Clever Promotional Products

Promotional gifts are a dependable method for getting your brand noticed and increasing business. A few stats that may make your jaw drop:

• 8 in 10 consumers own at least 1 promotional item
• 89% of consumers can recall the name of an advertiser on a promotional product they received in the past 24 months
• More than 50% of consumers keep a promotional product from 1-4 years
• After receiving a promotional product, 85% of consumers do business with the advertiser.

Reasons, such as the ones listed above, are what we are constantly shouting from the rooftops — promotional products need to be part of your marketing strategy. From pens, to drinkware, bags, and t-shirts, there are a ton of tried-and-true options that will make potential customers really happy (success!). But this piece is dedicated to those looking to make a bigger splash by choosing something a bit off the beaten path. There are many benefits to going this route:

• A unique experience/promotional item keeps your brand memorable.
• People will be more likely to share or show off a clever item to others, extending your brand reach and impression.
• A creative product still takes advantage of all the benefits of a regular promotional item, so you won’t be missing out on anything!

Clever Corporate Gift Ideas

Now, onto the promotional goods. Keep in mind, some of these items are things people may never consider buying themselves, but would find very useful if they were to receive one. Which really, pretty much makes them the perfect gift!

2-Piece Stainless Steel Custom Reusable Straws

Reusable straws are having a moment, but that moment is really a movement.

As the threat of climate change climbs, more species are added to endangered lists, and tales of more plastic in the ocean than fish emerge, it’s no wonder the shift to be more environmentally conscious is gaining speed alongside these horrors. One simple change many people are taking notice of is simply switching to reusable straws — and by “people”, we also mean the likes of Starbucks, Coachella, and the City of Portland, all of which recently ditched plastic straws. Gifting a reusable straw is a great way to send a positive message to consumers and join the conversation for environmentally-sustainable choices.

From a practicality perspective, this is a compact, lightweight gift people can easily slip into their pocket or bag — always a great convenience when milling around a crowded convention. While any business could make the case for gifting this set of reusable straws (the need to go green is a universal conversation), it would fit especially well with a brand in the food or beverage industry, such as a coffee shop or café, or beverage brand.

Tool Sets

Most of us are not Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor, and when it comes to fixing things, well, sometimes it’s just easier to call someone. Which isn’t to say we’re incapable of fixing them, but rather we don’t have the needed tools to get the job done — which is why this compact but extremely useful tool set, is an amazing promotional gift. The tools in this set are especially unique, as each piece is multi-use so you get the most out of each and every one. For example, the barrow tool has 10 different uses (multiple wrenches, built-in screwdriver bits, wire stripper, bottle opener, and more). This set is perfect for a low-maintenance person who needs to fix the occasional item around the house; although it’s also the perfect item to stash in your car for on-the-road emergencies. This high-quality tool set is a perfect promotional gift for a business geared towards hardware or home improvement/DIY.

Custom Emergency Kits

There’s nothing quite like the freedom of the great outdoors and being one with nature — until something goes wrong and you realize civilization is miles away. Enter this handy emergency kit. It’s wonderfully clever as a promotional item, because, well, who would ever throw it out? It’s a perfect item to stash in the car, a backpack, or among hiking/fishing/outdoor gear thanks to how compact and lightweight it is.

An emergency kit is a clever promotional gift for a brand geared towards the outdoors (hunting, fishing, climbing, hiking, etc.). Equipped with items like a whistle, knife blade, fishing hooks on line, a cotton fire tinder, among others, this emergency kit is a nice way to show clients you support their interests — and have their backs if something goes wrong.

Portable Custom Lounger

We’re going to cut right to the chase — these portable loungers are, in a word, amazing.

They make for the perfect on-to-go afternoon nap anywhere, but also have a ton of other features to love (as if portable nap ability isn’t enough). They’re huge, with the ability to hold up to 550 pounds, but fold up in a wonderfully compact, small, self-contained bag. They also require no external pump; to inflate them you simply catch the air as you walk back and forth with it. Oh, and the top inflates to create a pillow, and there’s even a pocket for a drink and an iPad®. Comfy, convenient, and environmentally friendly. Not bad at all. From a branding perspective, this large novelty item provides plenty of space to prominently display your company name, logo, etc. Similar to the custom emergency kit above, this item is a great giveaway for any outdoor-related brand, although you could make the case for its relevance in almost any industry. This portable lounger sends a relaxing message — its the item to choose if you’re going for a chill, Zen vibe with your promotional gear.

Custom Solar Charger

We’re a super tech-dependent society. iPhones®, tablets, laptops — all these items make our life wonderfully convenient and connected. But one of the massive downsides is battery life. We can all relate to the annoyance (and maybe slight panic) of searching for an outlet when our battery life is dangerously low and flashing red. Enter this dreamy solar charger. Its compact design makes it perfect for use anywhere. And it’s wonderfully environmentally friendly, which, as discussed above, is a trending (and serious) topic du jour. This solar charger, like the reusable straws, sends a message of your brand being connected to the green movement. And frankly, it’s just a cool product; a conversation starter. Having your brand imprinted on it is a great way to get in on that conversation. The solar charger is a great gift for a business that wants to send a green message with a high-end product.

Wireless Charging Custom Padfolio

This smart padfolio is a must-have business item. It’s a 2-in-1 product that allows someone to take notes while simultaneously charging their device. A multitasking dream wrapped up in a sleek design! A blend of old and new, it houses a notepad (like, literal paper), elastic pen loops, a smartphone stand, and, drum roll, a charging bank, which you can connect to wirelessly. This item is perfect for any business-minded, on-the-go person. It’s a fantastic way to have everything you need for roving meetings — coffee shops, business lunches, conferences, etc. This handsome padfolio makes a wonderful gift from any business-oriented industry, such as a law firm, advertising agency, hospital, or university.

Bottle Shaped Water-Resistant Custom Bluetooth Speaker

This handy Bluetooth® speaker is indeed clever — a tech item with the look of a water bottle

(a wildly popular promotional item) provides an interesting aesthetic. It also provides great functionality, as it’s portable, rechargeable, and even water resistant. It has a rubber carrying handle that can be clipped onto a backpack for ease of travel, especially when at the beach or camping. While it makes for a fun gift for an outdoor, or party-oriented business, a Bluetooth speaker is useful, literally, anywhere. It’s a really good “show off” item that can be used at home or even on a desk.

Smart Wifi Video Promotional Doorbell

This promotional item will really get people talking — it’s out there, in the most wonderful, tech savvy way. It’s functional, serving a real purpose, but is on theme with items people will love, but not necessarily buy for themselves. The smart Wi-Fi doorbell features some super cool things. For starters, it produces a live feed, which streams to your smartphone so you can instantly see and communicate with whoever is at your door. It also starts recording as soon as its sensor is triggered, which is a fantastic safety measure. And it’s not impeded by nightfall, thanks to its infrared technology that allows it to work in the dark. This is a dream promotional gift for any business related to safety and/or security. One such industry could be an insurance company that provides this clever gift for policy-holders, perhaps as a welcome gift or a 5-year “thank you” gift.

We hope these creative promotional gifts have made you think outside-the-box when it comes to corporate giveaways. Of course, there’s always a place for the more common (and highly popular) items, such as mugs and tote bags, but the items discussed in this piece just bring a little more oomph — which will get your potential customer’s attention (and appreciation). Check out all of these items, and more, on ThePromoOutlet.com. Looking for something off-the-wall that isn’t listed here? Get in touch. We’re always happy to brainstorm with you to find the perfect promotional product to increase your brand awareness and wow your customers.