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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The Ally Challenge 2026 returns to Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc, Michigan, August 27–30. As one of the premier PGA TOUR Champions tournaments in the country, tournament week brings championship golf, live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and community events to Genesee County. Behind Your Design is proud to once again participate in the tournament's Small Business Campaign, helping connect local businesses with one of Michigan's premier annual sporting events.
Check out these videos of all the different finishes for enamel pins!
Some promotional products are practical. Some are useful. And some simply make the whole event more fun. Foldable cowboy hats fall into that last category. They bring instant energy to an event and create a shared moment people actually participate in. Whether you're hosting a company picnic, sponsoring a festival, organizing a golf outing, or planning a community celebration, foldable cowboy hats are an easy way to add personality and interaction right away. A Giveaway That Sets the Tone Foldable cowboy hats are lightweight, packable, and made for events where people are moving around and having fun. They fold into a compact pouch, making them easy to distribute and easy for guests to keep. Once opened, they pop right into shape and become part of the experience almost immediately. Perfect for Summer Events Foldable cowboy hats fit right in at: Company picnics County fairs Music festivals Rodeos Golf outings Customer appreciation events Campgrounds and outdoor recreation School events Community festivals Beach and lake events They are fun to wear, easy to carry, and naturally encourage participation and photos. A Simple Way to Add More Energy One of the best parts is how quickly they change the feel of an event. People put them on right away, start interacting more, and suddenly the environment feels more relaxed and engaging. It’s a small touch that creates a shared experience without adding complexity to your event planning.
Back-to-school season is one of the busiest times of year for schools, community organizations, and family-focused businesses. Open houses, orientations, festivals, and school supply giveaways all provide opportunities to connect with local families. While everyone else is handing out another pencil or notebook, consider giving them something they'll actually enjoy using: a coloring book. Coloring books are interactive, memorable, and offer a fun way to keep your brand in front of families. Better yet, there are two ways to make them work for your organization. Branded vs. Custom Coloring Books Branded Coloring Books A branded coloring book starts with a professionally designed, ready-to-print book. Your logo, business name, and contact information are added to the cover, creating an affordable giveaway that's quick to produce and easy to distribute. Branded coloring books are a great fit for school open houses, community festivals, health fairs, pediatric and dental offices, libraries, parks and recreation departments, banks, credit unions, and other family-focused events. Custom Coloring Books A custom coloring book is created specifically for your organization. Instead of placing your logo on an existing design, every page features original artwork and content that reflects your business, mission, or message. You can include your mascot, products or services, local landmarks, educational topics, safety tips, puzzles, activities, or just-for-fun pages. Whether you're introducing students to a new school, teaching healthy habits, celebrating your community, or explaining what your business does, a custom coloring book tells your story in a creative and engaging way. Give Families Something They'll Remember Back-to-school season is the perfect time to think beyond the standard promotional products. Whether you're looking for a branded coloring book featuring your logo or a completely custom coloring book with original illustrations and content, Behind Your Design can help you create something families will be excited to take home. Sometimes the best promotional products aren't the ones everyone expects. They're the ones everyone remembers.
When Superior Lawn & Landscape completed its new facility, they wanted an event that felt as professional and polished as the company they’ve built. Behind Your Design partnered with their team to bring that vision to life, creating an experience where every detail reinforced their brand. From the moment guests arrived, the Superior Lawn & Landscape brand was present. We managed signage, catering, beverages, entertainment, photography, and overall layout, along with rental coordination to create a cohesive, functional space. We also created branded giveaways and promotional items, including aluminum cups, koozies, journals, chapstick, bug spray, sunglasses, and lots more. Door prizes and a raffle featuring company merchandise added excitement and gave guests keepsakes from the day. The biggest visual impact came from something simple: the custom Hawaiian shirts. Seeing the team and staff in coordinated branded apparel instantly created unity. It transformed individuals into one team with one identity and reinforced the company’s personality in a way traditional marketing materials can’t. That’s the power of branded apparel.
Some projects are about creating great branding. Others are about helping bring a piece of community history back to life. This spring, Behind Your Design had the privilege of supporting the return of the Flint Soap Box Derby to Cronin Derby Downs, the original home of the Flint Soap Box Derby, where racing first began in 1969. On May 30, 2026, the newly restored track welcomed racers, families, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters back to the hill for the inaugural race at its historic location. It was a day filled with excitement, nostalgia, and community pride, but the impact of the Soap Box Derby extends far beyond a single race day.