Standing out and creating lasting connections with your audience is more important than ever. Custom branded promotional gifts offer a unique way to enhance brand visibility, build customer loyalty, and drive engagement. Whether you’re looking to reward your clients, promote an event, or increase brand awareness, the right promotional gift can leave a lasting impression and elevate your marketing strategy.

Custom Branded Promotional Gift
Why Promotional Gifts Matter
Promotional gifts serve as a tangible representation of your brand, leaving a lasting impression on recipients. Studies have shown that branded gifts can significantly increase customer retention and loyalty. In fact, 83% of people like receiving promotional products, and 58% of people keep them for over a year. By giving something useful and unique, you not only remind people of your brand but also position yourself as thoughtful and customer-focused.
Types of Custom Branded Promotional Gifts
There are numerous types of promotional gifts that you can customize to suit your brand and your audience’s interests. Here are some categories to consider:
-
Practical Gifts: Items like custom pens, water bottles, and tote bags that your customers will use daily, keeping your brand in front of them.
-
Seasonal Gifts: Consider offering branded umbrellas, beach towels, or custom thermal mugs during specific seasons.
-
Tech Gadgets: Power banks, phone stands, and wireless chargers make great high-end promotional gifts that appeal to tech-savvy customers.
-
Eco-friendly Gifts: Sustainable gifts such as bamboo notebooks or reusable shopping bags show your brand’s commitment to sustainability.
Case Study: Starbucks’ Custom Promotional Gifts
Starbucks is one of those brands that knows how to incorporate a good marketing strategy. For their summer promo, the offer includes a VIP membership card that customers can use to earn points and redeem rewards, and a Starbucks Tropical Gift Card that they can use for making purchases at Starbucks stores.
To make it visually more attractive to customers, they put a lot of effort into the details. Clients can pick from any of the three different designs. To reinforce their summer promotion, they used summery colors and tropical designs. Therefore, these loyalty cards are a very good example of good customer summer promotional items. What’s also great about their promotion is that they can scan the QR code and register their cards right at the point of sale!

Custom Branded Promotional Gift
Offering these cool rewards would encourage more customers to buy their products. Being a member means exclusivity. Thus, they can redeem “exclusive merchandise” and special offers from the company. This makes customers feel valued, thus inspiring them to support the brand even more. Furthermore, earning points motivates them to purchase more, as the rewards that await them are “limited edition.”
How to Strengthen Your Business with a Custom Branded Promotional Gift?
Gift with purchase, redemption rewards, and on-pack promotions are among the most popular marketing strategies. Moreover, people are happier to buy a product that adds value for money. So, to help you improve your business by using a custom-branded promotional gift, here are a few factors to consider:
1. Offer Practical Gifts
Think abouta promotional gift offer that is useful. A valuable gift with purchase not only attracts customers’ attention but also helps boost your sales. For instance, a custom key chain, sunglasses case, or a toy. In other words, something that is non-disposable.
2. Add Value
There is a difference between a gift with purchase and a customer giveaway. With GWP, customers must purchase a minimum amount or meet specific conditions to receive your free gift, thereby driving more sales. On the other hand, a giveaway is something a company gives away for free; sometimes it costs a few dollars when bought separately. For instance, offering a free bottle opener with every alcoholic drink purchase. A GWP should increase the value of your main selling product. One good example is free luggage when customers buy a certain amount of wine or whisky. Here’s a fine example:
3. Make Your POS Display Noticeable
Make your offer visible. Well-designed POS displays will surely improve your shelf marketing! In other words, to strengthen your business with a promotional gift offer, you must appeal to the senses! With our designers’ help, you can create effective point-of-sale displays that boost your sales!
4. Tap the Power of Social Media
Market your product on social media. With so many people online nowadays, it’s easier to reach your target market. Social media has a huge impact on today’s advertising. QR codes are very popular, so you can incorporate them into your in-store displays. QR codes let customers access your website easily. See the Starbucks example above. They put their promotional offer online.

Custom Branded Promotional Gift
Related blogs:
Perfect for the summer, Starbucks is offering cute imprinted bags. The colors and designs give off a cool and relaxing summer vibe. Students and teens will certainly love these limited-edition bags!
When we think of Starbucks, we can’t help but associate the brand with delicious coffee and… interesting, exclusive coffee-shop merchandise! Check out some of their cute custom products here:
When it comes to themed promotional products, Starbucks will never disappoint you! Here’s how the company ushered in the Year of the Pig.
Cool and interesting, this cafe’s merchandise will certainly pull in customers. Being limited-edition, the products were cleared in no time. This is because customers are always fueled by the “need to have.” Since Starbucks is a popular brand, it doesn’t matter to them if the prices of their coffee are a bit higher than others as long as they are rewarded for supporting the brand.
Check out these cute little free gift merchandise by SingTel and We Bare Bears. Brilliant gift merchandise and a good example of successful promotion.
Thinking about custom branded food promotion? Get inspired by these on-pack-branded food containers!
Find out 4 benefits to promoting GWP custom backpacks. You’ll find useful information about the promotional gift offer in this case study. Therefore, it may help you decide about your own!
Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways
Custom branded promotional gifts are not just a thoughtful gesture. They’re a powerful marketing tool that can drive brand awareness, build customer loyalty, and generate new leads. By offering products that resonate with your audience, you create lasting impressions that extend far beyond the initial interaction.
At ODM Group, we specialize in providing tailored, end-to-end solutions for your promotional gift needs. From design and customization to sourcing and global delivery, our team ensures that every gift reflects your brand’s values and message. Whether you’re looking to make an impact at an event or thank your loyal customers, we’ll help you select the perfect gifts to elevate your brand and leave a lasting impression.
Contact us today to discover how ODM can bring your promotional gift strategy to life!
Explore more promotional product solutions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I invest in custom branded promotional gifts?
Custom branded promotional gifts are an effective way to increase brand visibility, build customer loyalty, and generate leads. They serve as a tangible reminder of your brand and provide long-lasting exposure when customers use them daily.
What types of custom branded promotional gifts are available?
There are a wide variety of promotional gifts you can customize, including practical items like pens and water bottles, seasonal gifts like umbrellas and beach towels, tech gadgets such as wireless chargers, and eco-friendly items like reusable bags and bamboo notebooks.
How do I choose the right promotional gift for my brand?
The key to selecting the right gift is to understand your audience and align the gift with your brand’s values. Consider the functionality of the gift, its relevance to your target market, and how well it fits with your brand messaging.
How can ODM Group help with my promotional gift strategy?
At ODM Group, we provide end-to-end solutions for custom branded promotional gifts. From initial concept and design to sourcing, manufacturing, and global delivery, we ensure that your gifts meet your marketing objectives and resonate with your audience. Our team works closely with you to ensure every gift aligns with your brand’s vision and message.





