Promotional merchandise is one of the marketing strategies to create brand awareness and attract potential customers. In this marketing tactic, the businesses distribute their products at little to no cost at all. These products contain the name of the brand, their logo, and their slogan. By giving Promotional Products to the consumers help the brand in creating brand identification. Such tactics leave a positive impact on people. The printed logo, brand name, or slogan stays in mind for a very long time, and consumers always keep a specific business notion. Usually, the products that are given as promotional merchandise include newly launched items, mugs, cups, promotional logoed drinking bottles, toys, goody bags, or candies.

Promotional Products Change Consumer Behaviors

There is some strangely amazing thing about presenting gifts that can turn the tables for you. The same goes for Promotional Merchandising; in a recent survey, it was revealed that many customers are always on the track to switch their brands if they receive a free promotional product from the other brand.

Usually, the tactic use in promotional merchandising to attract customers involves presenting a “free gift on buying a product” or “buy one get one free offer” that fascinate the buyers as they can purchase what they need and grab what they want as a free gift.

Popular Promotional Products

There are plenty of items to use as promotional products. Brands usually select the items near the expiry date, or they are just hanging on the shelves forever. Some brands put real effort and make customised products to make their consumers happy. Most common products that are used for promotional campaigns include USB drives, pens, an electrical item, or a mug.

It was reported that the mug is the only item used by the consumer for a long time compared to other products.

Impact of Branded Merchandising Marketing on Consumers

Consumers admitted that they love receiving free items from the brands as they provide a “sense of affection”. 87% of customers confessed to keeping the promotional product for more than a year. Surprisingly, 30% of consumers keep the product they receive as a “gift” from a brand for more than four years.

There is a profoundly influential correlation between the longevity of the product and its impact on the customers. The longer the product stays in front of consumers’ eyes, the longer it will stay in the subconscious mind.

If the customer keeps the gift, it will make them recall the certain moment when they received it. They will effortlessly name the brand that bestowed them with lovely presents. In a survey, 94% of consumers stated that they still remember the name of the brand that gave them a promotional gift.

Does Promotional Merchandise still Drive Strong Brand Recognition?

If we question, is the promotional merchandise technique still qualify to create awareness, and brands are utilizing this tactic today?

The answer will be YES! This is the era of social media where showcasing branded stuff makes you look extremely rich. No one wants to miss a chance of getting free branded products. In fact, promotional merchandising was not as much success in the past as it is right now.

Today brands are focusing more on social media marketing which involves sponsorships, giveaways, winning gifts by taking part in the poll, and many more. These all are the form of promotional merchandising. This marketing technique helps the startup business and small ventures to create a positive image in consumer’s minds. Also, it helps the brands to create awareness about newly launched products without investing a lot of bucks in TVC and paid campaigns.