Selecting the best promotional items to showcase your brand can be a daunting task, especially once you realise the grand-scale of merchandise available at your disposal. Tackle this head-on by looking at the most popular promotional products that consumers keep and repeatedly use.
We have curated a list of ideas below to kick-start your campaign, along with some helpful pointers to secure your confidence in promotional merchandise.
10 Best Corporate Merchandise Ideas
1. Eco-Friendly Promotional Products
Products designed to have little or no damaging effect on the environment!
This earth-friendly marketing tool provides a reflection of your company and the image you intend to project. As well as raising awareness, you are sharing your commitment to the environment with your prospects, customers, partners, suppliers, and employees.
Made from numerous recycled materials, including Cardboard and PET, along with biodegradable materials such as cotton and bamboo, you are showcasing your contribution towards reducing the total amount of plastic waste.
Sustainability is trending, with nearly half of all consumers (46%) having a more favourable opinion of your brand if your promo products are environmentally friendly. With consumers, ever-increasing social conscious around sustainable items, make sure your green campaigns align with your eco-friendly philosophy!
2. Promotional Keyrings
Looking for something practical, versatile, and useful? Promotional keyrings might be the answer. Custom keyrings are the ideal portable product that your customer can freely carry around, making it the perfect item to keep your marketing message simple, straightforward, and always on the move.
Promotional keyrings are not only eye-catching, but they’ll get used by your customers every day. They also have a very long life span, providing a fantastic opportunity for brand awareness, along with being cost-effective and easy to distribute. You can place whatever design, colour, or pattern you want!
3. Promotional Tote Shopper Bags
Customised tote bags are one of the most popular promotional products on the market, as they can be designed, manufactured, and printed with your company logo at a low price with a fast and efficient production time.
Not only are they good for the environment, they are the perfect product to accompany you at any conference, trade show, team meeting, and public event. So ditch the plastic bags and replace them with a high-quality reusable one instead! With 73% of consumers owning custom reusable bags, they are bound to attract prospects in your next marketing campaign!
4. Promotional Headphones
With the widespread use of new technology (most notably smartphones) and their indispensable nature in our day-to-day lives, why not feel those decibels with some promotional headphones? The ultimate companion when listening to your music, movies, television, radio, audiobooks, and even those pesky online meetings!
For those tech-savvy lovers out there, wireless earbuds and headphones have also become one of the most popular choices in branded merchandise, allowing your audience to listen to music in greater quality.
There are so many versatile and affordable options to choose from, drawing a huge appeal and boasting an incredibly wide reach. 87% of people use headphones to listen to music alone, making their value sky-rocket!
5. Promotional Hats
Hats are more than just a fashion accessory; they act as both a functional yet stylish product, providing your head with ample comfort and protection. You can choose from many different styles and designs including baseball caps, bucket hats, and beanies; the list goes on!
63% of consumers keep promotional hats because they’re attractive, so be sure to select the perfect hat to complement your brand message and identity. Hat space is plentiful to showcase your logo, with a panoramic display to let your cap do the talking.
6. Promotional Speakers
Give your clients the audio therapy they deserve with a promotional speaker! Including many different products to amplify your brand, from Bluetooth, Bamboo, Vinyl, and Conference speakers, your promotional speaker won’t just be used in the office. They can be used in conferences, presentations, and even at home!
Speakers are mainly used in group settings, meaning more people to build up an impression of your brand! 72% of consumers believe that the quality of a promotional product is directly related to the reputation of the company, and many speaker designs are sleek with stunning audio quality, catering to the more high-tech consumer demands to really flaunt your brand. Music is the ultimate mood booster no matter the demographic, so this handy gadget is sure to turn heads.
7. Branded Snacks
Promote your business… and eat it too! From sweets, chocolates, snacks, and drinks. This is the perfect giveaway to satisfy the sweet toothed recipients of yours at any exhibition, event, conference, and meeting. Stamp your logo onto your branded food and let your audience appreciate a tasty snack that creatively represents your company.
Confectionary packaging is diverse, allowing free roam for your logo and colour scheme to take centre stage. Along with customisable and reusable containers, your logo will continue to get advertising exposure long after you finish your indulgent treats.
8. Branded T-Shirts
A promotional t-shirt serves as a timeless classic as well as an integral form of clothing that is used every single day. T-shirts come in various designs and colours suitable for any type of setting, providing opportunity to boost your brands visibility whilst also making a fashion statement.
Branded t-shirts are both useful and likable gifts that never go out of style, and can be sported by anyone, of any age or gender. With the ability to be personalised for an individual, organisation or branded for a company/business, when you brandish your customised tee you’re essentially a walking billboard. Brand recall is at its highest for apparel items, with 85% of people remembering the advertiser, and 47% of consumers holding onto a promotional t-shirt for 2 years or longer.
9. Promotional Awards
From employee of the month, to top performers, peer recognition and work anniversaries, promotional awards are the perfect gift to showcase not only your brand but your appreciation towards the recipient.
Not only do they make people feel valued, but giving someone a recognition gift also turns them into your brand ambassador, sharing the acknowledgment that you’ve presented with others and giving them an incentive to boast about your company. 80% are more likely to make recommendations to others about your brand or service after receiving a promotional product!
With ample space to engrave your logo, they also come in a number of different shapes and styles, including crystal, glass and wood, and can even be presented as medals! All ready to be customised with your logo and branding, along with individual names, dates and details.
10. Promotional Travel Products & Kits
One of the largest areas of promotional merchandise, where your brand travels with you all over the world! From travel bags and luggage tags, to travel toothbrushes and toiletry bags, promotional travel items are essential for any person on the go.
Everyone has their own pre-departure checklists, and these products are designed to tick all of those boxes. Don’t forget, 85% of consumers think that a products usefulness is key to their purchasing decision, so if these products make your client’s time away more stress-free you’re onto a winner!
View Promotional Travel Products.
Popular Promotional Merchandise Items
As well as the above 10 Best Promotional Items Ideas, we thought it would be useful to recap on the most Popular Merchandise. Popular items can be driven by market trends and quirky products that go viral like the branded popping fidget toy for example.
Changes in working environments can also have an effect on which merchandise is a hit. Working from home and the rise of virtual events has had a massive impact on the type of promotional products sold, with many opting for letterbox friendly business gifts and pick-me-up morale boosting care packages.
But there are a several key items when it comes to commonly selected, popular merchandise. They have lasted the test of time and are proven to create an impressive return on investment:
- Pens – of course! Printed or engraved with your logo and CTA’s.
- Bags – extremely useful when it comes to shopping and travel.
- Drinkware – from the classic ceramic mug to travel mugs, flasks and sports bottles.
Below we outline these three classic go-to branded products for you as well as a short video by our MD James Biggin.
3 Most Popular Merchandise Items
1. Promotional Pens
Of course, the promotional pen. Where would we be without it? The pen is by far the most popular branded product. Not only an affordable option, with costs as low as 16p per pen, promotional pens are almost guaranteed to be used on a daily basis. And in a number of places – be it at home, work, on the go.
In fact, pens printed with your logo are kept an average of nine months, and during this time your brand could be seen around three thousand times! It is also said that a pen has four owners on average in its lifetime; so there is scope to suggest that the pen offers even more brand exposure than you may originally think.
From a marketing perspective, given a branded pen’s low cost, you can afford to take a more scattergun approach with mass volume give-aways. They are ideal to give out at events, exhibitions and trade shows. Branded pens also make a useful companion to a notepad, diary, or pencil case printed or embossed with your company logo and branding message.
See our pen gift sets category for some ideas.
Types of Promotional Pens
There are so many options when it comes to promotional pens! Ranging from plastic ball pens, stylus pens, and metal pens to antibacterial pens, banner pens and pens made from wheat straw, bamboo and even stone! Whether you want your brand singing out in bright full colour or subtly engraved, there will be an option for you.
Promotional pens don’t have to just be a cheap and cheerful corporate giveaway. If you are looking for a more executive, classy pen to mirror your brands prestige, look no further than an engraved pen from the likes of Parker, Sheaffer and Waterman. Many of which are presented in a high quality gift box or really impress with a pen set.
View all our Promotional Pens.
2. Promotional Bags
Promotional Shopping Bags
Another extremely popular promotional product – the branded bag. Available in all shapes, sizes, materials and with a large branding area; promotional bags are a go-to item when it comes to promoting your company. The UK legislation introduced in 2015 to charge for single-use plastic bags has seen a massive increase of interest in our ‘bags-for-life‘ and eco-friendly promotional bags. And from May 2021 all businesses of all sizes are legally required to charge a minimum of 10p per single-use carrier bag. With such an incentive to use our own reusable shopping bags, investing in a branded bag with your logo on is a sure way to expose your brand and marketing message time and time again. You can browse all eco-friendly promotional products here.
Promotional shopping bags are also a fantastic giveaway at exhibitions, events and tradeshows. Not only are they useful to hold other promotional gifts, leaflets and pamphlets needed for the event, they also act as a walking billboard – promoting your brand to all the delegates. Our drawstring bags are another great low cost alternative branded bag to give out at events and shows. Being lightweight and easy to carry, they will appeal to many and be used well beyond the event itself.
Promotional Travel Bags
Your brand can also be printed or embroidered onto backpacks, travel bags, and sports bags. Whether you are running a fitness or wellbeing campaign to promote health, or are in the leisure and hospitality/education industries, a high quality promotional bag will grab attention and leave lasting impressions of your brand.
Promotional Business Bags
For those of you who work in a corporate environment, our laptop/tablet bags and business bags could be the perfect fit. Ideal for holding all the information, pens, lanyards and other items needed at a conference, perfect as an incentive or even a welcome gift for new employees.
To find out more about promotional bags, browse our online collection or get in touch with our team, we would be happy to explore the options that would best suit your brand.
3. Promotional Drinkware
Branded Mugs & Cups
Forever a beloved promotional item – the branded ceramic mug! With the UK drinking 165 million cups of tea a day and 70 million cups of coffee, it is not surprising that the traditional mug is high up on the list of promotional must-haves. Perfect for those who work in offices or indoors, a mug branded with your company logo and call to action will get seen multiple times every day. Often a talking point in the workplace, a mug with a creative design or interesting quote will mean your brand is literally on your target markets lips. Just when your client is in need of your product or services, your branded mug with your contact details on will be within reach. And don’t forget, a matching branded coaster will complement your promotional mug nicely!
Also on offer now is the revolutionary MugSafe® packaging system which prevents breakages when delivered to your chosen destination.
Branded Travel Mugs & Flasks
Promotional drinkware has come into its own of recent years. With advancements in material technology allowing cool drinks to stay cool and hot drinks warmer for longer, a branded travel mug or flask is a popular merchandise choice. Like the charge on single-use plastic bags, we are being encouraged to use reusable mugs to try and cut the amount of disposable coffee cups going into landfill. Many high street coffee chains and cafes provide a monetary discount to those who bring their own cup. With the trend towards sustainable options, travel mugs and drinkware that is made from recycled materials, can be reused and recycled both back up any eco marketing messages you wish to promote and provide brand exposure for years afterwards.
Branded Sports Bottles
As well as demonstrating your eco-credentials, reusable drinkware is an excellent marketing tool to promote a health and wellbeing message. With water making up two thirds of our body, keeping hydrated is vital to staying healthy. Promotional sports bottles will convey this message to both your clients and team alike.
From grip jogger bottles, aluminium sports bottle with twist on lids and carabiners, to stainless steel double walled thermal bottles; there is a lot of choice. Depending on your budget we have a massive range of bottles that can be branded with a subtle engraved logo, a one spot colour print right up to a full colour wraparound print. Aligning your brand to a product that will make the user feel good whilst using it, will more than likely create positive associations with your brand!
Should I Choose Popular Merchandise?
Knowing that these types of promotional merchandise are popular might not always mean they are the right choice for your brand. What might work for one company, might not always be appropriate for another, and the same goes for one marketing campaign to another.
The key to selecting the right merchandise for your brand is to ensure that your target market, budget and end goal or message is fully understood. That is where promotional product experts like ourselves come in. We will spend time challenging the thought process, placing popular choices as well as ones that don’t immediately spring to mind. This “mix” of ideas allows you to compare products, whittle down your selection and be confident your choice is the right one for your brand.
Why Use Promotional Merchandise?
You should utilise Promotional Merchandise as it creates a lasting impression of your business amongst your customers, whilst also raising your profile by generating a number of brand impressions onto others that come into contact with your branded items. Their reach is broad, and can be seen by friends, family members, co-workers, and passers-by, so your message is being seen by an endless amount of people!
Using promotional merchandise enhances the relationship between your customers/clients as you are investing in products that will cast your company in a good light. Promotional products are targeted, granting you control over the distribution and allows you to focus on people who are interested in your product or service and those most loyal to your brand.
You can also create a huge buzz around your company by thinking outside of the box and providing something that your customers need in order to stand out against competitors. Don’t just go for the same old boring products that everyone else is using, by using creative promotional merchandise you are helping potential customers familiarise themselves with your company’s brand and offerings.
Where Can Merchandise Be Used?
There are many different ways to use promotional products, including customer loyalty rewards, employee appreciation gifts, at events and conferences, trade show giveaways, thank you gifts, corporate meeting gifts, sales incentives, holiday party gifts, and so much more!
You could create a give-away promotional item to celebrate a new product launch, or maybe promote branded items in an effort to incentivise or modify certain behaviours. You can also leverage your merchandise to develop greater relationships with key stakeholders, such as employees, investors or partners, the list is endless. Merchandise can also be used to raise funds for charities in order to maintain a strong identity and attract attention to your cause.
So Is Promotional Merchandise Worth It?
Promotional merchandise provides many opportunities to build your brand’s exposure. If you think a certain event would be great for giving away promotional items, go ahead and do it! Promo merch is both cheap and direct, delivering fast results with effects that last.
Though, remember to choose the right products for both your brand and your intended audience. Trends come and go, so whichever products used to work for your business won’t necessarily carry over in the future. Evaluate your target market, budget and end goal to give yourself that competitive edge, and impress customers and business associates alike with your new-found appreciation for promotional merchandise.
We hope you have enjoyed this blog on The Best Promotional Items and it has sparked some ideas for your next marketing campaign! If you would like to discuss your brand and what you are wanting to achieve, our team of promotional experts can guide you to the perfect solution. Contact us here.
Please note this blog was updated from previous post June 2020.
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