Did you know that 85% of people are more likely to choose a brand after receiving promotional items, while 88% research a company after receiving branded merchandise?
However, how to choose the right promotional products that can boost your ROI and brand recall with so many options available?
That’s our cue. We’ve curated a list of 20 branding merchandise ideas to enhance brand visibility and customer engagement.
Let’s dive in!
Why Branded Merchandise Matters?
Branded merchandise is a powerful marketing tool that helps you increase brand awareness and build customer loyalty.
You can effectively extend your brand’s reach beyond traditional advertising by offering tangible products featuring your company’s logo, slogan, or unique design.
Unlike digital ads that potential customers can easily ignore, branded merchandise constantly reminds customers of your brand since customers use or wear these items often.
Well-designed merchandise fosters a connection between your brand and your audience, making it a valuable investment in long-term brand recognition and customer engagement.
20 Branding Merchandise Ideas to Enhance Brand Recognition
1. T-shirts
T-shirts are among the most popular merch ideas due to their versatility and wide use.
Actually, the global T-shirt market should reach $64.5 billion this year, whereas the custom printing segment alone should hit $9 billion.
If you opt for merch T-shirts, they can feature:
- Your company logos,
- Slogans,
- Artwork, or
- Limited-edition designs that appeal to your target audience.
You can also offer different styles, such as oversized fits, cropped tops, or premium fabric options, to enhance their appeal.
In addition, seasonal collections, such as summer tees or holiday themes, can create opportunities for recurring sales.
💡 ProTip:
With Dynamic Mockups’ templates and tools, you can generate ultra-realistic branded merchandise mockups in high resolution for your promotional materials, eCommerce store, and social media campaigns.
Advanced customization capabilities enable you to:
- Get precise control over print areas,
- Maintain consistent design placement across multiple products, and
- Ensure your branding is always spot-on, whether on T-shirts, mugs, or tote bags.
2. Hoodies & Sweatshirts
Hoodies and sweatshirts also rank high in terms of merch items. Like T-shirts, they have a great appeal and can be fully customized.
They are especially popular as band or sports merch, highlighting the sense of belonging to a particular brand or ideology.
Naturally, you can also incorporate your logo, slogans, or any design that reflects your brand.
💡 ProTip:
Dynamic Mockups’ Bulk Create feature allows you to upload multiple designs and color combinations that we’ll automatically turn into all mockup variations.
Imagine you want to create multiple designs, such as logos, slogans, artwork, etc., on T-shirts, hoodies, and mugs in different colors.
Now, imagine the time and all the manual edits you’d need. With our tool, you can create all of them in a few clicks: 100 mockup variations in 10 seconds!
3. Beanies, Caps & Hats
Caps, snapbacks, hats, and beanies are excellent branding tools since people wear them frequently, and they are visible at eye level.
They are a great way to create a cohesive brand identity for employees, event attendees, or loyal customers.
Embroidered logos are especially popular since they make a subtle yet stylish impact.
4. Branded Tote Bags & Backpacks
Whether for grocery shopping, work, or travel, branded tote bags and backpacks offer a functional and stylish way to showcase a logo or creative design.
POD platforms allow you to print all-over designs, catchy slogans, or minimalist branding that suits various target demographics.
You can use them for corporate gifting, employee welcome kits, or exclusive promotional campaigns.
💡 ProTip:
Our Mockup Library of over 1,000 free evergreen and trending product mockup templates, including:
- Tote Bags,
- Apparel,
- Phone Cases
- Mugs
- Wall Art, etc., enables you to browse and find a perfect mockup for your promotional goals.
5. Custom Phone Cases
Since people carry their phones everywhere, a branded phone case provides continuous exposure for your brand.
In other words, people are reminded of your brand whenever they use their phone. It’s a subtle but consistent reinforcement of your brand identity.
A stylish and eye-catching phone case can act as a mini billboard, attracting attention and creating a positive association with your brand.
It can also be a good way to show off new styles and visual branding.
💡 ProTip:
With Dynamic Mockups’ advanced editing tools, you can customize your mockup fully:
- Use Photoshop blending modes to create more realistic mockups.
- Easily switch colors with the color picker or built-in Printful and Printify color combinations.
- Leverage the flexible Layout feature to place, move, and resize your designs and apply automated fitting modes to make necessary adjustments.
6. Branded Mugs & Drinkware
Beyond simply holding beverages, branded mugs and drinkware transform everyday routines into opportunities for brand engagement.
Imagine a customer starting their day with a coffee in a mug with your logo or staying hydrated throughout the afternoon with a water bottle displaying your company’s name and tagline.
These consistent reminders keep your brand top-of-mind.
The versatility of branded mugs and drinkware is another key advantage.
From classic ceramic mugs for office environments to durable travel mugs and stylish water bottles, there’s a drinkware option to align with virtually any target audience and marketing objective.
7. Notebooks & Planners
These office supplies are both functional and aesthetic and keep your brand visible in daily work routines.
You can personalize the covers with your logo, inspirational quotes, or artistic designs that reflect your brand’s personality.
Custom notebooks and planners can be part of corporate gift boxes, event giveaways, or they can even be a part of a branded merchandise collection.
8. Customized Desk Accessories
Branded office accessories offer a fantastic opportunity to enhance a workspace with both functionality and a touch of personalized branding.
- Branded Mouse Pads — A stylish, high-quality mouse pad with a brand logo or motivational design adds personality to any workspace.
- Personalized Sticky Notes — Often stuck to monitors and desks, and even passed around to colleagues, acting as miniature, mobile ads. A branded sticky note pad ensures that every memo, reminder, or quick brainstorm subtly promotes your business.
- Desk Organizers — From pen holders to tray organizers, custom-printed desk accessories help keep workspaces tidy while reinforcing brand presence.
You can even make matching sets, such as pens, organizers, staplers, etc., to create a cohesive and professional look for corporate gifting or employee welcome kits.
9. Key Chains
Sometimes, the most effective promotional items are the simplest.
Branded keychains offer a cost-effective and highly visible way to keep your brand top-of-mind with your target audience.
A keychain serves a practical purpose, so there is a high chance that your customers or business partners will use it.
You can choose from different materials, such as metal, plastic, leather, etc., and shapes, colors, and imprints to create a unique and memorable promotional item.
Besides the standard logo imprint, consider these creative keychain ideas:
- QR Code Keychains: Link the QR code to your website, a special offer, or a social media page.
- Bottle Opener Keychains: A practical and popular choice, especially for businesses in the hospitality industry.
- LED Light Keychains: Useful items for everyday situations, increasing brand recall.
- Floating Keychains: Ideal for businesses related to water sports or boating.
- Custom-Shaped Keychains: Design a keychain in the shape of your logo or a product you offer.
10. Power Banks
But power banks are more than just practical accessories. They are also powerful marketing tools.
Branded power banks offer a unique opportunity to showcase your company’s logo, messaging, and overall brand identity.
Unlike some promotional items that gather dust in a drawer, power banks address a real need, making them a welcome and appreciated gift.
They are suitable for a broad range of demographics, from students to business professionals. Almost everyone can benefit from having a portable power source.
11. Earphone Cases
The real power of promotional earphone cases lies in their customization potential.
You can imprint logos, slogans, or even full-color designs using various printing methods, including screen printing for bold graphics, pad printing for intricate details, or UV printing for long-lasting vibrancy.
The possibilities are endless, from sleek, minimalist designs to vibrant, eye-catching shapes.
You can distribute branded earphone cases at trade shows, as part of product bundles, or as a reward for customer loyalty.
12. Luggage Tags
Promotional luggage tags serve as miniature traveling billboards, exposing the brand to countless potential customers in airports, hotels, train stations, and other public places.
Durable materials are essential to ensure the tag can withstand the travel and remain attached to the luggage. A cheap, flimsy tag reflects poorly on your brand.
You can use them in various marketing campaigns, such as industry events, rewarding loyal customers, partnering with travel agencies or airlines, etc.
13. Laptop Sleeves
Promotional laptop sleeves are a fantastic way to boost brand visibility.
More than just a protective covering for valuable electronics, these sleeves offer a portable billboard for your logo, slogan, or custom artwork.
They ensure your brand travels wherever your clients, employees, or prospects go.
Choosing the right materials is key. Options range from neoprene for its flexibility and water resistance to felt for a more sophisticated and eco-friendly feel.
You can also opt for canvas or polyester for added durability.
When selecting the material and design, consider the target audience and the overall image you want to project.
14. Stress Balls
Compared to other promotional items like apparel or high-tech gadgets, stress balls are relatively inexpensive to produce, making them a budget-friendly option for mass distribution.
Stress balls come in various shapes (even cubes), sizes, and colors.
You can customize them to reflect your company’s branding or even to mimic the shape of a product or service.
15. Umbrellas
A well-made promotional umbrella is a durable and practical gift that can provide years of exposure for your brand.
From compact folding umbrellas to large, sturdy, wind-resistant models, you can select an umbrella that perfectly aligns with your brand’s image and target audience.
Beyond the basic functionality, consider the printing techniques.
Screen-printing is popular for its affordability and vibrant colors, while dye sublimation allows for more complex, all-over designs.
16. Coasters
While seemingly insignificant, promotional coasters are a versatile and budget-friendly marketing solution to reinforce your brand image and message consistently.
The design possibilities are virtually limitless, including logos, slogans, contact information, QR codes, or even artistic imagery.
Thus, you can tailor them to suit any brand aesthetic and budget and make them from versatile materials, such as paper, cork, durable rubber, plastic, and even elegant slate or metal.
17. Sweets & Mints
These small but mighty brand ambassadors are a tangible reminder of your brand long after the initial interaction.
You can choose a treat that aligns with your brand image and caters to the preferences of your target audience, from traditional peppermints and spearmints to gourmet chocolates, fruit-flavored candies, and even sugar-free alternatives.
Customization options are versatile, allowing you to apply your company logo, slogan, website address, or even a QR code.
Moroever, you can tailor packaging, size, and flavor to create a unique and memorable promotional item.
18. Magnets
The beauty of promotional magnets lies in their usefulness and longevity. Unlike flyers that end up crumpled in a bin, magnets tend to stick around.
The cost-effectiveness of promotional magnets is another major draw.
They are relatively inexpensive to produce, especially in bulk, making them an accessible marketing tool for businesses of all sizes.
Furthermore, promotional magnets can be highly targeted.
For example, a real estate agent might hand out magnets with their contact information and a QR code leading to a list of available properties.
Although small, magnets come in a dizzying array of shapes, sizes, and materials, making them fully customizable and versatile.
19. Pens
From simple plastic ballpoints to elegant metal pens, the options are plentiful to match different budgets and target audiences.
The imprint quality and pen durability play crucial roles in the pen’s lasting impact and positive brand association.
Thus, selecting quality promotional pens is important for maintaining a professional image.
Beyond simple branding, promotional pens can also incorporate innovative features such as:
- Stylus tips for touchscreens,
- Built-in flashlights, or
- Even multi-tools to enhance their functionality and perceived value.
20. Bag Hanger
This handy gadget can easily attach to tables, desks, or countertops, providing a convenient and sanitary place to hang purses, shopping bags, or backpacks.
You can customize it in terms of colors and incorporate your logo and slogan.
Wrapping Up
Branded merchandise is a powerful and creative way to promote your business, increase brand visibility, and build stronger connections with your audience.
Whether through stylish apparel, functional office supplies, tech accessories, or sustainable products, the right promotional items can turn everyday essentials into marketing tools that keep your brand top-of-mind.
However, regardless of the merch you choose, you first need to create high-quality mockups to see how your merchandise will look and to iron all the mistakes regarding asset position, alignment, color combinations, etc.
That’s where POD tools like Dynamic Mockups come to rescue.
How Can You Create Branded Merchandise with Dynamic Mockups?
Dynamic Mockups, a POD mockup generator, enables you to create high-quality mockups in seconds.
Besides our bulk creation functionality and robust editing tools, with Dynamic Mockups, you can:
🔥 Engage your users in the design process and let them create high-quality, professional mockups without leaving your platform.
At the same time, you’ll have complete control over the print quality, an essential aspect of merch design.
🔥 Create and customize backgrounds with our AI Generator by entering a text prompt. Our tool will generate the perfect scene while keeping your original design intact.
🔥 Have all your designs within reach in the Design Library, where you can quickly search and edit them with just a few clicks.
🔥 Create stunning Photoshop mockups with our powerful API to add depth and a more realistic touch to your designs.
🔥 Automate mockup creations with Adobe, WordPress, Zapier, and Make integrations, and your listing updates with Etsy and WooCommerce integrations.
Ready to take Dynamic Mockups for a spin?
Start with Dynamic Mockups for free and turn everyday objects into effective marketing tools.
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