Who doesn’t love a freebie? While the practice of distributing promotional merchandise at events and engagements is nothing new – the current boom in in-person industry events means that promotional merchandising is poised for a revival in 2024. Here’s how dealers can help customers to elevate their promotional merchandise to be far more than just a ‘bag of swag’
As more businesses seek to engage at events, the demand for promotional merchandising is on the rise. Dealers need to be poised to take advantage of this, ready to provide customers with promotional products that not only serve as effective marketing tools for their customer’s business, but for their own product ranges as well.
Promotional products are no longer just giveaways; when utilised correctly they become brand ambassadors and a highly effective tool for marketing. It’s not just about giving something away for ‘free’ – rather, the promotional merchandise a company selects is increasingly viewed as an extension of its brand personality, values and ethos. So, what are the leading trends for promotional merchandise in 2024?
Homegrown
Locally sourced is set to be a big trend when it comes to promotional merchandise. Customers are growing more conscious of product origins, manufacturing practices, and environmental impacts like carbon footprint from transport and delivery. Dealers can seize the opportunity to showcase brands in their portfolio that are UK-based, meeting customer demands for products with reduced carbon impact. Utilising locally made products not only aligns businesses with sustainability goals but also positions them as contributors to the local community.
Sustainable materials
Dealers should urge customers to embrace the growing preference for natural, recyclable, and biodegradable materials in promotional merchandise. By selecting eco-friendly materials, businesses can emphasize their commitment to environmental sustainability. While environmentally conscious notepads, pens and stationery items remain popular choices as promotional gifts, there’s a rising demand for products crafted from natural materials such as bamboo, PET plastic and cork.
Making an impression
When discussing promotional merchandising options with customers, dealers should emphasize the significance of ‘impressions’—namely, who sees or uses the product. What usually happens when a customer brings a promotional item back to their office post-event? Does it frequently wind up tucked away and forgotten in a cupboard?
A key trend for promotional merchandise in 2024 will be offering promotional merchandise that offers a more long-term impact. Another trend that dealers can look to explore are products that encourage social interaction. For instance, desk cube gardens and seed sticks or packets offer a fun way to foster plant growth in offices, promoting employee wellness and ensuring that the product is utilized rather than being relegated to a cupboard post-event.
Dealers have a significant role in guiding customers towards promotional products that not only enhance brand visibility but also reflect their commitment to sustainability and community engagement. By embracing trends such as locally sourced materials, sustainable practices and products that foster social interaction, businesses can elevate their promotional efforts beyond mere giveaways. As we move forward into 2024 and beyond, the key lies in creating promotional merchandise that resonates with customers, leaves a lasting impression and contributes positively to the community.
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