Printwear & Promotion The Total Promotional Package
Jennifer Burton, marketing executive at promotional merchandise distributor Steel City, provides a run down of 10 unique and unusual promotional gifts to help you stand out from your competitors.
Are you looking for a way to stand out from your competitors? Do you want to add a playful twist to your next marketing campaign and make people smile? Well look no further!
We are often asked for weird and wacky promotional gifts, and see it as an exciting challenge to source an unusual and quirky branded item. From fully bespoke stress characters to colour changing mugs and umbrellas, there is a huge range of unique, fun promotional gifts to choose from.
1) Bespoke shape stress items
Stress relievers are probably the most versatile and customisable promotional product available; the foam can be formed into the shape of any object you could possibly think of! Maybe you are promoting an engineering company – a hard hat stress reliever could be a good brand fit, or maybe you want to launch a new delivery service or work in the logistics industry – how about a branded stress van?
The list of stress shapes is almost limitless, from pigs and penguins, to bananas, champagne bottles and even different characters (think doctors, nurses, police, office workers!). If a stress reliever is not quite enough, how about making it into a keyring or phone holder?! With such a diverse selection of stress relievers, no matter what industry or sector you are promoting, there is most likely a stress reliever item for you!
2) Mobile ring lights
It is all about video marketing these days if you want any chance of making an impression on your social media channels. A handy promotional device that you could send to your customers are Genie Selfie Lights. They clip onto a smart phone iPad, tablet or laptop, and with an adjustable light will enhance the look of any live streams or insta-worthy snaps!
Or you could try a 1080p HD branded webcam that incorporates a ring light – for all those important Zoom meetings! Both items can be printed with your company logo and will be a daily reminder of your services or goods.
3) Colour changing products
One way to surprise and wow your customers is with a promotional gift that changes colour! Add a logo to a full colour printed ceramic mugs that reveal your artwork as hot water is added to them.
We can offer a colour change umbrella where your branding goes from white to a rainbow motif when in wet conditions! Or how about a printed T shirt that reveals the colours of your branding when exposed to the sun? For a more budget friendly unusual promotional gift, colour change silicone wristbands, stress balls and even rubber ducks are a bit out of the norm and will turn your customers heads!
4) Gifts made from unusual materials
Another way to make your customers both old and new stop in their tracks is with a gift made from an unusual material. Add a logo to pencils made from recycled CD cases, denim and even money! If you market a car dealership, a branded tyre tread ballpen or coaster made from recycled tyres could align closely to your offering.
5) Add novelty to your marketing campaign
A fun way to inject personality to your marketing is with a novelty giveaway. If you are organising a party or want an ice breaker at your next exhibition, selfie props, head boppers and card masks are a cheap and cheerful way to spread a smile and make sure your brand is fondly remembered.
Promotional socks are such a cool idea to promote your marketing message! Fun, quirky and with a massive branding area to get creative. We are sure your brand will be centre stage by gifting socks branded with your logo!
A novel idea to bring your Christmas marketing alive is to give out chocolate sprouts! Yes, you did read that right, chocolate sprouts! Sure to make your customers to do a double take and start conversations flowing!
6) Sweet surprises!
Similar to the chocolate sprouts, a sweet surprise that isn’t quite what it seems, are branded grab bags with chocolates that look like pebbles! And while we are on the subject of chocolate, if you are in the engineering or construction industry, how about sending out chocolates in the shape of tools, presented in a branded gift box?!
If you are looking to add a playful, retro twist to your next branded giveaway, a stick of rock, or individual rock sweets with your company name or custom wording running throughout the middle could be just the ticket.
7) Unusual, innovative gadgets
If you want to really dazzle your customers, an innovative gadget could be the perfect choice. Interactive UFO drones printed with your logo to the central panel would be a real show stopper! Or a bamboo BT speaker supplied in retail style packaging, could make for a thoughtful and memorable business gift.
In fact, we can supply a number of gadgets where your brand logo will light up when used, including a light up powerbank. If you want to promote your awareness of personal protection, you could consider branded earbuds which come in a UV-C sterilising charging case or a UV-C sterilising box incorporating a 10,000mAh powerbank.
8) Engage with your customer with interactive items
A fun way to engage and interact with your customer, whether it be reveal a new product or service, a special offer or a campaign message is with a promotional puzzle. Jigsaw puzzle coasters for example, are small and light and so are an ideal low cost direct mail idea. Promotional games like playing cards, frisbees, and juggling balls could also make for an out of the norm, unusual interactive gift.
If you are wanting to mark a business anniversary, showcase a long standing product/ range or even if you are celebrating a company start up, look no further than promotional seeds and plants. They are a fun and creative way to convey a marketing message of growth, not to mention the mental health benefits of caring and growing plants! By sending out to your customers, you can celebrate with them and invite them to ‘grow with you’
9) Unusual gifts for the home
With the shift to many office workers spending more time at home, unusual promotional gifts for the home could strike the right note with your target audience and get you to stick in their minds!
Items for the kitchen like spaghetti measures, serving spoons and spatulas, cutlery, glass sets and even cheese board sets can all be branded with your logo. Promotional tool sets, tape measurers and radiator fobs are all handy items to have within reach when at home. Home fitness is also an on-trend activity, and products that make it easy and enticing to do a bit of exercise at home – like resistance sport bands – can make a unique business gift to offer.
10) Budget friendly unusual items
If you are restricted on your budget but still want to create a unique marketing campaign, don’t worry, there are plenty of promotional options which could take the edge over your competitors. Both our promotional stickers and magnets can be completely bespoke and designed to suit your message. So whether you are wanting to have a bit of fun with our vinyl cut stickers or make sure your brand is seen daily, these two ideas would work with a low marketing budget.
Another budget friendly promotional item is perhaps one of the most well-known in our industry – the logo bug! Also, customisable in a huge number of colours and styles, you can make sure your brand brings a smile to your customers face!
We hope this content has sparked some creative marketing ideas for your next event, exhibition or campaign.
