Merch Consumer Trends of 2023

Branded merch has become more and more of a necessity for brands and other service providers. This type of marketing is especially lucrative for online influencers and personalities.

In 2020, we saw a very big dip in overall sales of products such as clothing and footwear. According to ResearchandMarkets, the general merchandise market saw a decline from $1,843.6 billion in 2019 to $1,810 billion in 2020 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -1.9 percent. The decline is mainly due to economic hardships from the pandemic.

With the economy starting to revamp in 2021, we have seen great opportunities for smaller brands that took the time to grow their audience in the past year, to offer new and exciting merch. This is in part due to the fact that most consumer sales are being driven by the ability to connect with ones core values.

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What are your

Brands’ Values?

According to Faire’s survey data, the most purchased brand value tags were Women Owned, Made in the USA, and Handmade. Consumer purchasing patterns have become more about how they value a brand rather than the actual product itself. Most retailers shopped by brand value in order to find products that resonated with their customers.

Check Out Core Brand Values Examples: Why They Are Key to Differentiating Your Brand

A brand mission statement is important to clearly communicate the brand's purpose, objectives and how it plans to serve its audience. A clear mission allows the consumer to see their own values in your brand and make more on emotional connection. This builds brand loyalty and brand pride.

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Trends By Categories

More and more businesses are shifting to remote work and this has opened up the potential to offer a variety of merch that otherwise would not be suitable for certain brands before the pandemic. It is important to do your research and find your audience to then gear your promotional products or branded merch towards their specific interests.

Read about How The Pandemic Changed The Way People Shop

Pet Merch

As the pandemic begin extending in 2020, more and more people began adopting pets to help them cope with worldwide lockdowns. With pet adoptions on the rise, pet merch saw an increase of 1 Billion dollars annually.

According to the 2021-2022 APPA National Pet Owners Survey, 70% of U.S. households own a pet, which equates to 90.5 millions homes. This is a market that is worth looking at if you are thinking of dropping merch. Pet people love to buy toys and clothing for their dogs.

Apparel

Big clothing brands such as H&M and Zara saw a sharp decline in sales at the begging of 2020 but quickly bounced back better than ever in 2021. Despite the losses in 2020, apparel and accessories sales in the United States are expected to reach $495 Billion in 2023.

Athleisure and activewear brands suffered less of a sales decline in 2020 compared to other apparel categories, decreasing by just 2-3% vs 2019. Consumer interest in health and wellness will continue beyond the pandemic, so demand for athleisure and activewear is expected to be strong in 2021.

Although screen printing on athletic clothing can be challenging, there are ways to work around this and get the perfect print for your athletic merch.

Check Out Apparel Ecommerce Market Size in the US from 2016 to 2021

Health & Wellness

Wellness products saw a 10% increase in sales during 2020 and is predicted to increase an additional 15% in 2021 with a big push toward the end of the year. Wellness items have been on the rise for a few years now but it is predicted to hit all-time highs in 2021.

As global consumers are beginning to focus more on their wellness, products such as yoga mats and candles are among the highest sold items. These are products that can easily be manufactured and printed with your logo, they make great promotional merch!

Tech Gadgets & Accessories

Gadget such as wireless phone charges, wireless headphones, and speakers have been on top of the tech chain when it comes to consumerism. In 2021, it is projected that most people will opt for wireless EVERYTHING.

Charger pads can be a great promotional product to display your company logo or brand name. Brand artwork can be laser printed unto these types of surfaces, making it easy, fast, and affordable.

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The New Normal

Brands and retailers will need to consider how consumer behavior has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many consumers invested time and money in purchasing and learning to use equipment to facilitate fitness, cooking, working, and entertaining from home.

This means that many of the industries that thrived in 2020 could remain elevated above pre-pandemic levels, and at the same time, industries that struggled last year may find their industries have been changed permanently.

Increased remote work may lead to more travel and mobility, and business travel may ramp up, benefiting accessories like luggage and backpacks. The casualization trend that took hold in apparel and footwear last year is likely to remain.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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Promotional Merch Cultivates Brand Loyalty

Investing in promotional items does not have to feel like a loss. In fact, promotional merch should be considered standard practice, because the consumer market is so saturated with brands selling the same products or services, it’s good to stand out. We’ll take you through some stats and reasons why branded promotional items will generate revenue in the long run.

“The U.S. alone accounts for an estimated $298 billion in ad expenditures annually and was recently named the world’s largest advertising market.”

— Moumita Das

Why Does Promotional Merch Matter?

With so many marketers focusing all of their efforts in digital marketing, tangible promotional products have taken a backseat. Unfortunately, businesses that have chosen to dismiss such products, are missing out.

Infographic by PPAI Research

A 2017 study by the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) explains everything you need to know about the effectiveness of promotional products. According to the study, most people keep promotional products for an average of eight months. That means your advertisement is sitting in front of someone longer than a simple PPC ad or pop-up on a website.

Promotional products provide brands with a reliable path to reach the target consumer group by positioning their message as it will be best received. In fact, according to PPAI research, promotional products are the most welcomed form of advertising by all generations and considered most effective in providing a rationale to respond. Promotional products not only allow brand messages to effectively reach their intended audience, but they also spread the word to anyone who sees the product displayed, used, or shared.

89 % of consumers have received a promotional product in the past six months; that’s nearly nine in 10 who own a promotional product, nine in 10 who use promotional products, and nine in 10 walking billboards for a brand.

Read more: Top 10 reasons to use promotional merchandise

Swag and Brand Representation

Brand ambassadors or brand representatives are also an essential part of driving your promotional product marketing strategy forward. In many instances, your promotional products are being distributed at large events and festivals. For a successful campaign, you will need an energetic team to help promote your brand and give out your branded swag.

Check Out 18 Company Swag Ideas Employees Really Want For 2021

Every brand needs a face and voice that will go hand-in-hand with the product. It’s not just about choosing the right product, you must also find the right people to promote your brand, a friendly face with a charismatic demeanor can help build confidence in your brand. A simple pleasant interaction with your brand ambassador will eventually result in brand loyalty.

Know Your Audience

In order for you to grow your brand loyalty, you should understand who your current customers are; but no only WHO they are, but WHAT they are – in terms of their needs, their wants, and what drives them to choose you over a competitor. By focusing your time on collecting this type of audience information, you can easily build a large following that is loyal to you and your business . Once you have a good grip on who your target audience is, you can seal the deal by presenting them with custom promotional products that appeal to their specific lifestyle .

Read How To Find Your Target Audience And Create The Best Content That Connects

Continued Engagement

Show that you appreciate their business! If your brand sells products or services, a good way to ensure continued engagement and brand loyalty is by providing free gifts after a purchase has been made or after a client connection has been made. These small gestures keep you fresh on their radar and they will associate your brand with a positive feeling.

So, How does a Promotional Item Promote Brand Loyalty?

It is important to create a promotional item that is of high quality because people will associate the premium quality of the gift or promotional item with the quality of your business. This will help a lot in keeping the first-time buyers of your products forever.

Promotional products can drive consumers to your business in a cost-effective way. Giveaways bring instant brand recognition. You can expand the reach of your products or services amongst a larger audience, and these items are also excellent for building a solid customer base and driving customer loyalty.

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3 Tactics for Promoting Your Branded Merch

So you don’t have the capital to give our free promotional items? Well, we think that you can make a decent return by selling them through your website for an extra revenue stream. This will of course depend on what type of business you have as it may not apply to everyone.

Check Out Launch like Steve Jobs: 7 Ways to Build Buzz for Your Next Product Launch

Limited Run

You can create a buzz around a product that is a limited-run item that would be worth buying. Find an item that would be useful, things that can be used in every-day life or that can be great decor. A good option would be to collaborate with an artist or another business to then create something unique, this way you will also attract the audience of that other artist or brand.

Promotional Discounts

Providing a promo discount code to loyal subscribers is also a great way to push your product, especially if it’s during a holiday or a special sales day such as Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

Bundles or BOGO Deals

Promotional merch can also be an added bonus to a purchase of another product. Many times this tactic drives the buyer to chose your product over the competition if it means they will get an extra item to compliment their purchase.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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Best Promotional Merch Ideas

In the corporate world, it is often customary to have branded pens, notebooks, or mugs. While having your brand on a pen is cool, we think you can do better! Much of the branded products you will find at a conventional office space are stationary and almost expected, but we believe that having more interesting merch brings excitement about your brand for both employees and clients. Promotional merch is also used to spread brand awareness and it can also be used to work with social media influencers to promote your services or products. In this article, we will show you a few ideas for cool branded merch ideas to fit your brand.

Remember! It is not about just having promotional products but about having the right promotional products that are geared towards your audience. Therefore, it is important to do your research before creating an item to promote your brand.

Unconventional Event Swag and Promotional Items

Robo-cube puzzle fidget toy

Magnetic interactive fidget pen

Hexagon spinner fidget cube

Ball of Whacks fidget toy

Fidget Toys are the new stress balls! Everyone loves a good fidget toy to entertain themselves while taking a mental break from your desk job. Especially now that more and more people are working from home and encounter more distractions than before. In addition to the improved learning benefits, fidget toys can also reduce anxiety and stress, enhance dexterity, improve coordination and fine motor skills. Besides the benefits, a fidget toy makes for a great promotional item for potential clients or current clients as it keeps your brand on their minds, but also, who doesn’t love a cool gift? Check out ‘Fidget Toys Are Not Just Hype’ - Scientific American

Conventional and Practical Branded Products

Supersweet Coffee & Tattoos

Panton blue light glasses

Verve Coffee Shop

Ultra-portable speaker

Promotional items are also great if you are looking to do a virtual giveaway. Depending on your business, you may be looking for more traditional items that can be used to promote your brand but still motivate people to want to participate. Promotional products such as t-shirts, hoodies, speakers, notebooks, and coffee mugs are more of the traditional branded merch and can seem boring to some but if you have a good design that also ties in your logo, chances are, people will want them. What is better than a free t-shirt? A cool free t-shirt. Incorporating giveaways can be an excellent way to get people excited about your event, while also spreading brand awareness in untraditional ways.

“8% of promotional product recipients remember the name of the advertiser on the products. 85% of the recipients do business with the advertiser on the product. 83% of people like receiving them.”

Praytell agency Promo Box

Why Promotional Product Work

Promotional products are a powerful marketing tool because they allow a brand to connect with consumers by engaging their senses. Branded items are one of the only forms of advertising that allows consumers to interact with a brand on a physical level, promotional products often create more memorable brand experiences and promote brand recognition.

Family Industries has worked with brands such as Praytell Agency to create a one-of-a-kind promotional items box which included a pair of bombas socks, a thermal mug, stickers, and a scarf. All products and the box itself contained a print of their signature logo.

How to Design The Right Promotional Item

When creating your own promotional items, it is tempting to try to pack as much information as possible, but we suggest you prevent overwhelming the design with too much text. Keep these points in mind when you're designing your promotional products to create memorable gifts.

Less Is More

Keep it simple, use your brand logo and a catchy tagline, website, and if you’re able to fit it in, a phone number or a social media handle.

Use Your Brand Colors

Choose a product with your standard colors to maintain consistency in your style and to improve the chances of brand awareness. If a product option is not available in your colors, select a neutral color that will allow your brand identity to shine through your logo and text, instead.

Usefulness

You will want your product to be useful time and time again. Novelty items such as fidget toys are great to raise a smile or promote a healthy work-life balance, but depending on your audience perhaps more traditional items such as travel mugs, t-shirts or flash drives are the best options. Do your research!

Key Takeaways

Promotional products are essential for your business, over 50% of adults use at least one promotional product regularly, and 85% of that group will eventually do business with the advertised company. Additionally, the cost of a promotional item compared to regular advertising is much lower, and corporate gifts build relationships and brand loyalty.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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A Guide To Creating Your Own Merch

Creating a brand is a way to develop your unique business personality, connect with the consumer and establish yourself within the corporate market. Once you have solidified your brand, the next step can be creating merchandise that is exciting and viable to market to new or existing customers.

Some businesses may appear more suited for merch than others. For example, creative businesses or businesses that deal in similar merchandise may seem more well-placed to sell custom promotional products on the frontlines. However, the truth is that all businesses can benefit from creating merch for their own brand, no matter the product or service.

Creating merchandise for your own brand can give you the freedom to sell and use swag as custom products for any service. It’s a great and creative way to get your brand design out in front of other people and make some extra income while doing so.

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“Conversation is not simply a two-way process, but also a continuous process. Brand research enables brands to ask the questions and listen to their customers, allowing them to keep their finger on the pulse and adapt appropriately.”

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Research

Researching your audience whether you’re a service provider or a product retailer is a must. By identifying your customer demographics, you will be able to gear your merch products more specifically and ensure a successful launch.

When doing your research, you’ll want to follow these questions.

• How old is your audience?

• What are generally their interests?

• What is the general socioeconomic status?

• What is their employment industry?

The use of social media often can also be very revealing. Sometimes people aren’t that willing to share details over interviews or creating an account on your platform / store, or simply aren’t aware of their own habits.

Following your audience on social media can most often give you a very good idea of what they are into, this requires a lot of time but can be very rewarding.

Design

After the research phase, design becomes the focus. It may be enough to add your logo to a cool gadget or a wearable good, but if you are looking to make a profit, adding an element of design can really bump up the interest in your merch. It’s necessary to try to make a statement by either creating a clever design or creating a product with a lot of color and character.

Some companies may hire an artist to create a work of art to be printed unto their merch, which makes those pieces a little more valuable than if it was just your logo or a simple component of your branding aesthetic.

Diversify Your Merch

Not all merch is created equal, and not all merch is equally useful for everyone.

By diversifying the products offered, you’re giving the consumer a choice of products that best serves them. Your demographic according to your research may have different variants, this is when you should make the decision of creating different products for different people.

Anyone willing to buy merchandise is usually happy to browse a range of products and see what you have on offer, rather than only having the option to buy one thing. Happy merchandise consumers may also return to your online store to buy a different item next time, so having a choice is key.

Budget

Maximizing your budget can make all the difference. If you’re unable to offer a variety of products, concentrate on the product you think will perform the best according to your audience research.

Many brands will also launch a pre-order product(s) and can fund their merch production using this method as the purchase will be done upfront making it easier to increase your budget. While this works for most companies, we suggest you advise your customer of potential lead-times as printing and production times my vary.

Read more about What To Include In Your Promotional Products Budget

Fulfillment

If your budget allows it, we recommend using companies such as Family Industries for all your fulfillment needs. The good thing about this process is that you will never have to touch the product, they will be made, printed, packed, and shipped all from a single source. Fulfillment can become overwhelming if you have a large following and a healthy stream of daily orders, and services like fulfillment can be a time-saver and allow for you to focus on your overall business.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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For any inquiries, send us a message!

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