NEW YEAR TRENDS: Promotional Products in 2021

2021 is an opportunity to strengthen the relationship your brand has built with customers and clients over the year that shall not be named. Last year was about meeting your stakeholders where they were. Because they couldn’t come to you. Promotional Products in 2021 are about looking after your people and their environments. Whether it is by helping them establish a new work-life balance or reducing the use of plastic in their day-to-day. Your brand can make a difference outside of your usual service or product offering. Here are the things that will set your brand apart in 2021.
Notebooks
Work from home (WFH) was a necessity in 2020. And we saw burnout increase due to the blurred lines between work and home. Without the commute to separate the timeframes and physical spaces, people are working harder for longer and ignoring their breaks. We’ve got more screens in front of us for more hours of the day and that fatigues our eyes and brains.
Your clients may be looking for a product to solve this problem for their stakeholders and a notebook is just what they need. A notebook offers the eyes a break from the screen, while keeping up the productivity. Also, the physical action of writing notes means greater information retention and a more organised WFH day.
Read our blog to find out more about why notebooks are a great tool for marketing and in general.
Plastic alternatives
Environmentally friendly promotional products have been one of the top trends for the last five years. It’s time to narrow it down for the big changes that are happening this year. In March 2021 South Australia is banning single use plastic. Straws, cutlery and drink stirrers will be the first to go. Thankfully, plastic alternatives are not difficult to find and branded plastic alternatives are widely available.
You can read more about reusable straws here and enquire about our range of reusable cutlery.
Not only are these reusable bits and pieces better for our environment, but they are also better for our health! We are responsible for their cleaning and carrying and so we are motivated to keep them in good working order. We know what cleaner we use and where the products have been. By looking after our reusable products, we are creating healthy habits and staying away from harmful bacteria.
Apparel
The business traffic slow-down that hit mid-year last year was an invaluable opportunity for many brands and businesses to refresh their look. From Adobe and Ampol to Kmart Tyre and Auto (now MyCar), redefining who you are and what you do is a valuable strategy when so much is changing around you.
Uniforms updates are an exciting part of rebrands, mergers and refreshes. There is an opportunity for your people to look even better, be more comfortable and represent your brand in a more meaningful way. Impact has a wide range of corporate and trade apparel including brands such as Gloweave, Stormtech, Van Heusen and Calvin Klein. View some of our collection on our online catalogue.
Brands have been reaching their customers in their homes with the help of social media. And their promotional product of choice? Apparel. Limited edition socks and hoodies carried brands through COVID, maintaining brand interest and building relationships. We love a giveaway, even more when its something we can curl up in. We predict this trend to continue in 2021 as businesses rebuild their brands and test out their new digital prowess.
Home and Leisure
Working from home since March last year, employees, clients and customers have become comfortable with the new way of doing things. While state guidelines are allowing workers to return to offices slowly, the WFH situation may be hard to give up. The ideal would be a happy medium where work and home are balanced to offer the best of both worlds. For that reason, we know that brands are embracing the home as an important space for their marketing.
Most notably they are looking to products that offer positive experiences in and around the home. Association between the brand and a good time is powerful. It will serve these businesses well into the future. If you’re thinking of doing the same, consider these wholesome, home-centred products.
- Picnic blankets/sets
- Camp chairs
- Games
The world is looking forward to a better year in 2021. Businesses especially are exploring new and better ways to reach customers and serve clients. Promotional products in 2021 are still an effective way to build brand awareness outside of the screen in a world that is increasingly digitally dependent. Put your brand in their hands and watch it grow.
Contact us today for more product ideas and marketing must-haves.