Promotional Merchandise Ideas for Businesses: 7 Products Worth Considering

Promotional merchandise comes in all shapes and sizes. From branded pens and printed beer mats to paper bags, notebooks and plenty more, there’s no shortage of products you can put your business name on.

Some are made to be handed out at events, while others are things your customers might use every day. The trick is finding something that suits your business and gives people a reason to use it.

You might not realise it, but StressFreePrint can supply much more than what’s listed in our online shop. We can also source a wide range of promotional merchandise, including products for retail, hospitality, exhibitions and corporate events.

So, if you’ve got a promotion coming up or fancy trying something a little different, here are seven ideas to get you thinking.

Printed Beer Mats

There’s a surprising amount you can do with a beer mat.

For pubs and breweries, custom beer mats are a handy little advertising space. They could be promoting a new drink, advertising the next quiz night or letting customers know about an upcoming event.

You could even use them to introduce a new food menu or highlight a special offer.

And it’s not just pubs that can make use of them. Personalised beer mats are also a nice touch for weddings, festivals and corporate events where drinks are being served.

The artwork doesn’t need to be complicated. There’s only so much room on a beer mat, and nobody wants to squint at tiny lettering to work out what it says. Keep the message clear and give the important information enough space.

If you’re a pub launching a new drinks range, you could also update your printed menus to match. It’s a small detail, but having the same promotion running across both makes sense.

Request a quote for printed beer mats

Branded Paper Bags

A paper bag does a fairly simple job, carrying someone’s purchase home. But add your business logo and suddenly it’s doing a little more than that.

For gift shops, boutiques and independent retailers, printed paper bags are a great way to get your branding out and about. Whether someone’s walking down the high street or taking a gift to a friend, your business name goes along with them.

Of course, the bag needs to be up to the job. A small bag for jewellery won’t need the same size or strength as one carrying clothing or boxed gifts. Getting the paper and handles right is just as important as the design.

And speaking of design, there’s no need to overcomplicate it. A clear logo and your usual brand colours can be enough to make the bag recognisably yours.

If you’re already using product labels or printed stickers, custom paper bags can help bring the whole lot together. You could even use a branded sticker to secure tissue paper around the purchase inside.

It’s a nice finishing touch without having to do anything particularly elaborate.

Request a quote for branded paper bags

Branded Pens

Branded pens aren’t exactly a new idea, but there’s a reason businesses keep ordering them. They’re useful, easy to hand out and something people might actually keep.

If you’re ordering personalised pens for an exhibition or event, a straightforward plastic pen with your logo might be all you need. For client gifts, you might prefer something a little smarter, perhaps a metal pen.

One thing I’d pay attention to is the artwork. A logo that looks great on your computer screen might lose some of its detail when printed onto something as small as a pen. Fine lettering can be tricky, so it’s usually better to keep things simple.

And if you’re taking promotional pens to an exhibition, don’t forget your business cards or leaflets. A pen’s handy, but it won’t tell someone much about what your business actually does.

Request a quote for branded pens

Branded Tote Bags

If you’ve ever been to a trade show, you’ll know how quickly you can end up carrying more brochures and giveaways than you planned.

That’s where a tote bag comes in handy.

Branded tote bags give visitors somewhere to put everything, and they’re useful for businesses too. You’ve got a decent amount of space for your logo, and people can continue using the bag once the event is over.

They’re not limited to exhibitions, either.

Independent shops, charities and businesses putting together gift packs can all make use of them.

You can keep the design fairly simple or go for something a bit more colourful. Just bear in mind what the bag is going to be used for. If you’re expecting people to carry heavier items, you’ll want something more substantial than a lightweight giveaway bag.

For exhibitions, tote bags work particularly well alongside your banner stands and printed brochures. People can pick up the information they need and have somewhere to put it before moving on to the next stand.

 Request a quote for branded tote bags

Branded Notebooks

If you’re organising a conference or training day, having a branded notebook ready for each person makes sense. They’ve got somewhere to take notes during the event and can carry on using it afterwards.

They also work well in employee welcome packs or as gifts for clients.

The style really depends on what you’re planning.

A small notebook is handy for someone who’s regularly out and about, while a hardback notebook might be better suited to a corporate gift.

And you don’t necessarily need a huge logo across the front. Sometimes a more subtle design works better, especially if it’s something you want people to use outside the event.

If you’re putting together conference packs, you could include a branded notebook with your presentation folders or brochures. It gives attendees something useful while keeping all their information together.

Request a quote for branded notebooks

Printed Paper Cups

For cafés and takeaway businesses, paper cups are something customers use every day, so having your own branding on them makes sense.

It might be as simple as adding your logo, or you could have a design that matches the rest of your café’s branding.

They’re also handy for events, especially if you’re serving drinks at an exhibition, conference or product launch.

There are a few practical things to sort out first, though.

Cup sizes, the type of drinks you’re serving and whether you need lids will all make a difference to what you order.

And if you’re a café planning a seasonal promotion, you could tie the cup design in with your menus or takeaway materials.

Imagine launching a new Christmas drinks range with matching cups and menus. It’s a nice way to bring the promotion together without changing everything about your existing branding.

We can help source printed paper cups for businesses looking for something outside our usual online range.

Request a quote for printed paper cups

Branded Water Bottles

Water bottles are another option if you’re looking for something people can take away and actually use.

They’re particularly handy for gyms, sports clubs, charity events and businesses putting together welcome packs.

For example, if you’re running a fitness centre, you could include a branded bottle when someone signs up for a membership. Or if you’re organising a charity walk or sporting event, you might want something participants can use on the day and take home afterwards.

There are different bottle styles, materials and sizes available, so it’s worth having a look at what would suit your audience.

The branding area can vary too. Bottles aren’t flat, and a design that looks great on paper might need adjusting to fit properly.

It’s another reason to think about the artwork before committing to a particular product.

Request a quote for branded water bottles

So, Which Promotional Merchandise Should You Choose?

That really depends on what you’re planning.

If you’re running a pub, printed beer mats could be something customers see every day. For a gift shop, branded paper bags might be a more useful investment. And if you’ve got an exhibition coming up, pens or tote bags could make good additions to the materials you’re already taking.

There’s no need to order a bit of everything.

Think about what people are likely to use, how many you’ll need and what you’re comfortable spending. Sometimes a relatively simple product is all that’s required.

It also helps to have an idea of your deadline. Promotional merchandise can have different minimum order quantities and production times, particularly when you’re ordering something bespoke.

If you’re unsure what’s possible, that’s something we can help with.

You don’t need to have every detail worked out before asking for a quote. Even knowing what sort of product you’re after, roughly how many you need and when you need them gives us a good place to start.

Looking for Something a Little Different?

There’s a lot more to StressFreePrint than the products you see in our online shop.

We can help source all sorts of promotional merchandise, from personalised pens and printed beer mats to paper bags, notebooks, tote bags and plenty more.

If you’ve seen something you’d like for your business, get in touch and tell us what you’re after.

It helps to know roughly how many you need and when you’ll need them. And if you’ve got a particular design, product or example in mind, feel free to send that over too.

We’ll take a look at the options and put together a bespoke quote.

Of course, if you need your usual print to go alongside the merchandise, you can still order that directly through our website.

Got something in mind? Get in touch through our Something Bespoke service and we’ll help you get it sorted.