Promotional T-shirts are probably the most used branded merchandise across industries. But why? To answer this, let’s go over the benefits of using them for marketing, the materials and printing methods suitable for them and take a look at how brands utilised them!
Promotional shirts are wearable merchandise that brands can customise according to their standards. They are a tangible representation of the brand that customers can use every day. This combination of functionality and brand promotion is mainly what made this a popular promotional merchandise.
However, as brands, what exactly can you enjoy through this tried and tested promotional product? We listed them below.
Benefits of Employing Promotional Shirts for Your Marketing Campaign
1. Increased Brand Visibility
Promotional shirts act as walking billboards and your customers as brand ambassadors for your brand. When people wear your shirts in public, they become mobile advertisements, exposing your logo and message to a wider audience. They’re a great spark for conversation and interest as well.
This increased visibility can help create brand recognition and recall, making your brand more memorable among potential customers.
2. Cost-Effective Marketing
The cost for the production of custom shirts depends on the material for the promotional T-shirt and the detail or colour of the design. However, this is a cost-effective marketing decision since the better quality the shirt is, the more people will wear them and the more your brand will be advertised and exposed to a potential market.
3. Lasting Impression
Since the shirt is a blank canvas for your creatives to come up with a design or a statement that highlights your brand or products. These can be based on the target demographic and can be as witty or as formal as possible to create a lasting impression on the market.
4. Wider Market Reach
A promotional T-shirt can reach a wider audience the more customers use them and expose the brand while they’re on it. This exposure’s appeal is also not limited to a certain market.
On top of that, brands can release a shirt of the same design but in different sizes so even kids and teens can feel valued and seen as customers.
Common Materials Used in Promotional T-Shirts
Cotton is a textile derived from the seeds of the cotton plant. It has no synthetic compounds which makes it great for people with sensitive skin.
The textile is breathable and comfortable so it’s suitable for everyday use under any climate. On top of that, its source is abundant in tropical and subtropical regions in the world, thus it’s readily available for production.
If your looking for a highly durable fabric, then polyester is your best choice. It is a synthetic fabric known for its strength and durability. Hence, it’s typically used for promotional T-shirts aimed at active people engaged in outdoor activities.
Polyester has excellent sweat-wicking property however that also limits the breathability of the textile.
Blends are made through a combination of fabrics to attain the needed breathability, strength and cost for promotional merchandise production. For example, 50% cotton and 50% polyester to maximise the benefits of the two fabrics.
Blended fabric is best made with a goal and target market in mind so you can balance comfort, durability and affordability.
Printing Methods You Can Utilise For Your Promotional T-Shirt
Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink-blocking stencil. This printing method is excellent and cost-effective for the production of large quantities.
Due to the process, it’s only highly advisable to use when the design to be printed is simple or with solid but few colours.
This printing methods uses ink to print directly to the fabric so the design will be printed on top of the shirt. It produces vibrant colours so it’s suitable for both light and dark garments.
Heat transfer printing uses a special heat-transfer vinyl or paper to transfer the design onto the shirt. The special paper is put on top of the fabric and then heat and pressure are applied through the machine to bond the design on to the shirt.
This versatile printing method is not just suitable for fabric but also for plastic, ceramic and metal.
4 Tips for Successful Promotional T-Shirt Advertising
Understanding your target audience is crucial when designing and distributing promotional shirts.
Consider factors such as age, gender, interests, and preferences. Tailor the design, style, and messaging of the shirt to resonate with your target audience. This will increase the chances of the shirt being worn and effectively promote your brand to the right people.
The quality of the promotional shirt is essential. Choose shirts made from durable and comfortable materials and based on your target market’s preference.
A high-quality shirt will not only make a better impression on your market but also increase the likelihood of them wearing it frequently. This, in turn, extends the lifespan of your promotion and brand exposure.
Create a visually appealing and memorable design for your promotional shirt. Consider incorporating your logo, and brand colours with a catchy slogan or message. Keep the design simple, clear, and easy to read from a distance.
Strive for a design that sparks curiosity or generates interest, making people want to wear the shirt and start conversations about your brand. Our creative team can certainly help you with this.
Develop a distribution strategy that maximizes the impact of your promotional shirts. It’s important to identify events, trade shows, or locations where your target audience is likely to be present. You can also leverage influencers or local organizations to reach a wider audience.
The key is to distribute the shirts strategically to increase brand visibility and reach the right people who will wear and promote them effectively.
How To Leverage Promotional T-Shirts For Maximum Impact?
1. Leverage Events
As mentioned above, you must be strategic in your distribution of promotional shirts and events are a great place for this. Shirts can easily be event giveaways or souvenirs that generate buzz around your brand even after the event ended.
2. Engage Your Employees
Apart from building company loyalty and forging a good relationship with your employees, gifting them promotional shirts also makes them great brand ambassadors. People can easily ask them questions about your brand and you can rest assured they will speak of your company with pride and a sense of belongingness.
3. Reward Your Customers
Custom shirts can easily be incorporated into marketing strategies such as gift with purchase or collectable merchandise. These are great ways for your customers to receive gifts they can use every day from your brand to build trust and loyalty as well as increase their brand satisfaction.
Check out how promotional shirts are used across industries:
Heineken’s promotional T-shirt can easily be redeemed by customers by purchasing 2 Heineken 6 packs. Find more about the marketing campaign here:
Amstel‘s promotional shirt, on the other hand, is offered to customers with a bit of a thrill since they can obtain it through a lucky draw. Check out the full promo here:
Thailand Mcdonald’s limited offer of 2 custom shirt designs for Big Mac at a discounted price of 159 baht when ordering their beef extra value meal.
Emirates Airline made sure their passengers will have a wearable souvenir of their experience with the airline and used a promotional shirt as their merchandise. Find out more here:
Organisations like Projeto Tartarugas Marinhas (TAMAR) also used DIY shirts as promotional merchandise for kids. Read more about the campaign below:
Promotional T-Shirts FAQs
All you need to know about promotional T-shirts!
How can promotional t-shirts help my business?
Promotional t-shirts can help your business by increasing brand visibility, fostering customer loyalty, and serving as cost-effective marketing tools. They expose your brand to a wider audience and help create brand recognition and recall.
Can I customize promotional t-shirts with my logo or message?
Yes, most promotional t-shirts are customisable. You can typically choose the shirt colour, fabric, style, and imprinting method. You can then add your logo, slogan, or any other message you want to promote.
What are the different printing methods for promotional t-shirts?
Common printing methods for promotional t-shirts include screen printing, embroidery, heat transfer, and direct-to-garment (DTG) printing. Each method has its advantages and considerations in terms of cost, durability, and visual quality.
How can I distribute promotional t-shirts effectively?
There are various ways to distribute promotional t-shirts effectively. You can give them away as freebies at events, trade shows, or product launches. You can also offer them as rewards for loyal customers or as part of a promotional campaign. Another option is to sell them as merchandise, creating an additional revenue stream while promoting your brand.
What should I consider when ordering promotional t-shirts?
When ordering promotional t-shirts, consider factors such as quantity, quality, customization options, imprinting method, turnaround time, and budget. Take into account your branding requirements, such as colour matching and logo placement.
In Conclusion,
Promotional shirts are popular in marketing for their wide market reach, functionality and affordability. It’s a promotional item that both upstarts and established businesses can utilise for advertising.
Fortunately for you, ODM Group is a promotional product company with decades of experience. We have our own in-house creative team, Mindsparkz, who specialises in the customisation of promotional products according to your branding needs. Contact us today!
For more merchandise ideas, we also have a magazine with 8,000+ articles about marketing campaigns, themed promotional products and more!
Browse More ODM Blogs:
Embrace the Cozy: 10 Fall Marketing Ideas From The ODM Group To Warm Up Your Business
As the leaves turn and the air grows crisp, [...]
Engaging Audiences with Humor in Funny Spin the Wheel Promotional Ideas
“Spin the Wheel” is a fun-filled game where participants try [...]
Successful Co-Branding Partnerships: Inspiration for Business Collaboration
When two famous brands team up, it's not just a [...]
Labour Day in China and Vietnam: Celebrating Hard Work and Dedication
The ODM Zhuhai Office in China, will be closed [...]
Top 20 Gift Shop Merchandise Ideas for a Well-Stocked Store
Narrowing down the selection of products that you offer at [...]
Elevating Retail Impact with Innovative End Cap Display Ideas from The ODM Group
End cap displays are strategic marketing fixtures essential for retail [...]
Related posts:
Hidden Message T-Shirts: Great for Anti-Campaigns and Promotions
Bodystore.dk is offering t-shirts as a redemption gift
Promotional T Shirt: 6 Reasons Why This Marketing Giveaway Still Works
Ideas for Promotional Merchandise: Singapore Slingers Reversible Shirts
Heineken Makes A Statement With Its T-shirt Giveaway