The Rise of Premium Merch Over Cheap Branded Giveaways

As times change, so do the expectations of customers. The use of promotional items isn't new, and over time, we have become less enthused about cheap branded giveaways that they may have hit the mark 20 years ago. Today, customers expect more from brands competing for their attention, especially with so many contenders in the market. The merchandise you provide says a lot about your brand, so you need to make the most of every opportunity to connect with customers.

Brands using promotional merchandise need to consider how it will be received. Is your customer likely to be impressed by a single key tag or stubby holder? Probably not, because the reality is, they've likely got plenty of those already.

In this article, we'll explore some ways to ensure your merch stands out from the crowd to promote greater brand recognition and more loyal customers.

Ensure merch is durable and useful

If your goal is to build brand recognition, it's essential for customers to frequently see your company name, logo, and colours. Just like everyone recognises McDonald's golden arches because they're everywhere, the same principle applies to promotional merchandise. Consistent exposure helps embed your brand in the minds of consumers.

You want a customer to use your promotional items as frequently as possible, and for as long as possible. Stating the obvious, this means your merch needs to be useful! A good thought experiment is to put yourself in your target market's shoes - would you find this handy? How frequently would you use it?

More personalisation

Brands today need to show their customers that they're truly valued. While generic branded merchandise is quite normal, companies can now offer a higher level of personalisation than ever before. For example, consider a coffee machine manufacturer. They could send their customers a voucher or a few coffee pods to try out, but there's nothing personal about it. Plus, once the coffee is gone, there's no lasting impression from that gesture.

Instead, what if the coffee machine manufacturer sent their customer a personalised mug with their name on it (and, of course, their own company brand and logo on the other side)? This thoughtful gesture would be much more appreciated because it shows effort and consideration. Additionally, the customer would use the mug repeatedly, reminding them of the brand every time they enjoy their coffee.

Personalisation is much more accessible now thanks to digital printing. Previously, companies would need to order thousands of a single item to keep the per-item costs down. Now, you can order smaller batches of high-quality, useful and personalised items such as homewares, tech and lifestyle products.x

Custom packaging

Another way that premium merchandise items can delight your customers even more is through the use of custom packaging. One of the issues facing many brands is that their promotional items just get tossed in with an initial order or are sent in generic packaging. So, while it's ultimately about the items inside, the packaging should match the impression you're trying to make. If there's a premium gift inside, the packaging should have a sleek retail look and feel.

You also have the opportunity to make a stronger impression by using Merch Packs. With custom packaging that suits your branding, you can send multiple items together. It gives your merchandise a 'hamper' vibe, which usually means some effort has gone into it. And let's be honest, a nice branded box of goodies is so much nicer than plastic wrapping inside a post pack.

Looking for premium, retail-look merchandise?

BrandConnect understands the value of promotional items to drive brand loyalty. In fact, we don't just talk the talk when it comes to merch packs. Our loyal customers receive our quarterly BrandBox, a selection of our top merch picks, because we believe that showing genuine gratitude through gift giving helps to form stronger business relationships. So, to show your customers they're truly valued, invest in quality, useful, premium merchandise and promotional items instead of cheap, tacky giveaways. BrandConnect has countless items to choose from, with something for every customer in every industry. Try our new AI Merch Search today, or contact us at 1300 567 565 to discuss your needs.