Code - Promotional Merchandise is our language

How can promotional merchandise work for your businesses marketing?

Whilst not underestimating the potential audiences that can be reached through traditional print advertising, tv and radio campaigns or the now increasingly popular online advertising, the costs for these can (and usually do) run into the thousands. Compare that to the cost of some great and effective promotional items that can cost you just pennies. For as little as £1 per unit you can get an item that can be put in the hands of a potential customer that has enormous retention value, keeping your brand message in view throughout the working day. After all, how many promotional pens have you got on your desk today?

But it’s not just about customer retention. You need to be thinking about recruitment and re-activation too. To recruit, you need impact and what better way than to look at the more obscure and funny promotional items in the marketplace. From character usb’s and shaped stress products through to novelty pens and cuddly toys…the possibilities to make a statement are endless!

So, our advise is to consider the use of the promotional item, consider your target audience, give yourself a realistic budget to work within and investigate how promotional items and corporate gifts can be a key element of your marketing plans and support the long-term growth of your business.

Promotional Merchandise

Choosing the best promotional merchandise for your business marketing also depends on the industry sector you are targeting. Branded promotional mugs can be a great choice for many organisations that are office-based but if you are a business that specialises in outdoor gear, you might want your customers to associate you through a like-minded promotional item such as a water bottle or a sports bag. If you exhibit at trade shows, you can find specific products that are ideal for the event and environment. Consider the potential of personalised pens, promotional folders and promotional carrier bags for your visitors to keep the new materials in as they wander around. Or think about gifts with a real impact...something unusual and unique that will help you stand out from the crowd! Don’t forget...your choice reflects your company!

Value for money corporate gifts

As any marketing manager, brand manager, sales director of MD will tell you, a key part of any outlay on marketing is getting the best value for your money. And that is precisely why many companies consider promotional merchandise to be a vital part of their marketing mix. The promotional pen for example. The most obvious first step is to decide on a cheap branded plastic pen. Plastic pens have an immense price range to work within - consider a Panther Eco pen for less than 18p or go for a Prodir pen closer to 40p each. So you as the company must make a call on cheap giveaway or longevity of use. For metal pens, generally the prices start from around 85p or so and of course can go as high as £3-4 and higher. Traditionally, the higher end pricing tends to reflect a brand name e.g. Papermate, Waterman, Parker etc, normally in some form of set and presentation box.

Promotional Desktop Items

Promotional desk top items are a great investment! As marketers strive to get brand messages to the right target audience, the increasing versatility of promotional desk-top items is becoming a valuable weapon in the marketing tool kit. Paper based promotional desk top items are the traditional route, starting with the promotional sticky note pad but even this has now evolved to allow for bespoke shapes, a wide range of colours and a wider range of sizes. Promotional note blocks are also extremely popular due to their large branding area and the added option to include a drill hole that can also carry a promotional pen or a promotional pencil. Promotional pen pot holders have moved on from the plastic only variant! There is now a growing range of metal versions which encompass clocks, photo frames and calendars. Promotional calculators have also developed recently with larger branding areas and a wider range of colours to ensure a higher rate of retention. For time specific promotional desk top merchandise consider the promotional calendar, available in various price ranges. For Spring, why not consider promotional seed products or promotional plants? These are now growing in popularity as they have adopted to the needs of marketing and have become easy to deliver and have great ability for message delivery. And finally, let’s not ignore the promotional mug. Always a favourite due to its branding abilities and usefulness! After all, when was the last time you through a mug away?

What kind of promotional merchandise is available?

The beauty of promotional merchandise is its adaptability to suit your needs and there can be no greater example of this than seeing how promotional products can be themed around social events, providing excellent opportunities for delivering your brand messages. For example the England inflatable football clapper stick is available in red and white, has a good branding area, has had good exposure in the UK market and can be purchased from UK suppliers at strong prices. Or the promotional large foam finger, the old fashioned football rattle or the promotional fanfare horn which is being portrayed as the ‘must have’ gadget at this year’s World Cup. But it’s possible to also use the more standard promotional products. Currently available to support a World Cup themed promotion are 2010 shaped promotional keyrings, promotional nylon tour bags branded with the Union Jack, usb drives shaped as football kits and England branded promotional chocolate.

If you have any specific needs and cannot see what you want, then just give us a call on 0844 879 7323 and we'll get the right thing for your marketing activities.