Branded merchandise is a fantastic marketing tool within the retail industry. It not only increases brand exposure, but also generates more revenue for your business. The last year has seen the retail industry been affected where many shops had closed their doors for months at a time. With both footfall and revenue massively down, retail businesses have needed to adapt and use alternative marketing strategies to keep their business afloat. Many businesses have chosen to ramp up their digital marketing and ecommerce as well as some moving to branded merchandise to help them bolster sales and make up for closures and restrictions. With retail brands seeing the positive impact of promotional products, many are looking to keep using branded products once things return to something more normal.

1.      Choose the right branded merchandise.

When it comes to choosing the right promotional products for your retail brand, it’s important to factor in your target audience wants and needs. For instance, if you’re a coffee shop owner it would be useful to sell your own branded drinkware, similar to the likes of businesses including Starbucks and Costa Coffee. Not only will this create brand appeal, but it is a great opportunity to boost brand recognition, since your customers are essentially advertising your business for free as they go about their business with their branded merchandise.

 

2.      Consider cost and production.

It’s important to consider your budget when deciding on branded merchandising. Whilst you want to be cost-effective you should never compromise on quality. As a result, it’s best to get the right balance between cost and quality. Choosing a good supplier is important as they will be able to advise you on the best promotional products to communicate your message, as well as considering your return on investment.

 

3.      Engage your customers with a free gift.

An advantage of branded merchandise over digital marketing is that it is tangible for your customers. Giving your customer a free gift when they spend over a certain amount, which happens to be branded with your logo, not only helps to build a solid base of loyal customers, but it can also increase average order value, as customers may be more inclined to spend more so they can receive their free gift.

Branded merchandise within the retail industry is definitely worth adding to your marketing strategy. Promotional products can be a great conversation starter to create buzz around your brand, increase revenue and brand loyalty. We can supply thousands of branded merchandise to suit any budget or campaign. If you need any further advice on what promotional products you should use for your retail business, then get in touch today!