Why does your business need ‘promotionals’?


‘Promotionals’ or promotional merchandise has become a necessary part of spruiking your business and for good reason. Consumers generally look more favourably on businesses that offer merchandise, brand recall increases and that’s not to mention the law of reciprocity. In our last article, we discussed how merchandise needs to become a part of your overall marketing strategy. This time we thought we’d look at “why” promotional products work, some of the statistics behind their use & reach and finally which products are resonating the most with your audiences in 2022.

Jute Bag Natural

Promotional products by the numbers

  • 75% of people keep promotional products because they find the item useful
  • 94% of people like to receive a promotional product
  • 86.5% of people agree that promo products are a great way to engage with new businesses
  • 88% of people use promotional products with logos when it supports a cause
  • 83% of people say promotional products make an experience more enjoyable
  • 85.4 % of people would rather receive a promotional product rather than a promotional email
  • 9/10 people agree that receiving a promotional product at an event makes it more memorable
  • 3 out of 4 consumers would likely switch brands if they received promotional products from a business even if they hadn’t already purchased from them.
  • 96% of people want to know ahead of time of a company offers promotional products
  • 90% of people who receive a promotional product can recall the name of the business up to two years later

The argument for promotional products is pretty convincing. Greater reach, greater recall and greater perceived brand positivity with better market penetration. You can even build loyalty and win over new prospects and users.

Stats are from the Promotional Products Association International) (PPAI) 2021 Consumer Study, ProductehdeByaPrePAaI.Research.

Popular promotional merchandise ideas for your business

There is a tonne of ideas for promotional merchandise – it can be a hard maze to navigate and a little overwhelming. The below selections are a few of the standout products and the mainstays from the last two years.

Environmentally friendly products – Sustainability and environmentally friendly consumer choices have become entrenched in our society. This trend looks set to continue with consumer behaviour and government legislation leaning towards eco-friendly in every way. If your brand hasn’t leapt yet, now’s the time. 46% of consumers have a more favourable opinion of an advertiser if the promotional products are environmentally friendly and it’s growing.

Tech Products – We’ve moved into a fast-paced service and information-based economy. Tech has become integrated into our daily practice. We Google for answers, seek recommendations on where to eat online, scroll for hours on our favourite channels and connect, call and convene through our devices. Brands that have understood this trend have capitalised on it by offering their consumers and would-be purchasers – tech products that are increasingly useful in everyday life. Oddly enough though 56% of consumers would choose a USB drive over a power bank. This isn’t unique to older generations either. The Advertising Specialty Institute survey found that at least half of Generation Z and Millennials would still choose a USB drive. Our advice would be not to always go with the latest gadgetry but look at items that get continuous use. A USB is a great example of that.

Retractable USB Charging Cable

Promotional Outerwear – T-shirts, hoodies and so on all fall under ‘Promotional outerwear’. Believe it or not, they remain a firm first for most consumers. T-shirts and promotional outerwear are kept for an average of 16 months representing great value. Over that 16-month period, they’re reported to generate 6,100 unique impressions or 6,100 people interacting with your brand per t-shirt in your local area.  

If you’re thinking about investing in some merchandise we can help. Reach out to us here.

Thanks for reading

The REP Merch crew.

Sources and further reading