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We talk routinely about the business side of promotional products, branded merchandise and logo’d apparel. The fact of the matter is, bottom-line effectiveness and pennies-per-contact results are good business for non-profits and charitable organizations, too. Name recognition, brand recall, and long-lasting impressions – the very same reasons any for-profit employs the use of promotional products – are sought-after marketing results in the non-profit world, as well.

Here are three BIG ways promotional products work for non-profits:

Building Brand Awareness

Even the most worthy of causes won’t get much love if potential donors, volunteers, etc., don’t know about it. Using branded merchandise and promotional products provides non-profits an inexpensive way to get – and stay in front of – folks who may participate in some way in their fundraising and awareness efforts. Over the years, The Dunstan Group has worked with 24 Hours of Booty, LIBSTRONG, Cookies for Kids Cancer, and other great local and nationally-recognized charitable groups to grow their brands and their reach. Whether you’re working to create a PR kit, a unique leave-behind or calling card, or a piece for a trade show or community event… there’s a way to use promotional products to elevate your brand above the rest of those jockeying for donors’ attention.

Rewards and Recognition

The list of opportunities to reward participants goes way beyond finishers shirts for a charity 5K. Recognizing top fundraisers, standout volunteers and others who made an impact on your efforts with logo’d apparel, awards, and other branded bits create lasting marketing impact that goes beyond the awards and appreciation dinner. Handsome plaques and one-of-a-kind awards earn places of distinction on trophy shelves and desks, and can be conversation starters with friends, family, and visitors. Logo’d apparel, bags, drink wear, and other useful gear turn incentives into everyday advertising with your brand and cause in the middle of the conversation.

Additional Dollars and Lasting Impact

It’s no secret that your non-profit or charitable groups is in the business of raising awareness AND raising money. And many non-profits bring along branded merchandise and logo’d apparel to events and fundraising opportunities for that very reason. Tees, hats, drink wear, jackets and bags, etc., can serve the dual purpose of generating extra dollars on the spot. The Dunstan Group’s intel on product trends and categories, and access to hot brand names, styles and colors, can further that lasting impression. Whether purchased or gifted, logo’d merchandise and apparel generates the highest brand recall for consumers, and most say they’re willing to transact with the brand associated with that promotional merchandise, too!

It’s hard to argue that branded merchandise, promotional products and logo’d apparel don’t have some place in your non-profit marketing efforts. Give us a call or send us an email here at The Dunstan Group to start a conversation and begin your success story!

A grand opening, a new product launch, or trade show… they’re easily the short list of “go to” opportunities for branded merchandise and logo’d apparel. But smart marketers know, branded merchandise and promotional products should have a place in their overall marketing effort.

Still need convincing? The numbers speak for themselves, and so do your current and potential customers. In a worldwide survey by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), folks who own a promotional product or piece of logo’d merchandise were able to recall the advertiser 85% of the time! No other form of advertising comes anywhere close. Sure, that’s incredible brand recall, but does it translate into sales? Sure does! More than one-third of those who received branded products said they’d be more likely to do business with the advertiser.

The secret to getting the most from this kind of marketing spend isn’t rocket science. It’s as simple as listening and understanding your customer. Promotional products with the most longevity – and thus the most opportunity for brand recall – are those the customer finds the most useful. It’s no wonder pens, shirts, bags, calendars and desk accessories continue be category leaders.

For the first time, Charlotte was included in the 2014 ASI study. Here’s what we learned about folks in our own hometown:

• Nearly two-thirds of Charlotte consumers report owning a promotional hat.
• 66% of Charlotte consumers who own a promotional calendar are more likely to do business with the advertiser.
• More than one-half of Charlotte consumers who own logo’d drinkware keep it because it looks good!

Use of branded merchandise and logo’d apparel continues to have some of the lowest cost-per-impression. That’s particularly big news for small businesses, where an entire marketing budget could be absorbed in producing a single video – with no money left to promote it. But even the biggest businesses know there’s value here. Here in the hometown of the big banks, healthcare, NASCAR, and then some, think about how many promotional products you’ve seen sporting their logos.

And if you can’t afford to blanket the market with your brand, you don’t have to. Thanks to their more “personal” appeal, logo’d merchandise and promotional products most often end up in the hands, on the desks, heads or shoulders of your actual customers – and those most likely to be your next ones. That kind of targeting is practically impossible with most any other type of advertising medium!

Start planning now to take advantage of the The Dunstan Group’s promotional products expertise. Call or email us to schedule a review of your marketing plans and how to incorporate branded merchandise and apparel into your 2016 strategy.