Branded Merch in B2B: Smart Strategy or Outdated Play?
Let’s be honest, most branded merch is…forgettable. Raise your hand if you’ve ever walked away from a business event with a branded reusable tote bag only to absent-mindedly throw it into the trunk of your car with the 200 other reusable tote bags? Not saying that reusable bags aren’t doing their part to thwart impending planetary doom, but did you really need another one? Exactly.
However, when done right, branded merchandise can be a powerful way to foster a lasting relationship with your clients by giving them a memorable gift and staying top of mind. Whether it’s a handwritten thank you card with a gift that you hand deliver, or an unexpected customized tchotchke that you snail mail, a client gift can go a long way in making someone’s day. The detail matters!
In this blog, we’ll share some fun merchandise ideas, also known as merch, and how we show appreciation to our clients. We'll also discuss how to ensure your swag aligns with your vibe and values.
“God is in the detail”
Print Collateral that Wows!
Consistency Is Key…
Back in the Bronze Age, printed collateral was considered business advertising 101. At the very least, everyone carried a business card. If they were seriously entrepreneurial, they’d hand you a #10 trifold featuring highlights of their services, too! But once we entered the Internet Age, print eventually became passé. Case in point: Evelyn has a box of 500 business cards that were printed over 20 years ago—she still has about 50 cards left!
She stopped bringing them with her to networking opportunities several years ago because she said it felt a bit cheesy… “Uh, nice to meet you, here’s my card.” But guess what? Lately, when she attends business functions, people are asking her for her business card. WHA? She dug out that ol’ box of biz cards!
Print is making a comeback…sorta. With the advent of on-demand digital output and the ability to produce small batch runs, it’s cool again to promote your business with printed items, provided they are of high quality and/or have utility. Quality digitally printed items can be a signature piece, such as a refined, well-designed brochure or a clever poster advertising your business.
Print collateral also refers to business cards, postcards, and a wide range of other printed materials. First and foremost, these items should reflect your brand and be consistent with the colors and typography used on your website, in your logo, and anywhere else where your business is visible.
Ideally, a client familiar with your business should be able to identify your visual brand just by looking at it. Effectively branded merchandise drives brand recall, employee engagement, and client retention.
Moo and Vistaprint are excellent options for businesses of all sizes. They offer a range of downloadable templates to ensure your designs look top-notch and provide an easy-to-use online platform that streamlines the entire process.
Of course, we also advocate for cultivating relationships with local print shops. Supporting a local business is essential for your community and can also be a valuable collaborative opportunity. We love working with Quality Graphics & Printing, which was formerly based in Arlington but is now located in Sterling, VA. We’ve worked with Joe and Sam since Design Powers was founded in 1996.
🍃 Sustainable Tip: You have the option to use recycled paper stocks, soy-based inks, or support printing companies that use FSC-certified printers, among other environmentally friendly options.
“Building a good customer experience does not happen by accident. It happens by design.”
Client Gifts that Feel Personal
Ditch the dull — give your clients something tasteful or tasty!
ABOVE: Back in 2001, before Etsy existed, Evelyn discovered a West Virginian woodworking company that crafted bear claw salad fingers and had them literally branded with the company name on the wood. 25 years later, some clients STILL use this gift.
BELOW: In 2004, before Spotify and other music-sharing platforms, Evelyn burned CDs that featured a common theme: all the songs were about saying “Thank You.” She also included a fire-engine red metal CD holder.
A client won’t remember a boring pen, but they’ll absolutely remember a thoughtful gift they can use repeatedly! Please don’t slap a logo on cheap tchotchkes that’ll end up in a landfill. The best merch is stuff that people will use all the time, or something novel that they didn’t know they wanted. I’ve seen well-done travel bags for toiletries, sweatshirts can be a hit, and even simple carabiners can be useful.
If you’re looking for thoughtful gifts to give away at an event (but you need to buy in bulk), custom candles or soaps are great options - practical and guaranteed to be used repeatedly. Also, environmentally friendly. Branded snacks or drinkware will keep your services in mind. We recommend creating a branded postcard with a special, limited-time offer (such as a discount on a service you’d l ike to give away) as a thank you to your guests for attending.
For our client projects, we strive to tailor our gift to each client's industry or personality. For our office-based clients, we’ve created branded mugs with their new logo—perfect for that morning cup of coffee. For out-and-about professionals, we’ve created keychains with a QR code that, when scanned, directs to their website. That way, if their customer wants to visit their site on the spot, all they need is their phone.
One of our clients is an occupational therapist who assists patients with sleep disorders. We created luxurious personalized sleep masks for her (yes, we couldn’t resist). One of our all-time favorite gifts was a light-up LED sign featuring a client’s logo, which she could hang in her office and turn on during Zoom calls.
We’ve also indulged sweet tooths with custom chocolates from Artisan Confections in Arlington, VA, and cookies from @BakedbyRowshan to thank our clients who have referred us.
In addition to giving personalized client gifts when we complete a rebrand/website launch, we also send a client gift to all clients we’ve worked with at the end of the year. Typically, the gift is inspired by the yearly travels of our founder, Evelyn. Last year, while visiting her 50th and final state, North Dakota, she attended the ND State Fair. There in the exhibit hall, she discovered Dash Apiary, a family-owned honey farm, and fell in love with their delicious raw, unfiltered honey.
After enjoying it all fall, she knew it would make the perfect gift to share with our clients, so we sent each a jar! It got seriously rave reviews!
In 2022, after a diving trip to Bonaire, Evelyn returned with a suitcase full of salt to gift our clients, straight from the salt flats south of the island. The way the salt is harvested on Bonaire is called 'sea salt sun dried'. Most of its salt is exported for industrial use, so unless you visit, it’s not easy to obtain (but we go to anywhere for DP clients)!
We love receiving great swag, too. Last year, Squarespace gifted a fully loaded swag box from Circle Day 2024, which inspired us to (eventually) create our own branded mailers.
We also got some amazing custom mugs from our client, We’re Good, featuring the logo we designed for them. It was filled with Hershey kisses…what’s not to love?
Don’t overthink it - if you’d find it useful, maybe your clients would too!
🍃 Sustainable Tip: Look for gifts made from recycled, biodegradable, or reusable materials. Even better, support small batch makers or businesses with low-waste practices.
Our Recs
We’ve ordered customized gifts from near and far! Here are some vendors that we’ve loved working with.
-
-
-
-
LED Sign: Crazy Neon
At the end of the day, your branded merchandise doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to feel like you. Thoughtful, well-designed, maybe a little quirky, and rooted in what your business actually stands for.
The best branded pieces are the ones people want to keep, reuse, and talk about. Whether it’s beautiful print materials, client gift ideas, or a fully personalized swag experience, we’d love to help you bring it to life. Schedule a call with Evelyn!
Looking for a personalized gift that shows off Arlington, VA?