How Important is Merch in your Marketing Strategy?

Let’s talk the stats you need to know now to answer the question on everyone’s lips – is merch important in a modern marketing world?

The short answer, yes. 

But, why? What sort of impact does this have on your current and potential customers, not to mention employee engagement and brand reputation?

Just like science, the numbers don’t lie. So for this instalment let’s cut to the chase and talk all things stats on the global promo products industry.

How Important is Merch in your Marketing Strategy?

Consumer Behaviour

According to PPAI, 83% of people can recall a brand/branding due to a promotional product received within two years. Whether you’re B2B or B2C, this is bang for your buck when it comes down to reach, impressions and overall brand awareness with PPAI estimating that the average cost of a promotional product impression is between four to six cents (USD). 

Dive in further, shall we?

• 85% of consumers have done business with an advertiser after receiving a branded item. 
• 74% of people can name the brand of a promotional product they received and shared it with someone else, demonstrating its potential for generating word-of-mouth promotion 
• 73% of consumers want to receive promo products more often

Brand Reputation & Loyalty

From exposure to impressions, sometimes it’s not all about awareness with many marketing strategies honing in on quality over quantity. Ie. reputation and tailored servicing – both of which can be assisted and amplified with promo products.

• 71% of people are shown to have a favourable perception of a company after receiving merch
• 83% of customers who received a corporate gift said it made them feel closer to the company
• 75% of customers are more likely to buy from a brand that gave them a promo item than from a brand they know just as well that hasn’t offered them a promo product.

Employee Engagement

We’re big believers in employee engagement here at Mercha. Your people matter, so it’s only right you show them! How engaged is your team? A survey revealed that 51% of employees are disengaged, while 13% are actively disengaged. Low levels of engagement means high turnover rates (leading to hiring resourcing) productivity, work ethic and team morale. 

• An engaged workforce can result in 23% more profitability and 66% better well-being compared to disengaged ones
• A small-scale experiment showed that absenteeism decreased by 27.5% after a company intervened to improve their team members' engagement.
• About 54% of employees see gifts as a sign or token of appreciation

Conclusion

Despite living in a modern world where tech and AI reign supreme, promo products still play an integral role in marketing strategies for consumers, brand reputation and employees. So now? Go shopping! 

Resources

ASI Central, PPAI, Sendoso, ELearning, Gallup, Wiley