Put Branded Merchandise to Work for Your Business
April 22, 2022
Engage with your current customers, attract new customers and show your appreciation to your employees with branded merchandise.
Take a look around your desk or office - more than likely you'll see at least one branded merchandise item (also known as promotional products). Perhaps it's something as simple as a pen, mouse mat or mug or maybe you have something more substantial like an item of clothing or a bluetooth speaker.
Now think back to who gave you that item, or why you received it? What feeling does that give you? Perhaps it brings a smile to your face because someone you've become friends with gave it to you, maybe there is a funny story behind the item, or perhaps it makes you feel valued as a customer or employee of the company that gave you the item.
A 2021 Consumer Study by the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) found that 94% of people like receiving promotional products and that 3 Out of 4 people keep a promotional item because it is useful.
To put it simply Branded Merchandise works..... but (isn't there is always a but) it is important to understand that the branded merchandise you are using needs to do a couple of important things, and this is where working with a local community partner like Behind Your Design can help:
- Represent Your Brand
Behind Your Design knows that the branded merchandise that you choose represents your brand. We all recognize this scenario: Boss comes into the office with a branded YETI mug that a vendor gave him. Boss tells his secretary that 'we should get some of these to give to our customers'. Secretary goes online and sees that custom YETI's cost over $30+ and thinks, 'wow that's too expensive' so instead searches for 'cheap travel mugs'. Secretary finds a product that is only $5 per mug so they order 100 of them and send in their logo. Fast forward to 3 weeks later and the mugs arrive - logo is a little blurry and the mugs look and feel cheap. Boss sees the mug and says 'there's no way we can give these out to our clients' so the mugs get shoved in a closet and handed out to other employees on their birthday (join us for another blog on this later!).
So what can we learn from this. The most important thing to remember is that the items you hand out represent your brand (in most situations). For example, you are a financial advisor handling retirement accounts of $1 million + and you meet with a potential client. Rewind to the story above and you hand the potential client a $5 plastic mug - what thoughts are they going to have in comparison to if you handed them the $30 YETI mug? - Be Useful, Unique, or Provide Long Term Value
As mentioned earlier 3 out of 4 people keep promotional items. 75% of these people keep them because they are useful, 38% kept them because they are fun to have and 19% of people kept the product because they feel loyal to the company that gave it to them.
So, utilizing items that are useful and have long term value will help make sure people continue to use your project (and therefore remember you). Being unique can be a little more challenging, some items will be useful always and aren't necessarily unique - pens, notebooks, keychains for example - but other items can also be useful while still be unique. Remember when fidget spinners were all the rage? Every tradeshow or expo we went to people handed them out and everyone thought they were going to be unique until they walked into the show and saw that EVERYONE else was handing them out as well. - Fit Your Budget
In the earlier example we discussed the secretary who didn't think $30 was in her budget so went cheap. A defined budget and purpose could have helped guide the decision making process better. For example, you sell HVAC units to large commercial clients. The average cost of the product and installation is $20,000. Your budget for a thank you gift is probably going to be higher than someone whose average client spends $500 a year with them. It's also important to consider what the product is going to be used for and why it is being handed out - Be Relevant to Your Customers and Employees
This again is an area where working with a local company and leaning on their expertise can be vital. Quite simply what works in one area of the country might not in others. For example handing out pool toys probably won't be much use in Michigan but would certainly be popular in Florida! - Promote A Cause
Supporting a cause through your promotional items is a great way to help showcase your business. Sustainable products, fair trade sourced, products that give back to charities are all examples of ways you can use your branded merchandise to help make the world a better place.
Ready to use Branded Merchandise to help grow your business and reward your employees. Contact Behind Your Design today to get started.
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Branded apparel doesn’t have to mean choosing one shirt, one color and hoping everyone likes it. A custom online store gives people more ways to find something that fits their personal style while still representing your brand. At Behind Your Design, we create custom pop-up stores year-round for businesses, organizations, teams, events and special campaigns. With more options for apparel styles, colors, sizes and decoration methods, a custom store can turn branded apparel into something people are genuinely excited to order and wear. A Fresh Take on Pure Barre Apparel We recently created custom stores for Pure Barre that show just how much personality you can bring to branded apparel. For our local Pure Barre studio, we created a collegiate-inspired collection featuring block chenille lettering reminiscent of classic game-day apparel. It gave the Pure Barre brand a completely different look while still feeling cohesive, recognizable and wearable. We also created a seasonal Halloween and Breast Cancer Awareness store that was made available to Pure Barre studios across the country. The collection combined a timely theme with a larger purpose, giving studios access to special apparel while also supporting a breast cancer fundraiser. These stores can be seasonal, tied to a fundraiser or event, or simply created to give your brand a fresh, creative twist.
From grassroots marketing and community impact to concerts, hospitality and championship golf, the 2026 tournament had it all.
We’re Heading to Michigan State University!
Reusable bags are one of those promotional products that just make sense. They’re practical, versatile and give your brand plenty of room to be seen. But there’s always one problem: remembering to actually bring them with you. That’s what makes a foldable reusable bag such a smart option. Instead of taking up space when it’s not being used, it folds down into a compact size that’s easy to keep close by. Toss it in a purse, backpack, glove compartment or desk drawer, and it’s ready when you need it.
When you have something worth showing off, banners make it hard to miss. Custom banners are one of those marketing tools that can work for just about any occasion. Th ey’re big enough to get attention, flexible enough to work indoors or outdoors, and customizable to fit everything from a single celebration to a large event. Whether you’re building brand visibility, recognizing sponsors, celebrating an accomplishment or directing attention to an important message, a well-designed banner gives you plenty of space to make an impact.
Halloween isn’t just for costumes and candy. It’s also a fun opportunity to get your brand out into the community! From business trick-or-treating and trunk-or-treats to Witches Night Out events, fall festivals , and Halloween parties , there are plenty of ways to join in the fun with promotional products people will be excited to receive. Candy is always a crowd-pleaser, and custom packaging, treat bags, or branded sweets can turn a simple giveaway into a memorable touchpoint. But Halloween promo doesn’t have to stop at the candy bowl. Think glow sticks and safety lights for trick-or-treaters, reusable bags for collecting goodies, festive drinkware for adults, or other Halloween-themed giveaways that fit the occasion. Whether you’re planning something for kids, adults, or a little bit of both, there are plenty of ways to find something fun and useful. Getting your brand into the holiday spirit is an easy way to create a positive association with your business while increasing visibility in your community. A little Halloween fun can go a long way toward keeping your name top of mind. We’ve rounded up 12 Halloween promotional product ideas to help you get started. Take a look, find your favorites, and let Behind Your Design help you make them your own!