Right now things are tough for all of us as individuals and tough times undoubtedly lie ahead for small businesses. If your coffee shop, restaurant, clothing shop, or corner store relies on foot traffic for the majority of its clientele then you'll already be noticing a significant downturn in the number of customers you have each day. The bad news is that this might go on for quite some time but the good news is that utilising promotional items may help you to survive the tough times ahead.

1. Survive tough times with gift boxes.
2. Customise items for brand recognition.
3. Choose relevant and practical merchandise.

How Your Business Can Thrive Against the Odds

A novel way that small businesses known for their produce, foods, or drinks can help increase interest in their offerings is to start providing promotional gift boxes through their website (or even online groups if a website is unavailable). Depending on what the business offers the contents of the gift box can vary but in the US:

• Restaurants are offering takeaway meals bundled with logo printed t-shirts.
• Cafes are providing ground coffee beans alongside custom ceramic coffee mugs.
• Clothing stores are sending out items of clothing with gifts like branded hand sanitisers.
• Corner shops are selling boxes of their best selling snacks alongside printed tea towels.

Why This May Work For You

The goal is to remind people that their favourite local eateries and shops are still out there, even during a pandemic, and that for these places to stay open people are going to need to continue supporting them.

Thanks to diligent courier and post services these promotional gift boxes can be delivered within 24-48 hours depending on location, so you could end up with a make-at-home recipe box from your favourite chef the night you order it (along with a super slick-looking t-shirt to boot, I might add). There's no better way to keep your business on the minds of your consumer base than reaching out to them with delivery gift sets to meet their needs.

The Power of Customisation

Customising promotional merchandise allows you to create a unique and memorable brand image. Here are four reasons why customization is essential:

• Brand Recognition: Customised merchandise, such as t-shirts, tote bags, or caps, with your logo or slogan prominently displayed, helps people recognize and remember your brand. When customers see others using or wearing your branded merchandise, it increases brand visibility and strengthens brand recall.
• Enhanced Customer Loyalty: By offering personalised promotional merchandise to your customers, you show them that you value their support and loyalty. A small gesture, such as sending a personalised thank-you note along with a branded gift, can go a long way in building strong customer relationships and fostering loyalty.
• Increased Engagement: Customised merchandise can be used as giveaways or prizes in contests, social media campaigns, or events. This creates excitement and encourages customers to engage with your brand through likes, shares, comments, and participation. When customers are actively engaged, it boosts brand interaction and raises overall awareness.
• Word-of-Mouth Marketing: Unique and eye-catching promotional merchandise can spark conversations and word-of-mouth recommendations. When customers receive a customised item that they find useful or aesthetically pleasing, they are more likely to share it with others. This organic word-of-mouth marketing can help attract new customers and expand your reach.

Choosing the Right Promotional Merchandise

Selecting the right promotional merchandise is crucial to ensure maximum impact and a positive return on investment. Consider the following factors when choosing your promotional items:

• Relevance: Your promotional merchandise should be relevant to your target audience and align with their interests and needs. For example, if your business caters to fitness enthusiasts, offering branded water bottles or gym towels would be more impactful than generic items.
• Practicality: Choose promotional items that are useful and practical in everyday life. Items such as pens, keychains, or USB drives are commonly used and serve as constant reminders of your brand.
• Quality: Invest in high-quality promotional merchandise that reflects the quality of your products or services. Cheap or poorly made items can leave a negative impression and undermine your brand reputation.
• Uniqueness: Set yourself apart by offering unique and innovative promotional items. Consider trends, emerging technologies, or eco-friendly options that align with your brand values and resonate with your target audience.

We're Here For You

Whether you want to embrace the idea of distributing merchandise gift boxes or food kits with gear, or perhaps something else entirely, Cubic Promote is here to help make it happen. Our prices on locally stocked merchandise remain the same as always and we're a local Aussie business just like you -- we want to work with you so as many businesses survive this difficult period as possible. Contact our sales team today for obligation-free pricing and expert gift box merchandise ideas!