Promotional Products: Importance and Branding Options Available

When it comes to producing promotional products, one vital aspect that should never be overlooked is branding. Without branding, companies are essentially giving away free money. It becomes a costly endeavour with no tangible benefits for the company. That’s why you’ll find that most promotional products in the market are branded to a certain extent.

In this blog post, we will delve into the essentiality of branding promotional products and how they can significantly impact your business’s success. Furthermore, let’s talk about branded merchandise from other companies and the different branding options to choose from. So, let’s get started.

Promotional Products

Top 5 Reasons To Brand Your Promotional Products

While promotional products are powerful tools for engaging customers and increasing brand visibility, branding takes them to the next level. Here’s why you need to brand every promotional item you release in the market.

1. Builds Brand Recognition

Branding your promotional products is a powerful tool for building brand recognition. By imprinting your logo, tagline, or company name on these items, you create a visual representation of your brand that customers can associate with your business.

When recipients use or see your promotional branded products regularly, it reinforces your brand identity and increases the chances of them remembering and recognizing your business in the future.

2. Creates Positive Associations

Branded products increase brand awareness and help create positive associations with your business. By offering well-designed and high-quality items, you demonstrate your commitment to excellence, leaving a favourable impression on recipients.

This positive sentiment can translate into increased brand loyalty, customer satisfaction, and even word-of-mouth referrals, as customers are more likely to share their positive experiences with others.

3. Improves Professionalism and Credibility

When your promotional products bear your brand’s identity, it adds a level of professionalism and credibility to your business. It showcases that you pay attention to detail and are committed to delivering a consistent and cohesive brand image.

This attention to branding reflects positively on your company, helping to build trust and confidence among customers and potential clients.

4. Amplifying Brand Exposure

Promotional products act as mobile advertisements, providing your brand with increased exposure. Customers who use or display your branded items in public become walking billboards, exposing your brand to a broader audience.

This expanded visibility helps generate brand awareness and reach potential customers who may not have been aware of your business. You can amplify your brand exposure and make a memorable impact with the right promotional products.

5. Differentiating from Competitors

In a crowded marketplace, branding your promotional products sets you apart from competitors. By incorporating your unique brand identity into these items, you create a distinct and recognizable presence.

This differentiation helps your business to be easily distinguished from similar offerings, capturing the attention and loyalty of customers who resonate with your brand’s values and messaging.

Branded Promotional Products from Famous Brands

Indeed, big companies worldwide know the importance of using branded merchandise. Take a look at these famous businesses and their branded promotional products that we’ve featured before:

1. Kuzina 

Kuzina is a bakery chain in Russia. The company used two different branded mugs as part of its merchandise. The first mug was printed with the company logo on the outside, while the second cup was printed with a logo on the inner surface.

2. Starbucks x Line

Starbucks x LINE co-branding produced this promotional merchandise line specifically made to show investment in our planet. It ranges from reusable drinkware to lifestyle accessories for everyday life.

3. Corona

Our team spotted this branded bag being offered as a gift with purchase from Corona, featuring its most famous product, Corona Extra, in a supermarket we visited in Vietnam.

The brand logo and text placement at the lower part of the duffle bag is also a great design decision. It added elegance and class to the custom brewery merchandise.

4. Nordes Atlantic Galician

Nordes’ gin gift set drinking gift set comes with custom glass and a bottle of gin inside. With a white colour, the glass shows off the Nordés logo perfectly. The design of the drinkware matches the gin bottle, making it a perfect GWP idea.

5. Pepsi

These branded ceramic merchandise ideas from Suntory – are a stunning example of how this ancient art form can seamlessly integrate into modern branding strategies. This promotional campaign ran during the celebration of the Lunar New Year 2023. We found this in one of the stores in Vietnam that we visited. The ceramic merchandise comprises 4 cups, one bowl, and one plate.

Also, take a look at these branded merchandise we found during our visit to the HOFEX 2013.

Seitenbacher is a German food company that focuses on natural food products. This company offers various products like cereals, noodles, cake mixes, soups, honey, etc.

This company used promotional bowls to display its cereal products during the tradeshow. Besides that, a branded table mat was also used to attract visitors. The table mat has a large surface area for branding purposes. This makes it highly visible and easy to attract attention.

In the same tradeshow, a German juice company, Rabenhorst, and an Australian Cheese Company, Alba Cheese, have also utilized promotional trays imprinted with their brand name.

6 Branding Methods For Promotional Products

Promotional products are undeniably essential for boosting your business, but their effectiveness multiplies when customized with your unique branding. However, with many branding options available, it can be challenging to determine the best approach for your promotional items.

To help you make an informed decision, we have compiled a list of the most popular and impactful branding methods.

1. Imprinting

Imprinting is the most common and straightforward branding option for promotional products. It involves placing your logo or brand name directly onto the product using screen printing, pad printing, or heat press.

Imprinting is ideal for items with a flat or slightly curved surface, such as pens, mugs, or t-shirts. It offers a cost-effective solution for showcasing your brand and ensures maximum visibility when using the product. When choosing to imprint, consider factors like colour options, placement, and size to create a design that effectively captures your brand’s essence.

2. Embroidery

Embroidery is a popular branding technique for textiles and apparel items. It involves stitching your logo or design onto the fabric using coloured threads. It adds a touch of sophistication and durability to your promotional products, making them suitable for corporate gifts or higher-end merchandise.

This technique is commonly used for hats, jackets, bags, or polo shirts. With embroidery, you can achieve a professional, textured appearance that enhances your brand’s image.

3. Engraving

Engraving offers an elegant and long-lasting branding option for items made of metal, wood, glass, or other hard surfaces. It involves etching your logo or message onto the product using laser or mechanical engraving techniques. Engraved promotional products, such as keychains, metal pens, or plaques, convey a sense of quality and sophistication.

This branding method allows for precise detailing and creates a visually appealing, tactile experience for recipients. Engraving adds a touch of permanence to your promotional items, ensuring your brand remains visible for years.

4. Full-Color Printing

For promotional products that require intricate designs, vibrant colours, or complex gradients, full-colour printing, also known as digital printing or CMYK printing, is an excellent choice. This method utilizes advanced printing technologies to reproduce your logo or artwork in high resolution and full colour.

Full-colour printing allows unlimited colour options, photo-realistic images, and intricate details. It is commonly used for mousepads, smartphone cases, or promotional magnets. With this option, you can unleash your creativity and ensure that your promotional items capture attention and leave a lasting impression.

5. Embossing and Debossing

Embossing and debossing are branding techniques that create a three-dimensional effect on promotional products. Debossing involves pressing your logo or design into the material, making a hollow imprint, while embossing raises the structure above the surface.

These techniques add a touch of elegance and texture to items like leather goods, notebooks, or journals. Debossing and embossing provide a tactile experience for recipients, showcasing attention to detail and quality craftsmanship. They lend a sophisticated and luxurious appeal to your promotional products, reinforcing your brand’s premium image.

6. Custom Packaging

Branding extends beyond the product itself; it also encompasses the packaging. Custom packaging allows you to create a cohesive brand experience from the moment your promotional items are received.

By incorporating your brand logo, colours, and messaging on the packaging, you elevate the perceived value of your products and reinforce brand recall.

Consider custom boxes, bags, or wrapping paper that align with your brand’s visual identity and create an exciting unboxing experience for recipients. Custom packaging protects the product and serves as an additional branding touchpoint that leaves a lasting impression.

Putting It All Together

In the world of marketing, branding your promotional products is a game-changer. It builds brand recognition, creates positive associations, enhances professionalism, amplifies brand exposure, and sets your business apart from the competition.

Investing in branding efforts for your promotional products can establish a strong brand presence, increase customer loyalty, and drive business growth. So, don’t underestimate the power of branding—make it an essential part of your promotional strategy and watch your brand soar to new heights.

What Can ODM Offer?

Are you looking for a company to work with to design and create your promotional products? If so, the ODM team is here to assist you. With more than a decade of experience producing high-quality items, rest assured that we are here to give you the ideas that suit your brand and budget.

Feel free to contact our team today and let’s talk about how we can help you with your business!

Promotional Products FAQs

Why is branding important for promotional products?

Branding is crucial for promotional products because it helps create brand recognition, reinforces your brand's identity, and increases brand recall among recipients. By incorporating your logo, tagline, or company name on the products, you create a visual connection between your brand and the item, making it more memorable and enhancing the promotional impact.

Can I customize the design of promotional products to align with my brand?

Yes, most promotional product vendors offer customization options to align the design with your brand. You can choose specific colors, incorporate your brand's logo, select relevant images or graphics, and even customize the shape or size of the product. This allows you to create a cohesive and visually appealing representation of your brand on the promotional items.

How does branding on promotional products contribute to brand visibility?

When recipients use or display promotional products branded with your logo, it increases your brand's visibility. Whether it's a branded pen, a tote bag, or a tech gadget, each time someone sees the product, they are exposed to your brand. This exposure can lead to increased brand awareness, potential customer inquiries, and even word-of-mouth referrals, ultimately contributing to the overall visibility and success of your brand.

2023-06-14T18:39:48+08:00

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