Better for your business – Products to enhance your brand
As marketing professionals, it can be easy to grab a bunch of promo and be done with it. Throw some hats, bags and bottles together and you’ve got yourself a great promotional starter pack. However, you can do more to get the full effect of promotional products. With a simple switch of classic merchandise, you can have products that are better for your business.
In this blog we’ll give you impactful alternatives to common promotional products, to set your brand apart.
Drink Bottles
Plastic bottles are great. Many are made locally. They are an easily accessible and practical promotional product. Most branded bottles are BPA free and come in a range of sizes. Subsequently, they are great for schools, sports teams and community organisations.
Now, if that doesn’t perfectly describe your brand, perhaps plastic drink bottles aren’t for you.
Consider double-walled or copper insulated stainless-steel bottles instead. The mirage bottle is easily adapted with pop and flip lids for casual settings, or powder-coated and engraved for a more corporate feel.
Tote Bags
Non-woven tote bags are a budget favourite. They’re made from polypropylene fibres, bonded through heat, chemical or mechanical processes. The range of available colours, PMS included, and large print space make non-woven bags even more attractive.
However, if you want to say more about your brand than ‘we needed bags’, opt for something different.
Fabric totes, for example. These versatile bags are having a moment as businesses strive to declare their environmental stance. Cotton, jute and bamboo make great long-lasting and natural alternatives. The raw look of unbleached fabric fits the rustic aesthetic that is right on trend at the moment. You can read more about their environmental footprints in our article.
If your look is more modern or minimalist, a clear PVC tote may better suit your brand. Still environmentally conscious; sturdy and highly reusable, this tote is essential for travelers and eventgoers.
Pens
Plastic pens are such a promo staple that it can be hard to think that anything will do the job better. Plastic pens are featured on front desks and given away en masse at trade shows and conferences. They’re cheap, functional and easily branded.
Did you know that promotional pens receive 3000 impressions over their life?
Could anything be better for your business? In short, yes.
Consider a metal promotional pen instead and see how your brand shines. Comparatively, the price isn’t so different to the plastic version. People love the weighted feel of a metal pen in their grip, though. This little detail increases your product’s perceived value and sets your brand apart from competitors. Furthermore, add a well-known, luxury pen maker into the mix and your branded gift will be a treasured item for years to come.
Take a more in-depth look at promotional pens in this article.
Phone Accessories
Thanks to the proliferation of technology in the last 20 years, tech accessories have become a popular choice for promotional products. Using well-priced and universally relevant gadgets as merchandise shows you understand today’s consumers’ pain points.
That being said, while phone grips and phone wallets are affordable and useful, they’re not very exciting for the recipient.
A camera lens phone attachment, on the other hand, will have your customers and employees looking forward to the next opportunity to use it. They’ll then have you to thank for the professional quality of their social media snaps. Reciprocity is a proven marketing strategy, by the way. Not only that, but each time your audience takes it out, they’ll flash your brand.
Caps
Promotional headwear is popular, especially in Australia where sun safety is a must. Consequently, caps and hats are an easy go-to for event giveaways and merch. They’re collector items.
Have you seen a branded hat collection? We have.
On the other hand, it can be hard to separate your products from those already out there. Slight differences in the style or decoration can help, but there’s only so much you can do.
Hats made from recycled PET will be better for your business. And the environment. And your clients. Manufacturing products made from recycled PET bottles, halves carbon emissions and energy. That’s on top of the benefits of removing plastics from the environment.
As a hat, recycled PET fibres are lightweight, durable and woven to allow for moisture wicking. They’re undeniably perfect for sporting events and uniforms. What better way to bring your company values to the forefront, than with a cap that makes a statement.
Better promotional products for your business
Some promotional products are classics for a reason. They are appropriate in a range of situations; they are affordable, and they’re practical long term. However, it is important to remember that each item you choose says something about your brand. If you get that message spot on, then those promotional products will be the best for your business. Don’t be afraid to step away from the conventional, that’s where creativity shines.
At Impact, we know that creativity cuts through the noise. Real products have the power to speak to your audience. That being said, it can be difficult to find the right product in the sea of possibilities. We’ve developed a tool that gives us the right information to find better products for your objectives. We call it the Merch Matcher™.
