Branded swag isn’t just for large companies with massive marketing budgets. It can be one of the most effective ways to get your business noticed and drive brand loyalty among customers, and employees. After all, studies show that around 85% of people remember a brand after they receive a promotional product from them – even if it’s just a small gift.
You don’t necessarily need to break the bank by investing in sophisticated tech products or luxurious garments featuring your business logo. There are plenty of budget-friendly swag options that can have a big impact on your audience (and business growth), without draining your finances.
At SplashBrands, we excel at helping companies of all sizes unlock the benefits of branded swag, whether it’s for corporate events, employee recognition programs or marketing campaigns.
Here, we’ll share some of the best low-cost idea options you can consider if you’re looking for swag on a budget.
Why Branded Swag Matters for Small Businesses
Branded swag – essentially any kind of product featuring your company’s name, logo, and colors that you can give away to employees and customers – can be an incredible resource for small businesses.
Not only do these products serve as tangible representations of your brand, drawing attention to your values and personality, but they can help enhance the results of your marketing campaigns, increase customer loyalty, and even strengthen employee engagement.
For smaller companies, branded swag is an opportunity to:
Build Brand Awareness (with a Limited Budget)
For small businesses with tight budgets, boosting brand visibility can be challenging. Large-scale digital marketing campaigns and even traditional advertising strategies are often prohibitively expensive. Budget-friendly swag offers a low-cost alternative.
Promotional products, such as pens, caps, and notebooks featuring your brand name, logo, or company slogan, instantly strengthen brand awareness. The more practical your products are, the more likely people are to constantly use them – even outside – drawing more attention to your business. Plus, prospects who receive swag from businesses are more likely to become customers.
According to one study, 85% of the people who receive branded products from a company will eventually do business with that brand.
Strengthen Customer Relationships and Loyalty
Beyond attracting new customers, branded swag plays a pivotal role in retaining and improving relationships with existing ones. Human beings are naturally more loyal to the companies they believe give them the most value. A free gift every once in a while, is a great way to deliver that value to your customers, while showing them how much you appreciate their custom.
Branded, budget-friendly swag can even shape how newer customers feel about your company. One Bain & Company study found that 25% of people viewed a brand more positively after receiving a promotional gift.
Your customers may even be compelled to “reciprocate”, promoting your company for free on social media channels, referring new customers to you, giving you great opportunities for growth.
Boost Employee Morale and Engagement
Branded swag isn’t just for customers or prospects you want to convert – it can also be an incredible tool for strengthening employee engagement and morale. Giving your staff members branded merchandise, whether it’s a company hoodie, water bottle, or notebook, makes them feel more connected to your company, and more appreciated by managers.
Branded gifts can help you welcome new employees to your team, or serve as a reminder of your company’s values, mission, and culture to existing staff. It also fosters a cohesive professional image, particularly when everyone on your team wears the same branded apparel.
Top Budget-Friendly Swag Ideas
So, what kind of budget-friendly swag ideas are worth exploring for smaller businesses? Although you’ll want the products you choose to be inexpensive, we recommend ensuring they’re still practical, valuable, and aligned with your company’s values and priorities.
Here are some great options you can consider.
Custom Tote Bags
Custom tote bags are ideal gifts for both employees, and customers. Whether they’re given away as part of an onboarding kit, or a conference attendee package, these products are versatile, affordable, and eco-conscious. They can draw attention to your company’s focus on reducing waste, while also giving recipients something valuable to use in their day-to-day life.
A durable tote bag can be used for everything from workplace equipment to shopping trips, meaning it’s great for drawing eyes to your business and logo outside of the office. Plus, the wide surface area of a tote bag means there’s plenty of room for a lot of branded elements, like a slogan, motivational phrase, or a large-scale logo.
Eco-Friendly Notebooks and Pens
Another great budget-friendly swag option for a sustainable business, notebooks and pens are functional, practical, and never go out of style. Everyone needs a notebook or pen – whether it’s for jotting down ideas or taking meeting notes. Even event attendees can benefit from having a branded notebook where they can collect contact details when networking.
By taking a sustainable approach to design – using recycled paper, or biodegradable components, you draw attention to your company’s green focus, and commitment to sustainability. That means people who see your swag are more likely to associate you with positive things.
Personalized Drinkware (Mugs, Bottles, and More)
The best budget-friendly swag options are always “useful” – and few things are more useful than drinkware. High-quality reusable water bottles featuring your logo once again draw attention to sustainability, while highlighting a commitment to wellbeing (keeping people hydrated).
Simple mugs are also practical, and great for encouraging brand recall. Your customers or employees can take these items with them anywhere, from the office to the gym. That means more eyes on your logo, and a potentially bigger return on your investment.
T-Shirts and Caps: Budget-Friendly Apparel
Branded apparel options like sweaters and hoodies might be a little expensive for smaller businesses, but there are plenty of more affordable options out there. T-shirts and caps, for instance, are budget-friendly swag options that are extremely cost-effective when ordered in bulk.
The great thing about these products is that they help to draw attention to your brand’s unique personality and aesthetic, while also extending the reach of your marketing efforts. When individuals (employees or customers) wear your branded garments, they’re acting as walking billboards for your company, potentially attracting new customers to your brand.
Tips for Maximizing Swag Impact on a Budget
The great news for small businesses is that maximizing the impact of your budget-friendly swag doesn’t have to mean spending more cash. The key to success is taking a strategic approach to choosing the right products, and working with the best vendor. Our top tips:
- Focus on Quality: Choose useful, practical, high-quality items, rather than focusing on quantity or size. A well-made tote bag or reliable pen could be more valuable to your recipients than an expensive solar charger, for instance.
- Consider alignment: Pick swag items that resonate with your target audience, and reflect your brand’s identity. For instance, if your business caters to customers interested in sustainability, eco-friendly items like notebooks made with recycled paper are a good choice.
- Buy in Bulk: Purchasing promotional items in bulk usually means you can benefit from bigger discounts and cost savings. Just make sure the items you choose are versatile and have a long shelf-life, so you can avoid unnecessary waste.
- Partner with Local Suppliers: Collaborating with local suppliers can reduce shipping costs, and help to highlight your focus on supporting nearby businesses. Don’t underestimate the value of a strong partnership.
Remember, if you’re looking for a more flexible option for creating budget-friendly swag, choosing a supplier that imposes no “minimum order quantities” on the products you want to buy can be helpful too. That way you can adapt and experiment with different products without extra costs.
How to Distribute Budget-Friendly Swag Effectively
Once you’ve identified the best budget-friendly swag ideas, and you know how to maximize their impact, the next step is figuring out how you’re going to distribute these products. The strategy you use will generally depend on who you want to impress with your new swag, for instance, you could consider giving swag away through:
- Networking events and trade shows: These gatherings are a prime opportunity to showcase your brand and capture the attention of potential customers, partners and employees.
- Customer appreciation programs: Show some love to your most valuable customers, by sending them regular customized items in the mail. You could even use swag to celebrate milestones – like a full year of working with your company.
- Employee welcome kits: Integrate your new team members into your company culture quickly with branded merchandise. Your budget-friendly swag can foster a sense of belonging, and draw attention to your brand’s values.
- Giveaways and contests: Get customers excited about your company with giveaways and contests on social media, or through your website. This can help boost engagement with your brand, and make your business stand out.
Unlocking Big Benefits with Budget-Friendly Swag
You don’t need to be a huge company with unlimited financial resources to unlock the benefits of branded merchandise. Budget-friendly swag is a great way to boost your small company’s visibility, earn customer loyalty, and enhance employee engagement.
At SplashBrands, we make it easy for companies of any size to tap into the advantages of branded products, with flexible solutions that suit every budget. Whether you’re looking for eco-friendly notebooks, custom t-shirts, or something completely unique, we’re here to help.
Explore our range of budget-friendly swag options today.