A promotional product (branded merchandise) is a product or physical item that is branded with your business logo and information to help spread your business’s message; and to attract more customers.
These products can be almost anything, from t-shirts and bags to kitchen utensils or sports gear. The products you choose will depend on what kind of business you have and your target audience.
Usually, companies will use promotional products as free giveaways at trade shows or in-store to help their business stand out to potential consumers and aid in customer retention and brand awareness.
Branded merchandise can increase general brand awareness of your organisation, which in turn aids your business’s growth. The more your logo can be seen by consumers, the more awareness of your brand there will be.
Imagine you own a bakery and you’re offering the “world’s best cookie”, you’re going to want to shout about it, aren’t you? This is where promotional products come in!
Scenario: you offer a free branded tote bag to a customer with their purchase. The bag reads “World’s Best Cookie” with your amazing logo and brand name. As they go about their day, everyone sees the bag filled with the best cookies in the world and they just have to try them!
According to the British Promotional Merchandise Association’s Insight Report from 2021, customers who received branded merchandise can help increase brand awareness by a staggering 94%.
Branded Merchandise is a great way for an employer to connect with their employees, and wearable merchandise (such as uniforms and lanyards) make employees more recognisable to customers.
Employees will feel more connected to the company they work for if they feel like they belong there, things like an inclusive uniform or high-quality merchandise to utilise while at work can go a long way in helping people feel part of a team. To name a few products, company branded notebooks, water bottles and pens would be a great way to show your employees that you appreciate them. Internal staff merch is also commonly referred to as company logo swag.
Free branded merch can also help keep your audience engaged and loyal to your company, and returning customers are great because it not only shows you that the service you provide is unmatched, it also shows new or potential customers this too.
Service with a smile and a free promotional item can be the difference between a customer having a good experience with your business or not. Handing out a useful but thoughtful promotional item could potentially create customers for life.
Information gathered by the BPMA says that customers who received branded merchandise are 75% more likely to buy from you again.