We’re in early 2023, more than two years after the COVID-19 outbreak, and businesses, much like everything else, are slowly recuperating. People are returning to the office, seminars and events are retaking place, and the daily grind is normalising itself. And with this return to the office, we’re also seeing a resurgence in creative branded merchandise.
So, what sort of merch can clients and employees expect to see in 2023? Well, here’s our handy list of some amazing brand item ideas for prospective buyers to check out.
Work-from-Home Packs
Remote work is still more or less a reality for a lot of brands, even without the pandemic looming over us. Therefore, one of the best ways of motivating employees is to send them some interesting work-from-home packs with all the necessary items. Such packs can include printed notebooks, pens, phone stands, thermal bottles, earbuds, power banks, credit card holders, and much more. And all of those items would, of course, contain the company logo and any accompanying slogans.
Clothing Packs
And since we’re on the subject of logos and slogans, the most effective way to get people to notice them is through clothing. Brands effectively use customised T-shirts, hats, jackets, scarves to promote their corporate message, since clothes are an everyday item that people need. Obviously, a single item would be more than enough for our employees, but why not go the extra mile? A well-prepared clothing pack can make all the difference, especially for employees working remotely.
Event Packs
Yes, events might be taking place remotely, but that doesn’t stop brands from taking full advantage of them in order to boost their marketing and spread their message. If our employees are going the extra mile to attend a digital event via Zoom, then we should extend the courtesy and reward that commitment with a cool event pack.
Of course, event packs don’t have to contain as many items as work-from-home packs. After all, events come once in a while, so fewer items per pack are perfectly fine. That doesn’t mean we should skimp on the quality, however. A nice notebook-pen-power bank combo will be an excellent pack, and we need to make sure that each item is top-notch. That will involve proper printing, excellent colour selection, and even some customisation to fit each individual worker’s tastes and sensibilities.
Onboarding Packs
New hires require the same amount of corporate love as our mainstay employees. And what better way to welcome a new worker than with a plentiful onboarding pack?
Generally speaking, an onboarding pack should contain roughly the same items as a work-from-home pack, but we can expand it a bit further. For example, we can use custom badges, bookmarks, flashlights, touchscreen pens, and many other items that show our new workers they’ll be an integral part of the company. Each of these items will be like a starter kit, and every starter kit ought to be of high quality to get the best output from the new hires.
Desk Toys
Lots of new employees are either millennials or zoomers, i.e. two generations with the most whimsy. In other words, these hires will appreciate desk toys as corporate gifts, especially if we get creative with them.
Most companies will opt for stress balls, magic cubes, jigsaw puzzles, and similar items. Some employees will prefer an elaborate toy like brain teasers or fidget spinners. We can even go with the minimalist route and give away neat little fidget cubes with switches, balls, and gears.
Plant Pots
Plant pots are the kind of gift that an eco-friendly employee might appreciate. They don’t take up a lot of space, but they provide the room with a much-needed oxygen boost. In addition, they come in decorative pots that are either sculpted or manufactured to fit in with the office surroundings. Moreover, it’s an item that requires interaction from our employees. In other words, they will need to water it and replace its soil from time to time. That will provide the employee with a routine and increase their overall working output.
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Personal Protective Equipment
The pandemic hasn’t completely subsided yet, so masks and hand sanitisers are still a major part of our lives. With that in mind, we can make PPE work for us if we brand it correctly.
Branded masks, be they disposable or reusable, can both save lives and motivate our employees. Furthermore, we can customise each mask to fit individual workers, and we can even send them over in bulks. The same goes for hand sanitisers. We can go one step further and purchase several bulks of these products, with multiple aroma options.
Umbrellas
An umbrella is a must-have, especially with the end of summer looming closely. The hot days are close to being over, and we can expect lots of rain to come our way. And while some brands opt for raincoats and protective laptop covers, we highly recommend going the printed umbrella route. After all, it’s an item that clients can literally use anywhere any time there’s rain. And due to the size of the umbrella’s surface, there’s plenty of room for some creative branding and corporate messaging.
Sustainable Stationery
Here’s a little list of stationery that is either made out of eco-friendly materials or is eco-friendly because of how sturdy and long-lasting it is:
If we combined one of each of the items listed, we could make an excellent sustainable stationery pack. It can help save the environment while providing our employees with lots of useful items that can help them with their everyday workload. In addition, eco-friendly gifts will make our brand stand out among others as ethical and forward-thinking. And that attracts both investors and customers, as well as new employees.
Branded Merch Done the Right Way
Yes, the pandemic is on its way out, and we can’t be happier about it. But what makes us equally happy is the sheer number of branded merch choices out there. Remember, the article merely contains our top 9 ideas. In reality, there are infinite possibilities out there, and we urge our readers to give as many of them a shot as possible. If done right, branded merchandising can increase employee loyalty, draw in new employees, and keep the clients talking about us for years to come.
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Looking for locally sourced items? Browse through our made in the UK promotional products and choose the ones you like best. Then, contact us at 0800 0148 970 or simply email us today — your way to seamless marketing is just a call away!
