Want some advice?
Incorporate promotional products in your brand strategy ASAP!
Promotional products were and are an effective marketing tool for almost every big and small business. If you are a good observer, you must have noticed around you; Swags are everywhere!
And according to Advertising Specialties Impression Study, freebies are the most viewed form of advertising. The TVCs and digital media are effective but expensive ways that small businesses cannot afford.
If you still have doubts regarding the significance of promos, read the next section.
What is the Size of the Promotional Products Industry?
According to the current data from Industry Statistics, in the US, the size of the promotional industry is $17.8bn. It has been growing at a rate of around 2.7% each year from 2017 to 2022.
And you will not be shocked to hear that wearables are the most used promotional items as compared to others. The total sale for apparel accounts for 35% of all sales. Drinkware contributes 8.4%.
Based on all these stats, you can see that companies are widely using branded products to promote their brands. But there are many things that you must consider before moving towards action.
Let’s find out!
What Promotional Items do People Own?
There are enormous options for promotional items in the industry. The receivers prefer some over others and keep them for years.
Apparel
People love wearables as gifts and tend to keep them for an average of 14 months. And if we count the impressions, a custom t-shirt or other clothes receive, it sums up to around 3500 impressions.
While we are on wearables, it is necessary to mention headwear. People wear them on several occasions, and you do not have to give much thought to size as one size fits all.
Tote Bags
Tote bags are another highly functional, budget-friendly, branded gifts that everyone likes to receive. They are versatile and used for carrying various things like groceries, books, gym essentials, and almost anything.
Moreover, they provide a huge area for customization, which you can effectively use to embroider your name, logo, message, or anything you deem suitable for your brand.
Office Supplies
People spend one-third of their day in the office. It allows you to remain in front of their eyes for a significant portion of the day. You can send them swags like notepads, pens, pen holders, etc. Every time they use any of these, it will remind them of you. And the study suggests, people tend to do business with companies that remain at the top of their minds.
Drinkware
Drinkware is found in the office, home, gym, park, beach, malls, and almost everywhere. People love these swags, and they tend to use them daily. And with drinkware like tumblers and mugs, you get a wide space to show your creativity. And remember, the more creative the artwork on a mug is, the more effective impression it leaves on the observer.
How Popular Are Promotional Products with Specific Generations?
A prevalent blunder that marketers make is sending a standard gift to everyone. Do not be so shallow. If you are looking forward to connecting with your customer, you must first show them some care. The best way to do that is to divide the target market generation-wise and select gifts accordingly.
Millennials
With millennials, it’s all about swag! They have at least 30 promotional items in their home, making them a perfect target for your marketing. Although individuals of this generation are tech-savvy, they also like other promotional items like calendars, t-shirts, headwear, etc. On average, they own at least 5 promotional t-shirts at a time. They also prefer getting gadgets and accessories.
Gen X’ers
They also own t-shirts and other apparel, but they are a big fan of drinkware and office supplies. According to research,71% of Gen X’ers tend to do business with the company that gave them drinkware. If you are a Gen X’er, you know the importance.
Baby Boomers
If this is your target market, we suggest you go for items like bags, umbrellas, drinkware, etc. People of this age group keep around 28 promotional items in their homes.
Three Factors you Must not Ignore!
People often ask about what kind of promotional products do people keep. There is not just one answer to that. However, three factors are crucial when making this decision: Quality, functionality, and attractiveness. If you know your audience well, you will be able to make the right decision. Based on their age, gender, and location, you can understand their interests and preferences.
Women are inclined towards quality more as compared to , who are more inclined toward functionality. Based on the age group, Gen X’ers are interested in looks more, while millennials are more into quality.
Generally speaking, 52% of people keep a promotional item for quality, 42% for functionality, and 36% for attractiveness.
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