Is it Time to “Marie Kondo” Your Company Swag?
You’ve heard of Marie Kondo, right?
If not, she’s basically the queen of de-cluttering. She’ll whip that messy closet into shape faster than you can toss another pair of shoes into it.
She’s big into only keeping things that “spark joy.”
Now, if we’re being honest with ourselves, and our copious amounts of stuff, very few material items spark joy. That’s where the KonMari method comes in. You go through the piles (and piles - yikes) of stuff you’ve collected, grouped by category, and you get rid of anything that doesn’t put a happy, cheery smile on your face.
Easy enough, and it got us thinking here at PROMOrx. If you can completely declutter and organize your personal belongings, why not take the Marie Kondo approach to your company swag as well?
3 Reasons You Should Spring Clean Your Company Swag
Marketing your business is key to highlighting the services and products you sell, and it’s no secret that promotional products - aka cool company swag - rank high in the overall marketing scheme of most businesses, resulting in a higher ROI than a lot of other marketing efforts.
Promotional products are important, and we work diligently with clients to get their customer swag just right. However, there are a lot of factors that can affect your company branded swag over time. Here are three reasons why you might want to consider a complete overhaul of your company swag ideas and trade show giveaways.
- Trends change. Remember when fidget spinners were all the rage? They still make a great trade show giveaway idea, but they’re probably no longer the “it” thing when it comes to branded swag. In fact, it would appear that some companies are doing away with the standard pens, notebooks, stress balls, etc. Instead, they’re putting their custom logo on bananas...and garlic! Branded fruit may not be right for your business, but consider the current trends, and how they relate to your target audience, and revamp the same ‘ol, same ‘ol company swag.
- Technology changes. Perhaps the biggest reason to spring clean your swag is to ensure you’re keeping up with the latest technology, especially if you do a lot of tech giveaways. The data blocking USBs continue to be hot, but consider your other USBs. The 2.0v usb may still be in vogue, but did you know there’s now a 3.0v usb that is newer and faster, and obviously, better? Little details like that can put you on the map when it comes to impressing your clients, especially at tech-centered trade shows.
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You rebranded. A lot of companies continue to use their current corporate swag even after doing a facelift of their company brand, mission, and overall marketing plan. Take this opportunity to promote the company’s rebrand by revamping the promotional products closet, and getting all new cool company swag. You’re going to want to stay in line with your new branding efforts, and old, outdated swag just won’t cut it.
Of course, there’s the old adage: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
If your personal brand/company is known for, say, plastic credit card USBs, then you may not need to do a big spring clean of your company branded swag or trade show giveaways as that may be considered going off brand. We’re not big advocates of that, but also consider point number two above. It may be worth looking into an upgrade of the same credit card USB to keep up with the changing technology.
3 Swag Ideas to Help You “Marie Kondo” Your Branded Swag
Doing a complete spring clean of your company swag may be as simple as adding a laptop bag for the employee who meets that sales goal. It may be as easy as upgrading to a metal pen instead of a plastic one. It doesn’t have to be a complicated. We want to show you three new company swag ideas that will help add a little pizzazz to your current stash of promotional products.
- Power Bank with Type-C Port. This will work with even the newest MacBooks, making it a great option for all those tech geeks out there. Your custom logo printed in full color also looks amazing, making this a stylish upgrade to your current swag closet.
- Reusable Insulated Bottles Drinkware is always a hot commodity, and it’s a great option for your company logo because bottles are reusable. Your brand sticks around for a long time. This classic design insulated bottle is at the top of the list for being cool company swag!
- Coloring Book Journals. These are the ultimate stress reliever, and are perfect for trade show giveaways, no matter what the industry is. (These would be great for the tech crowd too!) This particular journal is unique in that it’s a coloring book, but also a journal with blank pages. Dual purpose swag means your brand has lasting power beyond just a few strokes of a purple colored pencil.
Conclusion
Going through and freshening up the promotional products you’re using to promote your business will not only impress new clients, but it will also give your existing clients a fresh look at the services and/or products you offer. That’s a win-win in our book and definitely a good reason to take some time to spring clean your company swag this season. So, go on. Pull out your inner Marie Kondo, and spring clean those company swag ideas!
Comment below on one company swag product you’d like to “spring clean” either with an upgrade or a complete replacement.