Why You Need a Promotional Products Partner

Why You Need a Promotional Products Partner
A promotional products distributor is a creative partner with experience that can help you get unique, branded products that advance your company's mission and goals. In this article, we'll explain what these consultants offer and why you need them.

Promotional products are an effective way to draw attention to your brand. Unlike digital or print advertising, products are long-lasting. Anyone who has ever watched an episode of American Pickers has seen the show's collectors rave about old Coca-Cola collectibles or neon bar signs from Pabst or Budweiser. These companies have staying power thanks in large part to clever promotional products (also called branded merchandise or advertising specials) that enhance their brands.

But how do you make your brand stand out? The American Marketing Association advises that promotional products should be practical, attractive, enjoyable, and relevant. You can use promotional products with prospects, customers, and even your own employees, but it's often difficult to know which products are most effective and how to brand them in the most creative way.

To help you find the right promotional products to support your goals, you need to find a distributor consultant who can provide creative advice, smart marketing expertise, and helpful strategies to help you get the most out of your products.

So what is a promotional products distributor? Why do you need one?

Why do promotional products work

Research shows that promotional products are effective at increasing brand awareness. When you invest in marketing tools that engage your audience, you become their first choice when they need your products or services.

Here are some facts and figures to know:

Promotional products are the most viewed form of advertising among consumers.
76% of people remember the brand name on promotional items.
Promotional items bundled as a purchase gift at checkout sell more than products sold separately at a discount.
U.S. businesses spend $20 billion on promotional products every year. The world's largest companies use these tools to build customer loyalty, spread their advertising message, and more. They use them to connect with customers, tell a brand's unique story, express gratitude, and inspire specific actions, all while increasing brand awareness, recognition, and equity.

What is a promotional products distributor?
Most importantly, a promotional product distributor is a creative partner who can help you select and design unique, branded merchandise that advances your company's mission and goals. These marketing experts work with you to develop ideas for promotional products and how to use them most effectively.

Working with a distributor consultant will give you confidence in which products and strategies will work best for your brand, your audience, and your specific campaign. In fact, the right partner will streamline the entire process, from ideation to your client's hands.

5 Reasons to Work with a Promotional Product Distributor
When you work with a promotional product distributor, you get more than just a physical product, you get a relationship and a tailored experience. Yes, they have access to unique and quality promotional items, but more importantly, they are a great resource to help you develop your promotional marketing plan.

Developing a strong partnership with one of these promotional industry experts will make your promotional product campaign more likely to be a success. Here's why:

1. They understand the big picture.
Distributors are creatives with a wealth of marketing knowledge who are eager to share that knowledge. They will work with you to identify your marketing goals and integrate promotional products and merchandise into your campaign. By building a strong distributor relationship, you gain an imaginative and strategic team member.

2. They have inside product knowledge.
By working with a promotional product distributor, you gain access to their unique industry expertise and knowledge of emerging trends to help your campaign stand out. Through their professional connections, they have access to millions of products, from simple products like stickers, keychains or pens, to high-end products like gourmet food baskets, fashionable clothing or luxury drinkware (which were particularly popular last year). During the pandemic, distributors have even become experts in securing personal protective equipment (PPE), which also doubles as promotional marketing. Best of all: distributors can find novelty items that you can't get.

3. They have experience.
Promotional product distributors participate in continuing education and communication, which keeps them up to date on the latest products, regulations that ensure product safety, new industry innovations and trends. They can save your marketing team valuable time by recommending products that best represent your organization and its message.