5 Best Merch for Book Lovers and Reading Campaigns
Key Points
- Match products to reading habits—items like book lights, reusable cups, and earbuds support longer, more enjoyable reading sessions.
- Align giveaways with a clear audience niche to build stronger connections and improve brand recall among engaged readers.
- Prioritise useful, everyday items that stay within reach, keeping your branding visible over time.
September 6th is National Read A Book Day! To celebrate this great holiday, we have put together a list of items you can buy and have customised! Book lovers are a specific audience, which makes choosing merchandise easier. Instead of reaching for a generic giveaway, think about what happens around reading: finding your page, carrying books home, reading after dark, taking notes and settling down with a drink. Here are five merch ideas that fit naturally into those habits.
1. Bookmarks
A bookmark has an immediate connection with the audience. Cubic Promote currently supplies custom printed and magnetic bookmarks that can feature a logo, message or campaign artwork. They work particularly well for:
- Library membership campaigns.
- Book launches.
- Reading challenges.
- School programs.
- Bookstore purchases.
- Literary festivals.
You can also bundle these bookmarks like our past client, Alice Springs Public Library, who ordered stationery sets from us.
2. Book lights for dedicated readers
A branded book light is more substantial than a basic giveaway and has a clear connection with reading. We have a dedicated range of book lights designed for portable reading, with branding available on selected models. These can work particularly well as prizes for reading challenges, gifts for book club members, or merchandise for publishing and education campaigns.
3. Tote bags people can fill with books
If you are running a book fair or literary event, a tote bag can become useful before the recipient has even left. We also currently supply tote styles specifically sized to carry A4 documents, books, and catalogues. For bookstores and libraries, Regina Mangubat, one of our account managers, suggests you bundle:
- A literary quote
- Event artwork
- An author illustration
- A library campaign message
- A subtle organisation logo
The design can become part of the appeal rather than making the bag look like an advertisement.
4. Reusable cups for reading sessions
Books and hot drinks are an easy pairing, which makes reusable cups particularly relevant for book clubs, staff libraries and reader gifts. Cubic Promote currently stocks reusable cups in several capacities and materials, including 350ml and larger formats suitable for custom branding. For a themed campaign, combine the cup with a bookmark or book rather than filling a gift pack with unrelated merchandise. City of Joondalup Libraries, one of our past clients, opted for drink bottles (a unique option you can also try).
5. Notebooks for readers who like to write
Some readers keep lists of books they want to read, record favourite passages or make notes while studying. Notebooks give them somewhere to do it. Our current notebooks include approximately A5 formats with lined or blank pages, which suit reading notes, sketches and general writing. For publishers, writing festivals or universities, notebooks can also connect the worlds of reading and writing in one useful gift.
Build the gift around the reader
The strongest book-themed merchandise does not need a complicated concept. It simply needs to make sense alongside reading. A bookmark for a library, tote for a book fair, or notebook for a writers’ festival already has a reason to be there.
SOURCE: https://nationaltoday.com/national-read-book-day/
