Yes, promotional items do work to build brand awareness and a positive reputation for companies.

According to the PPAI 2023 Consumer Study Report:

• 60% of respondents would look up a brand they didn’t know much about if they received a promotional product from them.
• 83% said promotional products would strengthen their loyalty to brands they currently shop with.
• 73% said repeated exposure to a kept promotional product from a brand would make them more likely to consider that bread for a future purchase.

Though the type of product a company hands out determines the marketing strategy’s success, in general, people love receiving gifts and will happily use them. The more the products are used, the more potential customers will learn about your brand!

To see the best results when giving away promotional items, it’s important to choose products that are practical, but desirable.

Check out our top sellers for trending swag and new products for ideas that will get noticed by your target audience.

The most effective promotional products are items that are exciting to receive and that encourage the recipient to use them often. When choosing branded items, a company should consider which products their target audience is most likely to use in their day-to-day lives to ensure the largest number of people learn about their brand messaging.

Effective promotional products vary from company to company, for example:

• A dentist may give out branded toothbrushes.
• A brewery may be successful handing out bottle openers that feature their logo.
• A gym might choose to give out custom water bottles because their customers are likely active and drink water frequently to rehydrate.
• A veterinarian might hand out branded pet products because they’re more likely to be seen by other pet owners at a park or pet store.

It’s important to choose promotional products based on the hobbies and interests of your target audience.

Here are some of the best promo ideas by industry: 

B2B or DTC Businesses

• Businesses of all types and sizes buy printed office supplies, trade show booth displays, and giveaways as advertising materials to drum up new business.
• Branded gifts for clients and appreciation gifts for employees keep customers coming back and employees satisfied.

Education

• K-12 schools buy printed school supplies like backpacks and padfolios, prom favors, and school logo gifts for teacher appreciation week.
• Colleges and universities buy everything from spirit wear for the bookstore and university swag for recruiting top students to gifts for visiting alumni.
• We stock all the cool promotional items that schools from kindergarten to university need to raise school spirit, appreciate staff, and celebrate graduation.

Healthcare

• Hospitals, private medical practices, healthcare service networks, and senior care organizations put their official emblems on a variety of custom healthcare promotional items for patients, staff, and the public.
• Some favorites include pens and bags, as well as folders imprinted with contact information and employee gifts for Nurses Week, Hospital Week, and a host of specialized healthcare worker appreciation holidays throughout the year.

Government

• Social service departments, municipalities, and first responders like police and fire departments, as well as branches of the military, lend their seals to office items and giveaways for the public, all printed with the addresses, phone numbers, and websites that citizens need to take advantage of their services.
• Classic logo-imprinted items for government organizations include pens, folders, and other supplies as well as giveaways to attract recruits and gifts for veterans.
• Police stations and fire stations customize themed giveaways to help raise awareness for events like Fire Prevention Week and Crime Prevention Week.

Non-Profit Organizations

• Charities buy commemorative thank you gifts for their donors and volunteers, fundraising items, and awareness items that spread the word about their causes. Not-for-profit groups also purchase swag bags and supplies for money-raising events like color runs and 5Ks.

Nearly every industry invests in promotional items, including real estate, banks, energy, hospitality, restaurants, automotive and legal.

Our goal is to make buying branded merchandise fun, simple, and successful for your business. We Know Promo is more than our tagline; it is our promise.

Innovation.

We have over 8,000 promotional products available on our site to customize with your logo or design and new products are added daily. However, we don’t stop there – if you have something unique in mind that you can’t find here, one of our experienced Account Managers can source it for you.

Customer Experience.

There’s a reason why we have a 4.9/5 satisfaction rating on Google and 4.8/5 rating on Trustpilot, with 4,500+ total reviews.

It’s because our customer service is truly unmatched. When you call or chat with us you speak directly with one of our expert Account Managers ready to answer your questions and provide ideas, and when you become a customer, you’ll have a dedicated Account Manager available for all your swag needs.

Sustainability.

We don’t just talk about sustainability; we live by it.

Our headquarters is 100% solar-powered, LEED Gold certified, and holds an EcoVadis Gold rating.

Additionally, we plant trees in the Amazon to offset our paper usage (to date, in conjunction with our parent company, we’ve reforested over 260 trees), we offer carbon-neutral shipping, and we work every day to think creatively on what else we can do to reduce our footprint. We also have a wide selection (and growing every day) of eco promo.

Learn more about the Crestline difference here.

Samples are the best way to review items before you place an order. Crestline provides free samples to customers up to $20, including the cost of the products and shipping.

Existing customers may reach out to their designated Account Manager to request a sample.

Not an existing customer? Please fill out the form here or give us a call at 1-866-488-4975. A Crestline Account Manager will reach out to assist you with your request.

Please note that sample products may include a pre-imprinted logo and we may not be able to offer specific product colors.

A setup charge is a fee that our factories require to set up a screen to create each custom imprint. The amount is dependent on the item(s) being ordered. If the item is being re-ordered and the artwork is staying the same, you will not pay another setup charge. If the item is a new item, you will be charged a setup charge, as our factory will have to create a new customized screen, unless there is a free setup promotion on the item.

Yes! Crestline gives you the flexibility to ship to individual addresses, such as to your clients or employee’s homes all over the US. All you’ll need to provide is a list of the recipients’ addresses and we’ll do the rest to get those promotional products to their doorsteps. To get an accurate quote of shipping charges, please get in touch with one of our sales experts who will be happy to assist you and discuss your specific needs. We’re here to help make your shipping experience easy and convenient!

We accept three different forms of payment: Credit Card, Check and/or Purchase Order. The Credit Cards accepted are Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Card.

Purchase Orders are subject to credit approval.

Crestline guarantees quality products at fair prices. Your custom imprinted items will be delivered exactly as you approved in your proof, free from material defects, or Crestline will issue you a refund.

Because our products are customized, we cannot accept returns, outside of material defects, on products once printed with your design.

If an issue arises with your order, our expert resolutions team will make it right.

Our graphic design team can take an old logo or even just your design ideas and create something stunning. Our designers work with logos day in and day out, so they’ve seen the good, the bad, and sometimes even the ugly. They know exactly what makes an effective design and can transform what you have or create something completely new!

Tell us what your goals are and we’ll do the rest.

We won’t sell anything we wouldn’t put our name on…or yours.

At Crestline, we don’t just sell custom promotional products – we promote your brand, your message, and your business. For more than 60 years, we’ve committed ourselves to be the marketing authority in helping companies, no matter what size or budget, get their name out in front of customers, and stay there.

Crestline Promotional Products is committed to delivering quality products that enhance your brand, are safe to use, and comply with Federal and state laws. Our product manufacturers monitor their supply chains and use third party labs to assure compliance with applicable CPSIA, FDA, FCC, and state regulations.

In select product cases CA Prop 65 requires warning labels to be applied to products or product packaging being sent to and used in that state. In such cases customers will be given notice prior to orders being dispatched for production, allowing for product substitutes if desired. For more information visit crestline.com/c/compliance.