Give your brand a boost and consider adding co-branding to your promotional product strategy. Partner up with someone that will raise your profile and strengthen your stance on issues you feel passionate about.
The key is to first, know your target market. Next, have a clear message and, finally, choose a brand or product that makes sense.
Read more about how to leverage a co-branding strategy in our article.
Onboarding new members and employees is a key, must-win moment for businesses. While it may not be a first impression, it could very well be the first look into the heart of the brand.
Develop more effective onboarding strategies with meaningful branded merchandise.
Learn more about how to optimise your onboarding strategy in our key moment article. Or receive the in-depth guide to each of the eight key must-win moments right to your inbox.
How is your brand cut-through? Do you stand out from the crowd when it really matters? You can engage your audience more effectively with a powerful point of sale presence. A creative on-brand experience will help your audience choose your brand at the sticky end of the buyer’s journey.
Below, you’ll find out why point of sale is important for your brand. As well as how to win this key must-win moment.
Point of sale is the moment when your customer or client makes their purchase. For marketing professionals like yourself, point of sale is an opportunity to offer a better deal and increase your customers’ spend. You might also use this critical moment to make your brand experience memorable and lock in future sales or increase brand advocacy.
Effective point of sale marketing is tailored to where the sale happens. It could be your office, a physical or online check out, or your tradeshow booth. Consequently, wherever your clients are making their purchase, your brand should be on show.
Over our 20+ years of branding experience, we’ve learned that the most effective brands connect with their audience in key must-win moments. Now, these moments vary across industries, but we’ve narrowed them down to the eight most common.
You may find that your brand focus is just one of the key moments. On the other hand, your brand might find the most success in three, or five, or all of these. Whichever it is, if you can bring your brand to life in these key must-win moments, you can make a meaningful connection with your audience.
When you create a branded point of sale experience, you are ensuring your brand is visible when the money is on the table. Naturally this is a meaningful moment for many brands.
Strong point of sale presence benefits both transactional and relational marketing strategies. For example, your brand may be fighting for your customer’s attention in a high traffic environment. Or striving to build a strong brand/client relationship that outweighs the cost of your product or service. A creative and meaningful point of sale experience engages your customers.
Marketers have the ability to turn their audience’s head at a crucial point of the buyer’s journey. In a study published in the Journal of Retailing, consumers confirmed in-store communication was the most influential touch-point in generating brand positivity and influencing their buying decisions.
So how do you implement an effective point of sale presence? There’s one way that we know.
“It’s the brands’ ability to excite, engage and entice at the very front line of the sales process that often makes the difference between a customer choosing one product over another, and critically one brand over another.”
– Rosemary Chegwyn Marketing Magazine
The retail space can be tough. Your brand is forced to compete with similar products right there on the same shelf. It can be tricky to stand out from the crowd in this environment. But there is a way. Promotional products including custom displays, aisle signs and floor decals will all grant your brand the attention it deserves.
A simple way to attract attention is to break the right angles surrounding your products. The human brain has developed to recognise patterns and become aware of disruptions to those patterns. It’s a skill that’s helped us survive. Our ancestors could examine the horizon for abnormal shapes that might signify a threat. In-store, shapes that extend off the shelf automatically attract our attention.
Similarly, creative display stands will also draw your audience in. Free-standing displays are an opportunity to amplify your branding with colourful custom shapes. Thanks to the increased space display stands offer, you could also use the opportunity to educate your audience about your product’s features, promotion details or brand values.
Finally, spatial elements like aisle signs and floor decals are more subtle branding opportunities. Underfoot and out of the general eye-line may not be your first choice. However, this in-store exclusive branding is a creative way to direct your audience to your product.
While we appreciate sign spinners, that isn’t what we’re talking about here. What we are talking about are the people who represent your brand every day. Your staff. Employees are the best brand advocates you’ll have. They are your brand’s human face and as such, personify your brand’s values.
We’ve written a blog about why you should invest in staff engagement and corporate gifting. So, you’ll already know why it’s important to outfit your team with branded merchandise. You may have also read our article about how effective apparel is as a promotional product. We’ll give you the TL:DR here, but go ahead and read them to get the full story.
Reason enough to put your logo on a shirt and wear it around at the point of sale? We think so.
Our 8 key, must-win moments are all about making your audience touch-points meaningful and memorable. What better way to do that than with on-brand experiences. Promotional products don’t have to be the focus of your branded point of sale experience, but they will enhance it.
For example, consider using branded paper straws, or bamboo spoons when distributing taste samples. Otherwise, you might give your audience branded aprons when demonstrating your latest product. Finally, the simple swivel stand or prize wheel will have your prospective clients touching, moving and interacting with your brand at your next trade show or conference. When they’re done, they’ll be ready to sign up, talk numbers or answer your call to action.
A strong point of sale presence can seal the deal for your brand. Your brand must be more visible, engaging and creative than competitors. Even more, you have to connect with your audience. Promotional products can do that. Their effect is felt in customer awareness at the top of the sales funnel through to ongoing customer engagement out the other side. Point of sale is just one key moment where branded products enhance your customer experience.
June 30 and EOFY comes around quicker than you think. All year you’re careful about your marketing spend – making sure you’ve got enough to cover all the projects you’ve meticulously planned and executed. Then, when EOFY arrives, you’ve got budget left over that needs to be spent. But on what?
If you’ve read our other articles, you’ll know that branded merchandise is the answer. Products that promote your brand with every impression – increasing loyalty and engagement. Don’t lose out on next year’s budget because you managed this year’s so well. We can show you the best promotional products to invest in for your brand.
While you do have a budget surplus, it’s only a little. You predicted your campaign spending accurately and stuck to budget successfully, even saving some along the way. Great job! Now, in order to justify the same or more budget next financial year, you have to make sure you use the last of this year’s to its fullest potential.
If you’ve only got a bit to spare, look for low cost, high impact products that will give you the best ROI for your dollar.
For every 100x of these jute bags sold, a native tree is planted in degraded Australian land. Our special edition 350mm W x 410mm H gusseted bags are made from sustainable and durable jute. They have a large print space with full colour capabilities, meaning your brand is on show in all its outstanding colour. And you’re contributing to reforesting our own backyard.
Read more about jute bag’s many benefits.
Edge to edge. In full colour. Our soft cover notebook displays your brand over every inch of the front and back cover. Inside, the 128 pages of cream-lined paper feature a date grid at the top for easy note tracking.
A staple product made extraordinary with your branding.
Maxema pens are available in a wide range of colours and finishes including gloss, matt, metallic and translucent. Pick one and see how it enhances your branding and message. Styles include flat, metal, and curved clips; coloured, chrome and silver accents; gel grips; and USBs stored in the tip.
Pens generate almost 3,000 impressions over their life at less than 1 cent per impression. Talk about low cost – high impact!
On the other hand, your limited budget may be best put to rewarding your top sellers, buyers and valued corporate partners. In that case, you’ll need only a few of these premium products. A lower quantity means you have more to spend per unit.
Genuine crafted leather recovered from the manufacturing process. Our luxurious laptop pouches minimize waste and reduce leather products’ environmental impact. They are available in a rich navy and creamy taupe and fit devices up to 14 inches.
A beautiful branded product for the commuters on your team. And those clients on the go who like to keep their kit classy.
Another natural material promotional product to accentuate your brand values. Our mini 3W Bluetooth speaker features a unique limestone casing and natural bamboo grill. It has a three-hour play time and is presented in a Kraft Natura gift box with micro-B USB charging cable and instruction manual. The asymmetrical construction adds style to any desktop.
Our classically-styled lunch bag is made of robust 450gsm cotton canvas. It features PE foam insulation and water resistant PEVA lining. The folded cotton handles have tan, PU leather accents, while the front slip pocket offers space for a 130mm x 80mm full colour transfer.
Do you have a corporate picnic coming up? Offer lunch to go in these and watch your employee retention improve. We’ve got even more insights into staff engagement here.
Maybe it was event cancellations, or a campaign fell through. Perhaps you didn’t quite get to all the activities you had planned for this year. Whatever it was, you’ve got money to burn before time runs out! The below products are our picks for when you’re not limited by the cash. They’re beautiful, functional and versatile and will suit almost any future promotion or campaign.
Custom shaped, full colour patches can easily be added to your existing apparel. Alternatively, they’d make a great giveaway on their own. Imagine your audience customising their belongings with your brand or message. The beauty of these is that they encourage your clients, employees, prospects to incorporate your brand into their own wardrobe pieces and accessories.
If you can fit your message, brand or imagery into a 10cm² space, you can use a woven patch in your marketing.
Smoked glass is back in. It looks like it came along with the platforms and flares that we’re also seeing on the street.
These borosilicate mugs take us back to the orange laminate and brown linoleum kitchens of yester-year.
Today, their soft tones evoke warmth and add a nostalgic touch to your brand. Don’t worry, though – that retro feel is nothing to fear. Trends are telling us that these go perfectly with clean modern lines.
Practicality extends a promotional product’s life to up to four years. That being the case, our trunk organizer is in it for the long haul. It’s something your audience needs, even if they don’t know it yet. It’s sturdy 600D polyester construction has 40L capacity across three inner compartments. A solid base provides stability while opened and the elastic closure keeps things tight when it is accordion folded for storage.
This product’s cost reflects the value that it brings to your brand. You can expect substantial ROI in impressions, brand loyalty and appreciation from those who receive it. Not to mention the reciprocity that results in sales and referrals.
It’s EOFY? You hadn’t noticed. You prefer to play things by ear and schedule your campaigns (and spending) around what feels right. So, what have you got in the works? Events, recruiting, retention, rebranding; they can happen at any time and it’s your job to make the most of these moments. Therefore, it’s the moment made memorable that’s important, not whether it fits a budget.
At Impact we know that real products deliver unreal results, so here are a few unique products to boost your budget-free branded moments.
This is guaranteed to be one of the seven promotional products in your client’s home or office. The inverted umbrella operates “inside out” to keep moisture away from the holder when opened and closed. Its other innovations include: the soft-touch C-shaped handle that slips over the wrist to free your hands; the double layer of 190T showerproof pongee; the inner layer that includes air holes to ensure smooth, fast opening and closing; a fiberglass shaft; and an eight-rib fiberglass frame to windproof the canopy.
Are they pets, or fur-babies? If your people or your audience have animal companions, include them in your branded merchandise. Full colour pet bandanas make an impression and convey a shared interest in the things that mean a lot to your people and audience.
Our pet bandanas are light-weight, easy to clean polyester and are even available in hi-vis for extra safety on walkies.
Another trend you’ve probably seen re-emerging is corduroy. From trousers to jackets and now to headwear. Soft-textured apparel is in and we’re all for it. Our Corduroy Bucket Hats are hard-wearing with an inner sweatband for comfort. They come in two sizes to fit most, including kids.
If you like your brand to be fashion forward, these hats are a must-have.
End of Financial Year can be stressful. The last thing you want to worry about is justifying next year’s budget when you couldn’t spend it all this year. If you’ve got a surplus, give us a call. We can walk you through the best options for your budget, brand goals and audience. With over 21 years of experience in the industry, we’re confident we can give you the right ideas to deliver the right results – on brand.
Did you know that companies with strong onboarding practices improve employee retention by 82%. Additionally, productivity improves by more than 70% That’s a significant amount when you’re trying to minimise disruption to your business during a period of turnover. Are you aware that 40% of businesses believe their current onboarding strategy needs improvement? If your brand falls into this group, you’re in the right place. We believe that onboarding is one of the eight key moments for brands to make lasting connections with their stakeholders.
In this article, we will show you the best branded products to help your new hires feel welcomed and prepared. We’ll also share all the advice from industry experts to give you everything you need to make the right first impression.
Maintaining productivity in a home office is hard when you don’t have the right set up. Making sure a new employee is correctly fitted out for their role is just part of the onboarding process. But it is harder to control when they’re working from home. They will have a computer, the correct adaptors and stationery, but an ergonomic footrest is something they probably lack.
Ergonomic desk chairs and mouse mats have been available for some time. They reduce the strain of sitting for long periods, as well as the repetitive movements that come with deskwork. An ergonomic footrest complements these to provide the foot elevation and movement that our bodies need to make sitting more comfortable. They can be simple or complex, but any variation will improve your new hire’s home/work experience.
Uniforms are the best way to make people feel like a team. Even if they’re not wearing corporate uniforms to their home office, your remote workers can still feel part of the team with branded apparel. Sports tops and casual tees are easily incorporated into a wardrobe for around the house, out and about, or at team-building events.
The number one tip from Forbes when onboarding a new employee is to help them make internal connections. With that in mind, include remote workers in all the external activities your employees engage in. That means the fun runs, the games nights, and the hike you’re going on to celebrate a team leader’s five-year anniversary with the brand. Shared experiences outside the office allow teams to make personal connections and better understand each other.
Overexposure to the light emitted by our devices can disrupt our sleep and contribute to vision-related headaches. Depending on how much time your team is spending screen-bound, blue light filter glasses like ours may help alleviate some of the strain.
Printed on the arms, they have a polycarbonate frame and arms and can be supplied in a microfibre pouch or hard cases. Perfect for the desk drawer or backpack.
In 2010, MIT conducted a study on call-centre workers at the Bank of America. They confirmed their hypothesis that employees who interacted with each other more often were more productive and less stressed. In the second phase of their study, they examined what would happen if Bank of America adjusted the team’s coffee breaks to allow for more interactions. The study revealed that increasing opportunities for interactions led to stronger personal connections and enhanced the team’s performance. In a matter of months Bank of America was able to report productivity increase worth $15 million.
Your brand can facilitate office interactions with coordinated coffee breaks and top it off with a beautiful and functional coffee mug. The Fuel Mug is the latest, hottest style and that’s not because of the coffee. It is a premium 330ml porcelain mug with a luxurious matt finish on the outside and gloss white inner.
Insulated drinkware has evolved quickly over the last ten years. From single-wall, to vacuum, to copper, to triple-wall. Keeping a beverage hot or cold for hours on end is no longer an issue, which suits commuters, couriers, and long-haulers just fine.
Your branded travel mugs should be at least double wall insulated. Additionally, they should have a splashproof closure and secure lid. Powder-coated travel mugs can withstand the on-road jostling and will protect your branding. Whether it’s a one, two or full colour print, or a steel-finish engraving, your brand can go everywhere your team does.
Adding a travel mug to your onboarding merchandise helps cover all the bases for what your new hire might need to perform in their new role.
Frequently travelling between offices or appointments can be difficult. In particular, for new team members still learning the lay of the land. Keeping all their kit organised can help them stay on top of what they need from stop to stop.
Our heather backpack is comfortable and versatile in black, or grey heather. It is made from poly-canvas and features:
There’s clearly room for all the essentials. You could even fit the whole onboarding pack in there.
Onboarding new team members is a key moment for brands. A great first impression can lead to greater productivity, stronger personal connections and better staff engagement. Branded merchandise is just another tool you can use to improve your onboarding strategy and show your new hires how your brand cares for the people that make it successful. For more inspiration, you can see how our client, Built Environs, uses promotional products in their onboarding.
If you’re looking for a way to capture the attention of potential customers in a crowded space, promotional banners are the way to go. You may be surprised to learn that 68% of consumers have said they purchased a product or service because a sign caught their eye. There are a multitude of reasons why physical signage is important for business. The number one reason is that it identifies your brand. Promotional banners like the below supplement all other signage to improve brand visibility out in the real world.
Bright colours and large print spaces are not the only design elements at work for promotional banners. By moving in the wind and standing out from the landscape, no one can help but notice. Why?
Human brains are biologically programmed to notice movement. It’s a great skill for dangerous situations and works the same way for banner advertising. Our brains are always subconsciously looking for moving objects. So, fast moving objects, or things that change speed, like a flag in a high wind or a flappy inflatable man, are more noticeable because our brains need to take a pause to assess the potential threat.
Outside, simple messages take advantage of this psychology and are proven to drive 90% more engagement than detailed content that takes time to process. Inside, at an event or trade show for example, banners offer the extra space needed to highlight what makes your product or service special.
Below are the most common banners in business.
Pullup banners are the preferred portable, temporary signage for interior corporate and event spaces. They are primarily made from polyester satin fabric that won’t curl or peel on the edges, pulled tightly on an aluminium base and pole. The fabric allows for a vibrant, full colour print, while the bases come in standard and premium designs. The polyester can also be substituted for PVC for an even more durable product.
A pull-up banner offers a very large print space (2m tall x 1m wide for a large banner). This is essential when advertising the many features of your product or service, or displaying your brand in high detail. They take 30 seconds to assemble and pack away and can come with their own padded carry bags for ease of transport.
Teardrop, feather, surf, vertical and paddle all come under the flying banner category. Each offer a different effect when placed outside in the wind. Teardrop banners, for example, are held under tension and so will not whip in the wind. This means that your brand and message will be visible no matter the weather. Conversely, a vertical banner will wave more freely, while only the bottom corner of surf and feather banners will move with the breeze.
Flying banners come in many sizes, from small (2.6m tall) to large (4.7m tall) and are used to attract attention on the street and add atmosphere and grandeur to outdoor events. Flying banners often come with their own carry cases and the fiberglass rods are strong but lightweight. The sail is made from knitted polyester, they can be printed one or both sides and are designed to withstand the weather for longer. A wide range of bases are available depending on where your banner will be. These include a ground spike; 5kg and 10kg heavy metal bases; water bag; car mount; angled, vertical and horizontal wall mounts; marquee clamp; and folding cross base.
Some promotional banners are cheap. The materials they’re made from keep the price low. A pull-up banner with a plastic base and pole will be less expensive than an aluminium one, but it will be more likely to bend and warp over time. Likewise, a feather banner made from polycotton may fray faster than one made from 100% coated polyester.
It is important to note that 52% of customers are turned off by poorly made signs. 63% are turned off by misspelled signs and 56% by dirty signs. You can increase the life of your inexpensive promotional banner by keeping it out of the wind and sun, but what is the point of a banner that no one sees?
Expensive promotional banners are made from heavy duty materials, like PVC sails and fiberglass poles, as mentioned before. Materials of heavy quality are designed to last longer in more inhospitable climates. Bright sun can fade a print over time, even if it is inside by a window. However, your branding will have a greater lifespan if it is printed with quality ink on a fabric that will hold the print more effectively.
It is important to consider the climate where your banners will be placed. Is your location prone to rain, storms or long hot summers? You may need to spend a bit more to get the right banner for your brand and location.
At Impact, we offer a wide range of promotional banner options. We have access to multiple sizes that are priced accordingly. The larger the banner, the more expensive. Our feather banners have the option of Eco size. It’s not the largest, but it offers the best value for money in terms of brand visibility on print area.
Size and quality are the two basic pricing factors. However, the extras that you need, like base plates and wall mounts, will also increase the total of your order.
Finally, freight is another thing that can drive up the price on your quote. Shipping to non-metro areas or multiple locations will increase the price of the banners.
Ordering in bulk is the best way to drive down the individual price of your promotional banners. You get more for your money. And when you’re preparing for event season, it’s better to have more on hand than not enough.
Impact also offers a warehousing and fulfillment service to make managing and distributing your stock all that much easier, and cheaper. For example, you’ve bought in bulk – enough to cover everything you’ll need for the upcoming events on your marketing calendar – it will help your business’s back pocket to let us store your promotional banners at out fully insured warehouse, draw down the banners as you need them via our customized Brand Guardian™ store and let us ship them out to your locations in time for each event. You can read more about our Brand Guardian™ stores and warehousing in the blogs.
Recent studies, cited below, have shown that 68% of consumers think that signage reflects the quality of a business as well as their product. We know that like all promotional products, the quality of your signage, reflects your brand. So, let your promotional banners shout out the right message. Impact can help you find the banners that bring your brand to life at the key moment
Contact our team to book a consultation.
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