Let’s be honest. There are a ton of tchotchkes out there and most of us have a drawer overflowing with weird t-shirts that were once freebies. Everywhere you go, there’s always another something to add to your swag stockpile and before you know it, it’s one giant junk drawer. Does branded swag really work? If used correctly, it absolutely DOES!
In a study by L.J. Market Research, it was found that 52% of consumers who received a promotional item would ultimately end up doing business with that respective company. Furthermore, 48% said they would be more than likely do business with said swag gifting group. That’s no joke.
When it comes to swag, SWAY’s been around the block – and back. We’ve dabbled in just about all of it – everything ranging from light- up glow sticks to custom branded bikes & iPads. And yes, our office is full of old t-shirts, too. Here are some tips from SWAY for making sure your item is not just another throw away.
Don’t just give it away
Do you want to put your swag in the hands of as many people as humanly possible? No. You want to have a plan. Be strategic. Swag is a great way to create awareness, open up lines of communication and be an icebreaker with key consumers. Pair your swag with a cool promotion that is interactive or reward customers for hanging on to your items. Recently SWAY created a line of t-shirts for a nightclub client. Instead of tossing them to the wolves, patrons were asked to post to Instagram using a specified hash tag at the swag station. The result was something beautiful and created some serious buzz. Not only that, it was also relevant to the event and created a meaningful gift that would serve as ongoing marketing for the brand.
Stop being so serious
These days, anything can be branded. When planning branded merchandise for clients we always go above and beyond what you might expect. Sure, water bottles and shopping bags will always be useful, but why not go for light-up car chargers or retro fanny packs? Unusual swag is what gets noticed and what gets your fans talking. We’re not suggesting you walk in to the boardroom and start throwing out branded brassieres, but when you can have fun with it, why not? There’s only time to give and receive so much swag in one lifetime.
Keep it fashionable
Just because it’s free doesn’t mean it can’t be fashionable. If your goal is to provide a solid day-to-day useful item, don’t just throw your logo on any old thing and expect for it to be the star of the show. Sometimes less is more and subtle is the way to go. A notebook with a corner embossed logo will probably be taken along to every meeting while a flashy full-color graphic might be tucked away in that ol’ “someday-I-might-use-this” (never-gonna-happen) drawer. With garments, go for fabrics that are wearable and cuts that are fashionable. The difference between a V-neck soft tee versus the least expensive option, is your brand as a walking billboard versus the next donation pile.
Tie it with a bow
Take time to present your swag respectfully. Taking the time to consider cool or custom packaging, as part of your presentation can be huge! Think about this: On your birthday, would you rather receive a gift in inspired wrapping with a big bow on top? Or would you consider it just as nice if it were handed to you with the price tag still affixed? Duh. That doesn’t mean you have to have Martha Stewart on staff or break the bank. There are tons of ideas for merchandising your swag and giving it away with flare. In fact, it’s one of Team SWAY’s specialties.
There are a TON of swag options out there…but beware. The attention to detail is everything and our team is here to help you create a potent plan with top-notch options. From start to finish, we manage your concept, design, proofs, production, and fulfillment. The Advertising Specialty Institute reports that 62% of people that receive a promotional product would be more likely to give it away before actually tossing it. With those stats, it sounds like your swag will be sticking around a while so let’s make sure it has some swagger.
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