In a world where marketing strategies constantly evolve, branded merchandise remains a steadfast and effective tool for businesses to connect with their target audience. Beyond just promoting your company’s products or services, branded merchandise can serve a multitude of innovative purposes. While it’s true that promotional products like pens, mugs, and t-shirts are popular choices, there’s a world of opportunity beyond these traditional items. In this blog post about innovative uses for branded merchandise, we’ll explore 10 exciting and creative ways that promotional products can help you stand out and connect with your audience in unique ways.
1. Employee Engagement and Recognition
While branded merchandise has long been used for customer-facing promotions, savvy companies are now realising its potential for engaging employees. A thoughtful approach to employee recognition and motivation can significantly impact workplace culture.
Consider creating a ‘swag store’ for your employees, where they can choose from a range of branded items like hoodies, water bottles, or even wellness items. These can serve as tokens of appreciation and reinforce a sense of belonging. Team members who feel appreciated and connected to the company are more likely to be productive, loyal, and willing to advocate for their employer.
2. Customer Loyalty and Retention
Companies often put a great deal of effort into attracting new customers, but customer retention is equally important. To encourage customer loyalty, consider using branded merchandise as part of your onboarding and retention strategy. Sending a welcome gift with a personalised thank you note and high-quality branded merchandise, can make customers feel valued and appreciated.
Furthermore, offering exclusive merchandise for long-time customers or those reaching certain milestones, can be a unique and compelling incentive to keep customers coming back. According to the British Promotional Merchandise Association, customers who receive branded merchandise are 75% more likely to buy from you again. Additionally, if your business has a VIP or exclusive membership program, members can receive limited-edition or custom-branded merchandise to make them feel truly special.
3. Product Packaging and Unboxing Experience
Experiential packaging is a powerful part of modern branding. Companies can use branded merchandise as part of this experience to make a lasting impression on customers. Incorporating branded tissue paper, stickers, and thank you notes into the packaging can elevate the customer’s perception of the brand.
Additionally, consider adding a surprise branded item within your product packaging. For example, if you sell gourmet coffee, include a branded coffee mug with each order. This extra touch not only enhances the perceived value of the product, but also encourages customer loyalty, social sharing and positive word-of-mouth.
4. Events and Experiential Marketing
Events and trade shows are prime opportunities for promoting your brand, and personalised merchandise can be a valuable asset. But instead of the usual branded products, get creative, make it relevant to your business or offer experiential merchandise. For example, a fitness brand could provide attendees with branded yoga mats at a wellness event, or a tech company might host a hackathon and offer branded USB drives with useful content. This approach connects attendees to the brand and enhances their experience, making them more likely to remember and engage with the brand in the future.
5. Influencer Partnerships
Influencer marketing is a popular and effective strategy for reaching a broader audience. Instead of simply sending influencers products to review, consider creating a line of co-branded merchandise with influencers. This not only leverages their influence and style but also gives their followers the opportunity to engage with the products in a tangible way. Co-branded merchandise can include anything from clothing and accessories to tech gadgets, depending on the influencer’s niche and the brand’s identity.
6. Fundraising and Charitable Initiatives
Supporting a good cause is an excellent way to connect with your audience on a deeper level. Branded merchandise can play a role in these efforts as well. When a company aligns its branding with a charity, it not only supports a good cause but also builds a positive brand image. Think about introducing a special line of branded merchandise where a percentage of proceeds goes to a charitable organisation. Customers can feel good about their purchase, knowing they’re contributing to a worthy cause, and the company benefits from the positive association. Aligning your brand with a sense of purpose like this also attracts socially conscious consumers.
7. Customisation and Personalisation
With modern technology, it’s easier than ever to offer customisation and personalisation of branded merchandise. Allow customers to add their names or personalised messages to items. This level of personalisation not only makes the merchandise more appealing but also creates a strong emotional connection between the customer and the brand. Customisation can also lead to increased social sharing as customers proudly show off their personalised merchandise on social media. Personalised and customised merchandise make great gifts, which opens up your brand to a whole new audience.
8. Employee Onboarding Kits
First impressions matter, and when a new employee joins your team, providing them with a branded onboarding kit can set the tone for their experience. This kit could include items, such as, a branded notebook, a company-branded hoodie, and a custom coffee mug. Not only does this foster a sense of belonging, but it also ensures that your new hire starts their journey with the right tools.
9. Customer Feedback and Referrals
Branded merchandise can be a creative way to encourage customer feedback. After a purchase, send customers a survey or feedback request along with a small, useful branded item as a thank you gift. This approach shows your appreciation and encourages engagement.
Research from the British Promotional Merchandise Association shows 80% of consumers receiving a branded item from a brand they trust are more likely to make recommendations to others about your brand or service.
Word-of-mouth marketing is powerful. Encourage your customers to refer friends and family by offering branded merchandise as an incentive. You can even make it a tiered system, where the more referrals someone brings, the better the branded item they receive.
10. Celebrate Milestones with Limited Edition Items
Celebrating your business’ milestones, whether it’s an anniversary or a product launch, is a perfect time for branded merchandise. Create limited-edition items to commemorate these events and give them to your loyal customers as a thank you gesture. Limited edition or collectable branded merchandise can spark a sense of urgency and exclusivity among customers. Limited-run merchandise can generate excitement and drive sales. Customers often want to own something unique or special, and this strategy can help a brand stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Innovative uses for Branded Merchandise
In conclusion, branded merchandise is a versatile tool that extends far beyond promotional giveaways. When used creatively and strategically, it can become an integral part of your branding strategy, fostering employee engagement, customer loyalty, and community connections. So, whether you’re welcoming a new team member, celebrating a milestone, or simply saying ‘thank you’, there are endless innovative uses for branded merchandise to be explored.
Incorporating branded merchandise in innovative ways can boost your brand’s visibility and customer engagement. However, it’s essential to remember that the key to success lies in the quality and relevance of the items you choose. Your merchandise should align with your brand identity and provide real value to your target audience.
Moreover, always consider the environmental impact of your branded merchandise. Eco-friendly options are becoming increasingly popular, so opt for sustainable materials and production methods. This not only shows that your brand is socially responsible but also appeals to the growing segment of environmentally conscious customers.
In a world where consumers are inundated with marketing messages, creative and innovative uses for branded merchandise can help businesses cut through the noise, making a lasting impression, and build strong relationships with their target audience.
Talk to us today about the best branded merchandise for your next project.