Promotional products are an effective way to deepen your bonds with your customers, employees, leads, and the world at large. But they require a marketing budget and, depending on your budget for this year, you might need to watch the numbers carefully to make the most of your resources.
The good news is that, regardless of whether you have a limited budget or a pull-out-the-stops kind of budget, there are promotional products out there for everyone. With the right product spread, you can add an extra layer of delight to your audience interactions that won’t break the bank.
Check out our 15 favorite options for every type of budget — with even more options to choose from in this Boundless Lookbook.
Good options
Yes, you can do some awesome promotional products on a modest budget! But if you want to do something more creative than frisbees or rubber duckies, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Try these five solid promotional products that will fit within your budget.
1. Journals and pens
These traditional products make a huge impact when done creatively. Plus, how long does it take to fill up a journal with notes? A while, and that’s what makes journals and pens such a good option for promo swag. Choose cool colors, creative bindings, or recycled pens to turn more heads. The more you can guarantee people will carry around your journal, the more likely they will remember your brand.
2. Pour-over coffee sets
Did you know you can provide branded single-serve coffee at your next event? If you cater to night owls, this is a great way to perk everyone up before a big meeting. Consider pairing it with a high-quality mug with a cool design so you can get more staying power. Bonus tip: use catchy messaging to invite clients to a creative chat over coffee!
3. Sunglasses
People love getting sunglasses at conferences and brand events! But you don’t have to stick with traditional silhouettes for your branded sunnies. Go with something funky, fun, or retro, like a Top Gun-inspired pair of Aviators.
4. Desk munchies kit
Who doesn’t love snacks? Give away emergency snack kits with a mix of decadent, healthy, sweet, and salty options. To engage with your audience after the snacks are gone, consider passing them out in earth-friendly boxes that say “Emergency Snacks” with your logo.
P.S. Try to accommodate common food allergies, like peanuts and soy, if possible.
5. Phone Stands
You want your promotional products to get a lot of airtime with your audience, right? Guarantee your place in their office by passing out branded phone stands.
Remember to work with a designer so your phone stands are colorful and crave-worthy — this will ensure recipients actually use them in their office. If you want more mindshare with office workers, this is an affordable way to become a part of their daily work routine.
Better options
Do you have a bit more wiggle room in your budget? Try these unique and cool promotional products to connect with your audience.
6. Soy blend candle
Yes, you can pass out branded candles at your next event! You can choose pre-made scents or even create a custom scent that turns heads. Since smell is the sense tied most strongly to memory, this is perfect for communicating a certain vibe or nostalgia.
7. Sustainable tees
T-shirts are one of the most popular giveaways for a reason: people love them! The key, of course, is to order shirts made of a cozy material and that feature a cool design on the front.
Since you have more of a budget, order tees made from plastic bottles. It’s an eco-friendly talking point that will excite people to stop by your booth at a conference.
8. Wireless earbuds
Wireless earbuds are a necessity for just about everyone. Provide your customers with branded wireless earbuds to make your brand a regular part of the recipients’ day.
You can even create a custom Spotify playlist and provide a link to it via a QR code. It’s a smart way to blend real life with a holistic digital experience that fits your promotional products.
9. Selfie kit
Give attendees everything they need to be an influencer. A selfie kit should include:
- Selfie stick
- Ring light
- Phone mic
- Phone stand
If you want to get more traction from this promotional product, ask recipients to film themselves with their new gear. Bonus points for posting a video online and tagging your brand!
10. Aromatherapy
Like branded candles, consider readymade aromatherapy mixes or create your own blend. Add aroma diffusers with essential oils to give people a dose of zen.
The best promo product options
Do you have a generous budget? That’s great! It means you can be as creative as you want with your promotional products. Check out these five options to really make your budget sing.
11. Retail products
Luxury and high-end designer goods aren’t just for retail stores. You can build immediate trust with customers by providing retail products that they already know and love.
If you have a healthy budget, you can buy promotional products from the retail brands you know and love. Wow your clients, customers and employees with Adidas sports jackets, Royce leather goods, Corkcicle ice buckets, and a lot more.
12. Boxed experiences
Promotional products should evoke an emotional response from your audience. If you really want to knock their socks off, create an experience that’s fed by promotional products.
The best way to do this is with boxed experiences. Ideally, this should be a collection of interconnected items that tells a story.
If you send a “Welcome To Miami”-themed surprise and give recipients sunglasses, mixers, and pool towels, that’s a good time in a box. You can even use QR codes to take recipients to a video, audio playlist, or interactive game to have fun IRL and online.
13. Custom shoes
That’s right: you can get custom Vans made in your brand’s colors. This is tricky because you need to know everyone’s size. Whether you collect people’s shoe sizes in advance or just order a spread of standard sizes, free shoes will certainly make a splash at your conference, presentation, or business meeting.
14. Bags
Did you know that, with nearly six thousand impressions, bags generate more impressions than any other promotional product in the USA? With so many forms and functions to choose from, bags are all about personality and options. Check out our All About Bags Collection for inspiration.
15. Smartwatch
Smartwatches are popular with fitness geeks, and they’re great for busy executives who are on the go. Just remember to add your logo to the wrist strap — this will get you a ton of exposure everywhere your recipient goes.
Promotional products designed for better ROI
Whether you have a modest budget this year or your CFO approved something bigger, you can source so many high-quality promotional products at any budget. These 15 are our personal favorites, but there are thousands of options available for your brand.
Boundless has years of experience helping the world’s most beloved brands connect with their customers and employees. Consult Boundless to get more mileage from your promotional products budget and Inspire Brand Love™.
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