The Value of Promotional Products

Every time you attend an event or tradeshow, you likely receive anywhere from one to a dozen goodies, from magnets to t-shirts. Promo products have become a standard tool for business owners, but have you considered the value behind those products?

 A recent study¹ polling 2,000 U.S. consumers yielded some surprising results about promotional products.

• 58% love getting promotional items from brands.
• 74% keep the products and use them regularly.
• 66% saw brands more positively after receiving a promotional item.
• 49% remember the brand and where they got the item.
• 43% recommend the brand to others.

 The Value of Promo Items

1. Build a Strong Brand Identity

By selecting promotional products that align with your brand values, messaging or aesthetic, you reinforce your brand identity with your audience and make your products more effective.
 

2. Physical Connections with Consumers

Your attendees can’t touch an online advertisement, Google search, or social media post. Their ephemeral nature means these digital pieces are gone as soon as you click away or close your browser. As a result, they are easily forgotten. A physical promo item, however, can be held and used repeatedly, creating a connection between your business and your audience and making your brand and products more memorable.
 

3. Occasionally Consumers Want Fancy

While consumers like receiving the basics from brands, they do appreciate the occasional unique or high-end promotional item.
 

4. Swag Can Change Minds

Promotional products make people remember and feel more positively about a brand. They are also more likely to recommend the brand to others.
 

5. Repeat Advertising

While ads may be short-term and quickly forgotten, physical items will last much longer. Every time someone uses a mug or pen, they will be exposed to your brand again.
 

6. Enhance Customer Loyalty & Retention

Promotional products foster positive associations with your brand. Those positive experiences encourage the selection of your brand over your competitors when the time is right to make a purchase and increase the likelihood of repeat business.

Top 10 Promotional Products U.S. Customers Want to Receive

• Pens
• T-shirts
• Mugs
• Tote Bags
• Umbrellas
• Water Bottles
• Flashlights
• Calendars
• USB Chargers
• Blankets or Throws

Other items of note include hoodies, travel coffee cups, Bluetooth items, keyrings, tape measures and stress balls.

Though the statistics above make a compelling case for the types of promotional products American consumers prefer, remember that you know your brand best and the products that are most likely to resonate with your audience. Always select items that align with your values, culture and messaging.

If you need help finding or selecting promotional products, we are here to help.