The most memorable and physical tools you can have for your company are branded merchandise. The right merch can keep your company top of mind or even get people talking online.
So what separates memorable swag from forgettable merchandise?
What kind of brand merchandise goes viral?
If you could think of one viral merch item that left an impact on you, what was it, and what feeling did it trigger? The kind of promotional merch that goes viral is the item that triggers an emotion. When your merch makes people feel something and they feel a rush to share it, that’s when it starts becoming a trend.
At KMG, we specialize in building campaigns that will make your brand memorable. For one of our clients, Turquoise Health, we coordinated a standout on-site coffee experience at a conference this year. We designed branded coffee sleeves featuring Turquoise’s booth number, hired a barista to craft espresso and coffee drinks, and created playful signage linking coffee to price transparency, combining Turquoise’s main agenda of healthcare price transparency and creative branding.
The merch you create shouldn’t be just anything you can put your logo on and hand out. It should be useful products that people want to use, show off, and share. Focusing on what current color trends are and following trendy products will be a game-changer in finding trendy and memorable products for your company. From trending monster plushies to funky reusable water bottles, you can find a memorable, trendy product that boosts your customer engagement.
For our KMG team, we created reusable water bottles and glass coffee cups that our team members could use both in and outside of work. These items were intentionally chosen to be simple, sustainable, and on-trend, everyday products people actually want to carry with them.
What company should you use to make your branded merchandise?
Nearly every merchandise manufacturer promises “100% satisfaction,” but too often, your branded products can arrive late, cost more than expected, or look nothing like what you approved. KMG uses services like Uber Courier to hand-deliver merchandise when last-minute events that need branding and shipping wouldn’t arrive in time.
Having a partner who has experience in merchandise production is key. The knowledge they bring comes from trying what the industry has to offer and knowing the secrets to make sure your company’s merch is a success.
How much merch inventory should we keep?
One of the biggest things to keep in mind with merchandise is storage. Ordering large shipments for each event can often mean leftover items, while stocking up in bulk to save on shipping and handling requires space to store it all. Storage companies can help, but they add another ongoing cost to consider. An alternative worth exploring is drop-shipping or print-on-demand partners, which allow you to order per item rather than committing to large quantities upfront. This can reduce storage needs, minimize waste, and give you more flexibility, especially if your merch lineup or event schedule changes.
How to strategically market your merchandise?
Now that we have created a memorable and trending promotional item, we have to make sure to share it effectively. Consider targeting key moments and audiences: gift your merchandise to loyal customers, influencers, or partners who align with your brand values. The goal isn’t just visibility; it’s about making every handoff an opportunity to spark conversations, encourage social sharing, and strengthen connections.
For example, our client Canopy Works recently attended a nursing conference with an audience full of nurses. Since coffee is a go-to remedy for exhaustion, especially for nurses working long shifts, we created a giveaway to select winners by gifting them Nespresso machines.
With the right strategy, your merchandise can do more than promote; it can tell a story, and become something people are proud to use, wear, and share.