Get the retail look: Brands you didn’t know were available as Promo Products!
The brand name vs. generic/house debate is one that is usually encountered when selecting different foods or medications at the supermarket or pharmacy. Generally, as consumers most of us are increasingly comfortable purchasing a cheaper “generic or house brand” option except maybe for our special favourites.
In contrast, when it comes to products such as clothing or tech items, “name brands” are held in significantly higher regard, even if the retailer’s own brand is virtually identical in features and substantially cheaper.
Brand names have been around ever since there have been products to sell and the growing trend in the promotional products industry is for companies who are building their brands to raise their credibility by “partnering” or co-branding with a prominent established brand.
If you’re looking to make a splash with a giveaway and want the “endorsement” of an established, high profile brand, these are the ones you should look for!
#Apparel/Accessories
Whether it’s the Nike tick symbol, their logo or brand name “lifts” most apparel items.
Andy Galbally National Sales and Marketing Manager for Chilli Promotions states: “Apparel is one of the promotional product categories that is growing in terms of adding brand names.”
“Popular brands help sell a premium in any category, but it seems that apparel is the category where the brand name mean the most,” he said.
“When you have products that you are using every day you can’t afford to have them break, tear, or fail, so there is an added confidence when you make the choice to buy a quality brand.”
Galbally also said “Brand name accessories like bags are also very popular right now. Like apparel, bags and other accessories tend to feature a brand name or logo, which helps add value to a company’s message.”
Here’s our round-up of the top 9 popular apparel and accessory brand names:
Some brands are powerful in their ability to offer multiple categories of products.
From typical sports like football and basketball to outdoor recreational activities like hiking and rock climbing, promotional products co-branded with names like Nike or Stormtech evoke a certain kind of confidence.
“The popularity of brands in the promotional market is due to the brand recognition and value of the product versus items that may look similar, but may be unbranded,” Galbally said.
#Drinkware
Galbally goes on to say: “If a well-known company is looking to offer their products as promotional items they want to ensure the “integrity of their brand” will be maintained.”
“On the customer side, it goes back to offering something customers are familiar with. Customers can get water bottles just about anywhere, but they are more likely to show off a brand name water bottle to others,” Galbally said. ..”Once a product becomes known by an eponym, you know customers are very familiar and comfortable with the brand.”
“Customers like to show off brands (in many cases seen as in line with their own personality or values) and are more willing to use the product if they perceive it to have a premium value,” he said. “Even if you know the product is exactly the same, a well established and trusted retail brand will almost always be perceived to be superior.”
Some popular drinkware brands include:
- Joco
- Maxwell Williams
- Frank Green
- Yeti
- Ariston
- Crown Glassware
#Technology
Overall, tech is a growing category within the promotional products industry. Brand name products tend to come with a higher price tag, and when it comes to tech products, people always think about the cost.
You know when you buy the Apple iPhone that you’re going to spend more than if you were to get a different more generic smartphone.
“Customers are willing to pay a premium for a branded product due to the consumer recognition and value that the brand holds,” Galbally says.
Depending on whom you ask, that extra cost might be worth it when you consider the power behind a smartphone made by Apple.
That’s also true for brand name promotional products, and for some companies the extra cost might be worth it as well, especially if you’re looking to get an item in bulk (as is normally the case with giveaways).
#Other (Stationary, Novelties)
The last category is instantly recognisable and is commonly used as everyday items. They suit most types of brand awareness initiatives marketers can use..
If you’re looking to give out a travel portfolio at a conference, “Bellroy” has the kind of quality you might be looking for.
Likewise, offering a Moleskine compendium to give some credibility to a company.
“A brand often gives the (customer) some reassurance that they are getting a quality product because they see it at retail, they know the name, and they are confident that any issue can be resolved if there is one,” Galbally says. “It also is a way to help ensure that the person receiving the gift is going to proudly use it.”
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Chilli Promotions is continuously adding brand names to product line-ups. The driving force seems to be a combination of customers looking for more options and companies recognising the opportunity to offer their products on a wider scale.
“Retail trends and brands drive consumer behaviour and this has a direct influence in our promotional products space,” Galbally said. “We watch these trends and expand our offering based on this demand. We don’t see this trend slowing down anytime soon.”
Strong brand names are perceived as more valuable in customers’ minds because they recognise and maybe identify with the name, even if there’s a product that looks similar but isn’t associated with a particular company.
“Our corporate customers are increasingly demanding co-branding as there is a desire to promote themselves and be associated with retail brands,” Galbally says.
You might not have known that Chilli Promotions offers so many brands (and there are plenty more that aren’t on this list), but the next time you’re looking for a promotional premium think about the dual impact having a brand name next to your company logo could have on your customers!
