You may have heard that custom promotional clothing is a powerful marketing tool, but what does that mean? More importantly, how can it help you? Promotional clothes (or apparel to use the ‘proper’ term!) have been used as part of traditional marketing techniques for years. There is a reason why this technique has stood the test of time. Promotional items have a long, successful history of attracting audiences to engage with businesses.
Investing in custom-branded clothing can offer businesses a wide range of benefits. Use our tips to get to grips with this much-loved marketing trick. Learn how to increase your brand's presence, promote team spirit, and build customer trust. All without blowing your budget.
Whether it’s uniform or workwear, or branded clothes that carry your logo, each item fulfils a specific purpose associated with promoting your brand to your target market. Custom promotional merchandise is an excellent opportunity for businesses that want to make a big impact on a limited budget.
Still not convinced? Check out our list of benefits and how to implement them into your 2023 marketing strategy.
1) Increase your brand’s presence
First things first… stop thinking of promotional items as ‘freebies’. Whether it is a t-shirt or a baseball cap. Each item is now your walking billboard or business card.
Think about it, what are you likely to do when gifted a business card? Hide it in an office drawer (if it’s lucky). Realistically it’s very likely to end up in the bin (hopefully the recycling bin at the very least). Instead, offer items you know your customers will use, like a t-shirt, hoodie or fleece…
An excellent example of gifting custom promotional appeal is MyProtein. which ran a very successful campaign. Every order over a certain price would receive a free workout vest. Encouraging customers to spend a little extra to receive a vest worked very well. Now when you walk into a gym, there is always someone wearing their instantly recognisable logoed clothes. From the success of their free apparel campaign the protein powder business has built a small clothing empire.
2) New marketing opportunity
Promotional clothes create a distinct and lasting impression of a brand. Apparel is a brilliant way to increase brand recognition, regardless of whether it is a gift or staff uniform.
Aside from selling your brand's product or services, staff members can also become a walking, talking advert for your business.
For customer-facing staff, introducing corporate custom branding clothing lends comfort and a heightened experience for customers. Customers can identify whom to approach. Staff look confident, on brand and informed about their product/service. It helps create a team culture and builds customer trust.
Our best advice is to work with your team on what items they would like and to be inclusive in your approach. Avoid being gender biased, for example, stipulating that women wear skirts. Getting your team on board is a fantastic way to get everyone embracing your new branded workwear.
One of the best examples of branded workplace promotional apparel is Apple. Apple is famous for its immediately recognisable blue uniforms. The uniform is now associated with knowledge and great customer service. In 2014 they expanded their uniforms to solidify their branding identity with customers whilst allowing staff to pick a uniform closer to their own style.
1) Cost Effective [H3]
Traditional marketing techniques can often take either a lot of time, money or resources or all three. Although other techniques like traditional advertising might get you in front of a wider audience there is no guarantee that these will be an appropriate audience for you. Often these techniques require a large budget, have a long lead time and require multiple steps before you see results.
Custom promotional products, including branded clothes, are the perfect lower-investment marketing technique that can be as equally effective, even on a limited budget. Branded merchandise marketing focuses on smaller groups of quality customers through long-term exposure to branding.
Unlike other traditional marketing, customer-branded apparel has no set expiration date. Get your brand the maximum exposure by choosing custom items relevant to your business and brand.
Interested in promotional clothing for your brand? Let talk
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