Company branded merchandise is a staple in most marketing departments, whether it’s to be used for internal brand building with staff or as a promotional tool. Most companies will own notepads, pens, hoodies and bottles with their company brand proudly featuring front and centre. However, branded merchandise is more than just a brand building tool; it’s also a great way to boost your sales! There’re many ways in which it can be used to give the numbers a nudge in the right direction and here are our top 5.
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Gift with purchase
Get your sales over the line by offering a free branded gift when they buy your product or sign up for your service. A little incentive can go a long way and it’s especially powerful when the free gift is useful and has a high perceived value. Technically, a gift with purchase doesn’t need to be company branded but it’s better when it is! A company branded item is exclusive, it’s something they can’t buy elsewhere which often makes people want one more. Plus, a branded gift with purchase has the added bonus of offering you some long lasting brand awareness.
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Event giveaway
Most people think of event merchandise as being purely for brand building but that’s not the case. At trade shows, where you need to stand out from the crowd, offering a quality company branded giveaway will help attract people to your stall. That’s where your team of sales experts can do their job! You can also consider offering a discount voucher with your gift, given to those who spoke to you at an event. This is especially good if you’re looking for a way to measure the success of a merchandise marketing campaign. Also, why not add a small QR code to your gift, maybe on the back of a notebook or the base of a coffee cup? Have it send people directly to a purpose created, well converting landing page or product! This non-aggressive sales approach may prove effective for those who like to take time with their purchasing decisions.
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Retail item
Have you got a strong brand? Why not consider branded merchandise for retail! If you’re an independent coffee shop, you could sell reusable branded coffee cups. If you’re a gym you could sell gym wear, yoga mats, water bottles, gym bags and much more! A great way for your business to bring in extra cash and again, it offers you increased brand awareness. You want other potential customers to see people carrying your coffee cups or walking around with your gym bags. This will increase your sense of authority and build brand recognition which again, will hopefully lead to more sales or clients.
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Rebrand launch
When a brand image becomes stale or a company has a new product or message, it’s very common for a company to rebrand. It’s essential that the rebrand is launched well to all staff, existing clients and to potential clients. This could be the catalyst for a whole bunch of new sales! It’s a chance to re-engage those who had forgotten about you and show a side to your business that may be more inline with popular thinking. Merchandise can be very important here. Firstly, it’s a chance to put something tangible and useful in front of people with your brand imagery and colouring. Secondly, and I think more importantly, it’s a chance to say something about your company. Giving away seed balls in compostable packaging or a reusable coffee cup made from recycled materials, tells your customers that you’re serious about sustainability. Giving away an engraved Parker Pen tells your customers that you are a more premium brand. Other items might show your brand’s sense of humour or commitment to a certain niche audience. Using company branded merchandise during a brand relaunch will add to the success and that in turn will boost your future sales.
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And finally…..good ol’ corporate gift
Corporate gifting of company branded merchandise is a tried and tested way of nurturing a relationship with a client. When the BPMA conducted research on how people feel after receiving a corporate gift, the top response was APPRECIATED. You show your clients you care about them and they will keep coming back to you. Of course, this also has to be shown in the level of service you offer, but a corporate gift with a thank you note will always go a long way. Ultimately the aim is to increase your customer lifetime value (CLV) and when this increases, your sales will increase.
Want to create your own company branded merchandise?
This Top 5 list is just a few of the ways that company branded merchandise can be used in your marketing activity. There are many many more from influencer marketing to crazy pop-up guerilla marketing crusades! If you’d like to speak to our team of experts about the best branded merchandise options available for your planned marketing activity, contact us on sales@brandelity.com or 01753491470.
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