What is a promotional product?

A promotional product is a tangible product imprinted with a brand’s logo or message. The primary purpose of a promotional product is to increase brand awareness, loyalty and recognition among consumers.

Promotional products create memorable brand experiences by connecting a consumer with a brand on a physical level and engaging their senses (sight, taste, touch, hearing and smell).

Promotional products are often given away for free by brands at conferences, trade shows and lead-generating events. Other examples of promotional marketing you might have come across in everyday life include

Some of the most popular categories of promotional products include:

Drinkware

coffee mugs, drink bottles, wine glasses, tumblers

Apparel

hoodies, polo shirts, t-shirts, jackets

Headwear

caps, bandanas, beanies

Stationery

pens, pencils, notebooks,
diaries

Bags

backpacks, totes,
trade bags

Marketing with promotional products is one of the best, most cost-effective ways to imprint your brand into the memory of consumers.

Promotional products can help a company distinguish itself from its competitors by leaving a strong impression on customers and making it easier for them to identify the brand in a purchasing situation.

If you want consumers to remember your brand logo or slogan, printing it across an item they will use in everyday life is one of the most cost-effective and fail-safe methods to achieve brand recall.

Benefits of promotional products

Heightened brand awareness and recognition among consumers

Inexpensive cost-per-impression (CPI) (proven to be the cheapest of all advertising mediums)

Differentiation from your competitors- give yourself an edge with a cool branded gift.

Increased loyalty among existing customers.

Increased likeability- consumers will love you for receiving complimentary merchandise!

A study conducted by PPAI (Promotional Products Association International) in 2021 found that

0 %
of people are more likely to remember an experience if it involved a promotional product
0 %
of consumers believe receiving a promotional product makes event experiences more enjoyable
0 %
of consumers like receiving promotional products

Source: Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) Consumer Study 2021