How Many Promotional Products Are There? Why You Shouldn't Start With a Catalog

Here's a question we hear all the time:

"How many promotional products are there?"

The honest answer?

A lot.

Thousands.

And while having choices sounds like a good thing, it can actually make choosing the right promotional product harder.

Too Many Choices Can Be Overwhelming

Search online for promotional products and you'll quickly discover pens, drinkware, bags, apparel, technology, food gifts, office products, outdoor products, awards, packaging and thousands of other possibilities.

Then you have different colors.

Different materials.

Different price points.

Different decoration methods.

Different quantities.

Different lead times.

Suddenly, finding a promotional product isn't quite as simple as it sounded.

That's why I don't recommend starting with a catalog.

Start with a conversation.

What Are You Trying to Accomplish?

Before we talk about products, I want to know what you're trying to accomplish.

Are you looking for:

• A customer appreciation gift?
• Employee recognition?
• A trade show giveaway?
• A community outreach item?
• A recruiting piece?
• A corporate gift?
• A nonprofit fundraiser?
• Event merchandise?
• Something for a specific campaign?

The answer helps narrow the field considerably.

Who Is Receiving It?

The right promotional product for a 25-year-old employee may not be the right promotional product for a 65-year-old customer.

A product for a police department's Junior Police Academy should be different from a VIP corporate gift.

A trade show giveaway should serve a different purpose than an executive holiday gift.

Your audience matters.

What Will They Actually Use?

This is probably the most important question of all.

The latest ASI research found that 78% of U.S. consumers keep promotional products because they are useful. (ASI Research)

That tells us something important.

People don't necessarily keep promotional products because they're promotional.

They keep them because they're useful.

That's why a quality tumbler, tote bag, jacket, notebook or other practical product can be a smart investment.

What About the Question: Are Promotional Products Free?

We also see searches asking whether promotional products are free.

Unfortunately, no. Promotional products are a marketing expense, just like other forms of advertising.

But here's where I think the conversation gets interesting.

The question shouldn't be, "How much does this item cost?"

It should be:

"What value can this product create?"

A $3 item that gets tossed aside isn't necessarily a better investment than a $7 item someone uses every day.

The latest ASI research demonstrates that useful products can generate thousands of brand impressions over their lifetimes. (ASI Research)

That's why we look at the bigger picture.

You Don't Need to Know What Product You Want

And this is something I want prospective clients to know.

You don't have to come to us knowing exactly what you want.

In fact, sometimes it's better if you don't.

Tell us:

"We're hosting an event."

"We want to thank our customers."

"We need something for our employees."

"We're trying to increase brand awareness."

"We have a $10 budget."

"We need something people will actually use."

That's enough to get the conversation started.

From there, we can help narrow down the possibilities.

That's What We Do

At CFB Promotional Products, we don't expect you to know what's available.

That's our job.

We stay on top of product trends, decoration techniques, packaging ideas and new promotional products so we can help you find something that fits your project.

And sometimes the best solution isn't the product you originally had in mind.

That's part of the fun.

Let's Narrow Down the Thousands of Choices

If you're overwhelmed by the number of promotional products available, you're not alone.

Contact CFB Promotional Products to schedule a meeting. Tell us what you're trying to accomplish, and we'll help narrow thousands of options down to the products that make sense for your audience, your brand and your budget.

Part 5 of a 5-part series.

Check out part 1 here: Are Promotional Products Worth It? Why Branded Merchandise Is an Investment - K&B/ CFB Promotional Products LLC

Check out part 2 here: How Do Promotional Products Work? Turning Everyday Items Into Advertising - K&B/ CFB Promotional Products LLC

Check out part 3 here: How Effective Are Promotional Products? What the Latest Research Says - K&B/ CFB Promotional Products LLC

Check out Part 4 here: Why Are Promotional Products Important for Your Business? - K&B/ CFB Promotional Products LLC