We only mentioned the logo branded ugly sweaters from Vegemite last week, but this week has seen the Aussie branch of KFC join the fray for their own Christmas in July promotion. Unfortunately for us they managed to sell out of these amazing custom branded jumpers within 48-hours of launch, but it just goes to show how powerful these limited drops can be for promoting your business or event!

1. Create buzz with limited-edition promotions.
2. Align promotional products with seasonal trends.
3. Engage customers through quirky branding.

Custom Branded Winter Clothes

Christmas in July sweaters seem to have been a hit with Aussies stuck in lockdown this year. KFC's "Tis the Seasonings" Christmas sweater, featuring holiday designs in a bold red/white seasonal combo, sold out almost immediately after launch while Vegemite's recently launched sweaters have been going gangbusters too. Why are Australians so taken with ugly sweaters? Part of the appeal is undoubtedly the limited-edition nature of the sweaters, there's only a few available so if you get your hands on one you know you're in an exclusive club. The original retail price of $59.95 for the KFC sweaters makes them competitively priced too, adding to their appeal.

Another element that makes these promotional sweaters so desirable is that KFC is donating all profits from their sale to their charity partners, witch a focus on support for young people. Given how tough a lot of young Aussies are doing it at the moment, you can't deny that getting a cool branded jumper AND helping out struggling kids at the same time sounds pretty damn tempting! I mean, who wouldn't wear promotional outerwear when it looks this freaking cool??

Limited Edition Item Promotion

Businesses can generate buzz and excitement by releasing limited-edition promotional products, just like KFC did with its Christmas in July sweaters. Here's how companies can do it:

• Create promotional products that are only available for a limited time or in limited quantities to create a sense of exclusivity and demand.
• Choose unusual or quirky promotional products that customers will want to share on social media and further promote your brand, just like the KFC sweater.
• Promote the products heavily on social media, using marketing campaigns, influencers, and promotional advertising.

Take Advantage of Seasonal Trends

To remain competitive, businesses should ensure that their promotional products align with seasonal trends and shifts in consumption behaviours. Here's how a company can get ahead:

• Research yearly demand and seasonal shifts and trends in the market.
• Use traditional seasonal holidays like Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, and Thanksgiving to create promotional products relevant to the season.
• Partner with local event organisers for a widely-attended trade fair related to local events, providing promotional products that create immediate engagement.

Local Marketing Inspiration

While we here at Cubic Promote weren't involved in producing KFC's ugly Christmas in July sweaters this year, we really are impressed by the campaign overall and think it might help provide inspiration to other local business chapters. You don't need to buy a huge variety of promotional products to make your marketing campaign work, start off with something simple like customised hoodies and see how your customers react. Swap these out for a logo branded t-shirt in the warmer months and see how you go!

Sometimes the best campaigns involving branded swag are extremely simply and involve only a small range of goodies. You don't need to have 500 different products after all if you can get 5 really good ones and do them right! And, if you're still struggling to come up with some ideas, please don't hesitate to speak to the customer service team here at Cubic Promote for samples, recommendations, and pricing on a range of promotional gifts perfect for reselling.

Takeaway

In conclusion, promotional products are versatile branding tools, and companies should stay deliberate and strategic when choosing seasonal products and limited-edition drops that align with their consumer base's interests and preferences. Successful companies create a community of loyal customers with unusual, quirky, and downright weird promotional products. It's essential to use promotional products to stand out with style and make a positive impact by giving back to the community.

Images and information found here: https://www.christmasinjuly.kfc.com.au/