“I want my merch to really be noticed and remembered”. This is a request we receive on a regular basis so take a look at what’s really needed for merch that makes magic.
Summary:
- Quality promotional products that have real impact are created by people who understand the importance of investing in the process
- Add a fresh spin to a popular idea as a way to stand out
- Time your delivery and always keep your target audience in mind
- Avoid trying to order merch on your own because you’ll spend more time dealing with logistics than getting the creative right
Have skin in the game
If you are working on a campaign or ordering promotional merchandise for your company and you want to stand out with something really different, you have to treat the process with respect.
Most buyers achieve lackluster results because they fail to appreciate how important branded merchandise is as part of a promotional campaign or major event. They rush to place orders, don’t think things through, delegate right down to the bottom of the line and leave things to the last minute.
When you take accountability and work with a talented team, you’ll achieve the results you want.
Reinvent the wheel
By this, I mean put a fresh spin on an existing concept. Figure out what the ‘must have’ item is right now and find a way to make it your own.
A fantastic example of this is the VB ‘Boonie Doll’, which combined then-new interactive toy technology with Australia’s favourite summer pastime: cricket. Over twenty years after it was released, this item is up for grabs for around $200AUD as a collector’s item on eBay.
Looking at this doll reminds me that our industry and our society have come a long way! It’s less than politically correct and the quality raises questions. However, it’s an excellent illustration of a promotional product becoming iconic.
Not sure which products are hot right now and how you can put your brand’s unique spin on them? Get in touch; we are full of creative ideas.
Read more: How to brief promotional products
Ditch DIY
Yes, you can do it yourself and place an order directly for merchandise, but if you’re choosing on price alone, you may as well save your money. Nothing cheap or easily accessible in any store will ever make its mark.
What’s more, when you do it yourself and order promotional merchandise on your own, you’ll waste time and money on logistics, including figuring out which supplier is reliable, determining whether the item meets quality standards and deciding how you’re going to get it to Australia and then into people’s hands.
By working with a knowledgeable team that has all the right industry contacts, you can skip these tedious steps and focus on a showstopper concept.
Don’t be a ‘logo slapper’
Not taking a strategic approach will give you a product with logo on it that nobody will think about it, ever again.
Put the effort in, and people will take notice. Even subtle branding can work in a counter-intuitive way, giving your brand a more refined and premium feel and making your items more covetable.
Understand that merch is an investment and the ROI will come. One simple example that springs to mind is a client who ordered a small series of the highest-end Blunt Umbrellas. Instead of a $5 throwaway brolly (which people hate), special clients and partners received a coveted $200 gift. Now that’s memorable. (I just hope they always remember where they left it.)
Time your delivery
Getting merch into the right hands at the right time is essential. Regardless of what you think about the promo items at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, you have definitely noticed them. They are bright and unmissable in the crowd, which is a clearly strategic move.
If what you create captures a moment or an occasion, it will stand out. We have proven this in the past when working for brands such as Tennis Australia.
Have some fun and be creative
Take a risk and be different and your merch will be headline-worthy.
This is a good attention-grabber from Korea: To bring baseball to the next generation, professional teams are collaborating with popular cartoon series creators. The result is a more child-friendly range of merch and a story worth talking about. We love the way this campaign brings two different types of interests together.
Don’t forget: When you come up with something new, exciting, hilarious or controversial, up the hype with a big announcement and press release. Talk about the story behind the design and concept and help people who receive your merch to understand the context.
If your item makes people laugh or think, all the better.
Need to make an impact with your merch?
If you want your promotional products to stand out to enhance customer experience and brand visibility, you need the help of an experienced team. Contact Inck to share your brief today.
