Promotional Merchandise for Dummies!

Promotional Merchandise for Dummies

How can promotional merchandise work for you? Here are 10 great pointers:

Advertising and Marketing

Walkers Crisps Promotion - iPod

Promotional products are extensively used to attract interest in new or existing goods and services. Examples range from a teddy bear given away with a magazine through to products given in exchange for tokens collected from food packets.

In 1994, LSi produced 400,000 pocket diaries for an on-pack promotion. For every six pack of take-home bitter sold through retail outlets, the purchaser received a free promotional diary.

Andrex and Walkers are two well known brands that run successful on-pack promotions.

Brand Awareness and Rebranding

Nike, Adidas brands

Closely related to advertising and marketing, the creation, maintenance or revamp of a brand is a central feature in positioning a product or service in the marketplace and keeping it at the front of people's minds.

When companies rebrand they must keep the message, slogan or logo in full view of the customer.

Some multi-national companies don't need a slogan, their logo is known worldwide. However, their strategy has worked, the Nike Swoosh is instantly recognisable and their logo promotes quality and performance.

By using a branding specialist such as LSi, your logo will be reproduced, consistently, time and time again on any product you choose, making it instantly recognisable to your clients.

Awards and Rewards

From schools to businesses, promotional products are used extensively to mark special occasions, whether it is to recognise an achievement or an event, such as a graduation or a leaving party. Carefully used, they build loyalty and morale.

Crystal awards and glassware are extremely popular gifts for this type of event.

Top Sales Person, Long Service or Outstanding Performance awards are a great way to build staff loyalty, increase morale and recognise achievements.

LSi can provide a full range of crystal and awards for your event.

Cause Awareness/Fund-Raising

Many organisations spend a great deal of time trying to make people aware of issue before prompting them to do something about them. Fund-raising is undertaken by many groups. Products range from attractive giveaways that take a message about the event or the sponsor, through to awards and incentives that reflect the work of donors or workers.

Workwear and Uniforms

Some form of branded clothing is used by many companies. Casual wear is used for exhibitions, shows, events and fund-raising. Uniforms are commonly used, from schools to hotel receptions.

Direct Mail

Most organisations are involved in some form of direct-mailing campaign at some time or another and promotional products are often a strong component in this process.

Conferences, Shows, Retail and Souvenirs

Promotional products are extensively used as communication tools in all these activities. Examples include the promotional giveaway that gets people going back to a stand for more, the well-chosen product that a hotel or conference centre provides for clients, or the sports club selling engraved tankards with their club name or crystal products showing the team picture. All this creates a sense of quality that often attracts more clients

Incentive Schemes

These are not only used to motivate centre staff, sales teams and other key staff, but also to encourage people to introduce new members to places like sports centres.

Product Launches and Roll-outs

Promotional products are an essential element in the build-up to product launches, the launch event itself and the subsequent roll-out, keeping the focus of the target audience and the media on what is happening for as long as possible.

New Branches and Relocations

Raising people's awareness of the opening of a new branch is a key element of its success. Similarly, there is often a special message that requires communication when relocating. The message may not just be a change of premises, but an improved service due to the move.

Promotional products can play a key role in communicating these messages.

Reference: Promotions Buyer (February 2008)

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