points. Lower cost items like lip balms and ear plugs can be displayed at the front of your stand so passers by aren’t intimidated. You can then offer mid priced merchandise like flip flops, reusable drinkware and powerbanks right up to gift packs, Bluetooth speakers and the mandatory festival t-shirt or hoodie!
If you are still in need of festival merchandise ideas, please get in touch with our experienced team of promotional product experts.
Read Next: Unusual Promotional Gifts
Please note this blog has been updated from the original post May 2022.
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