10 Effective Promotional Items to Buy During a Financial Recession

During a financial recession, businesses must decide which expenses to cut and which to keep. You should undoubtedly cut all unnecessary costs and luxuries for the sake of preserving your working capital. However, there are some expenses you should not cut out completely, including your marketing. You must take an in-depth look at the effectiveness of your marketing. Adjust your advertising spend and invest only in areas that effectively promote your business.

With advertising, it's best to consider the number of exposures (or ad impressions) your advertising medium offers you versus the cost of that medium. How many times will others see your logo? If you buy an online ad, you'll pay each time someone clicks on it. With promotional products, you buy them once, and their staying power keeps them around for years, offering visibility often daily.

Below are 10 promotional items with a cost per impression of less than a penny each!

​Custom Drinkware

Insulated travel mugs, stainless steel water bottles, and high-quality custom coffee mugs are great investments because of their longevity. Your logo will proudly advertise for you on a daily basis! With custom drinkware, such as travel mugs ($10 each), getting on the average, 3162 impressions, that makes your cost per impression to only 1/3 of a cent. What other advertising medium can you only pay 1/3 of a penny for visibility? During times of recession, people are less likely to buy bottled water leading to a higher use in stainless steel water bottles and they are less likely to buy overpriced coffee from local coffee shop leading to more usage of travel mugs. Give your clients the promotional gifts they'll use frequently for additional exposure of your brand.

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Custom Tote Bags

During recessions, people tend to find more free entertainment such as going to the beach, a park, or a playground. Tote bags become a necessary item to carry all their supplies. Many grocery stores are also going away from offering plastic bags to help reduce our footprint. Non-woven polypropylene grocery tote bags are very popular with consumers because they can be used over and over again. Your logo on $2.00 tote bags offers an estimated 1,940 impressions to your customers at a cost of only 1/10 of a penny per impression. That's a bargain!

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Promotional Desk Accessories

There are plenty of unique desk accessories that are useful to executives and administrative personnel. Promotional desk items priced at only $10.00 get 2,314 impressions during their lifetime. That's half a cent per impression! The higher quality the desk item, the more likely it will be kept increasing the number of impressions it receives. Other desk accessories include desk clocks, desk calendars, and desk organizers.

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Promotional Pens

Pens are an everyday necessity for businesses. Whether for internal employee use or for customers to sign credit card receipts, promotional pens are needed for every business. Rather than spending your office budget on generic pens, you might as well get advertising exposure with customers. Think about how frequently your pens are accidentally "stolen." If they don't have a logo on them, there's no advertising value. With a logo, they'll average 2,436 impressions. If they are higher quality metal pens, they will be kept much longer than a cheap plastic pen. A metal pen has a cost per impression of only 1/10 of a cent! That's an incredible value for items your business buys regardless of a recession or not. You might as well get the value of branded pens.

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Embroidered Performance Polo Shirts

During a recession, embroidered moisture-wicking polo shirts offer both practical and economic advantages. The moisture-wicking technology adds everyday comfort, reducing the likelihood of sweat stains and helping wearers stay cool, which is especially useful in stress-filled economic climates. Embroidery elevates the brand or logo, lending a polished appearance that can instill confidence in both clients and staff, even when overall spending power is down. Performance polos can seamlessly transition from casual events to professional engagements, making them a cost-effect approach for both settings. Because they have a durable construction and professional look, you won’t have to replace them frequently which is important when budgets are tight. It's especially friendly on your budget when you get an average of 2,336 impressions of your logo at less than a penny for each impression with a $20.00 polo!

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Custom Baseball Caps

During tough economic times, custom baseball caps offer a low-cost way to maintain brand visibility without breaking your budget. The timeless appeal of caps means they never go out of style and remain popular across all age groups. This helps to ensure repeated use and sustained brand exposure. That's why the average hat racks up 3,380 impressions over its lifetime at less than 1/4 cent per impression! Caps are relatively affordable to produce in bulk, and their durability extends their lifespan, maximizing return on investment. Additionally, by opting for custom designs, businesses can project professionalism and boost team spirit while preserving precious financial resources. Custom baseball caps provide a practical marketing option that delivers enduring value even when economic conditions are challenging.

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Custom T-Shirts

Custom t-shirts offer a cost-effective branding opportunity during a recession because of their affordability and popularity. On average, a single shirt generates around 5,053 impressions over its lifetime, translating to only 1/4 of a cent per impression. You won't find many marketing strategies at such a low cost. When businesses order larger quantities, the price goes down further. Branded t-shirts can be given away to team members or top customers. Overall, t-shirts are practical, comfortable, and loved by all generations. Custom t-shirts are great investments during recessions because recipients keep them for years, making your investment worthwhile!

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Custom Travel Umbrellas

Custom printed travel umbrellas offer a convenient way to showcase your brand while providing practical utility for clients and customers on the go. Their compact design ensures your customers will be more likely to carry the umbrellas on the go increasing the chance of visibility wherever they travel. On average, they receive 2,436 impressions at only 1/2 a cent per impression, making them an incredibly cost-effective method of advertising. By combining portability and durability, custom printed travel umbrellas not only keep recipients protected from the rain and snow but also serve as a highly-noticeable billboard for your brand on the streets of your city.

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Half-Zip Fleece Pullovers

Custom embroidered half zip fleece jackets provide a stylish and comfortable way for employees to showcase a company’s brand identity. These jackets not only keep employees warm but also serve as a powerful advertising tool by making a visual statement wherever they are worn. In fact, they generate on average an impressive 7,856 impressions at a cost of only 1/2 cent per impression, making them both cost-effective and highly visible. With a professional embroidered logo and stylish design, these half zip fleece jackets effectively promote brand unity while delivering a positive, lasting impression on clients, potential customers, and the general public.

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Custom Power Banks

Charge up your brand’s visibility with custom printed power banks. These are practical and frequently-used items that your clients and employees will truly appreciate. Each branded power bank generates around 870 impressions, making it one of the most cost-effective tech promotional items you can buy. You’ll pay just under a penny per impression. By keeping recipients powered up on the go, you’ll ensure that your logo or message is prominently displayed whenever they recharge leading to significant exposure and a stronger connection with your audience.

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References:

ASI 2023 Ad Impressions Study.