A selection of branded products images.

Designs: Guava (left), Splendid Summer (top-right) Happy Holidays Store (bottom-right).

Ever walk into a coffee shop and spot an entire shelf dedicated to a whole host of products not necessarily related to coffee? Those, readers, are called customized branded products. Celebrities, influencers, comedians – you name it – all utilize this strategy. But why? Well, it creates a positive, reliable brand identity! Essentially, this is what sets your business model apart from competitors and creates an initial impression, with the aim of it being to last. It brings your brand to life, establishing an emotional connection with a targeted audience. Whatever kind of entrepreneur you are, read on for some general tips and ideas to help you on your own brand identity journey. 

The Value of Branded Products

Branded products are, naturally, very cool. You look at it and think, “dang, that’s MY logo right there”! But as awesome as they may look, they also offer a range of benefits that’ll enhance your image. Firstly, they’re instrumental in shaping brand visibility. In a nutshell, that’s how you want your brand to be seen, remembered, and what you want it to be known for. Your brand’s visibility also has a direct relationship with overall sales! This, in turn, adds credibility to your business, creates a stronger emotional connection with a targeted audience, and can open a stream of new income opportunities.

Branded products also turn consumers into brand ambassadors, i.e. those who promote and represent you on a day-to-day basis! Often, people associate this term with influencers and celebrities, but any time your logo is pictured on a product in use, that person automatically becomes a brand ambassador for your business. So, really, why wouldn’t you invest a little in branded products? 

The Many Flavors of Branded Products 

Before choosing the categories of products to embellish with your branding, you have to define your business model (which you may have already done, but just in case you happen to be a new entrepreneur). Understanding your business is key to choosing what’s right for you! For example, if you run a fashion boutique, then a tote bag would be the ideal product. Or if you own a café, then a reusable coffee cup! Sometimes, depending on your marketing strategies (which we’ll discuss a little later), you could choose a range of entirely unrelated products. Now, without further ado, let’s cover the four main categories of product types!

Apparel 

Clothing products are suitable for just about any type of business! People love to wear anything with a cool print, especially if they can get their hands on something at a decent rate. When a customer is wearing your brand, they’re signaling to everyone else that they approve and trust it. Some of the most popular choices are hoodies, t-shirts, hats, and tote bags! 

A person is seen wearing a white customized t-shirt from the neck down.
A grey, leather patch hat rests on a brown wooden table with a keyboard, mouse, monitor, and notepad pictured beside it.
A tote bag rests on a yellow-orange background with spaghetti, bread, basil, and a napkin pictured around it.

Event-Based

These include limited-edition products, holiday-themed goods, or event-specific giveaways (conferences, trade shows, pop-ups, etc.)! These items create excitement for consumers by offering them a chance to possess something unique, collectable, and meaningful, encouraging even stronger customer engagement. Some of the most popular products are phone grips, sunglasses, reusable mugs/glasses, patches, or buttons! 

A hand is in frame holding a phone with a phone grip at the centre.
A can-shaped glass is pictured filled with a pink beverage, resting atop a white table with a blurred background of a vase of flowers.
A purple cleaning-themed button with a purple outline is placed on a denim blue background.

Everyday Essentials

These are the practical, everyday items that are used time and time again, making them ideal for brand visibility! This has its own special way of helping your brand, and it’s called the “mere exposure effect“! Essentially, the more a potential customer is exposed to your logo, the more likely they are to become patrons. So go ahead and grab some notebooks, water bottles, stickers, pens, or just about anything you think you’d use daily! 

A black notebook is resting on a dark brown wooden table with markers and pencils seen surrounding it.
A sticker is seen on top of a carton of eggs, sitting atop a black mat, with an eggs and dried flowers seen in the corner of the image.
A white metal bottle is seen on a light brown table with coffee being poured into it. The cap of the bottle and coffee beans are seen in the background.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle-type products, such as backpacks, phone cases, lip balm and keychains, extend your brand’s identity beyond your company’s main product or service, becoming a part of your consumers’ lifestyle! Whenever your product is used, it’s being exposed to the public, resulting in continuous advertising and leaving your consumers feeling part of a community. 

A purple backpack sits on a desk, a chair pictured in front, a white lamp to the right, and a glass bottle with dried flowers to the left.
A keychain is featured in the middle with a plate of fries and a burger, sunglasses, and a laptop around it.
A green phone case rests on a wooden table with a cup of coffee beside it.

Designing Tips & Tricks for Your Branded Products

Once you have an idea of which branded products will suit your business ventures, you’ll have to imprint them with your signature! That means grabbing (or creating) your logo and customizing your chosen items. On top of your logo, think about what else you’d like featured, be it artwork, a symbol to signify the business idea, a pattern, or a typography style! Here are some things to look out for or consider when personalizing each item: 

  • Know your own brand personality, and design with that in mind
  • We encourage a variation of designs across your products, which can signal the strongest-selling items
  • Choose high-quality materials and packaging
  • Don’t be afraid to use eye-catching colors (unless they don’t suit your desired image)
  • Test different designs before choosing the final one.

Big Ideas for Better Marketing

Your branded products are effective marketing tools in themselves! But to harness their power, you have to get them out there first! To do this, you must choose an appropriate strategy (or multiple). First and foremost, social media will be one of your besties! Here, you can narrate the branded products your way, conduct product reveals, and show some behind-the-scenes footage, keeping customers in the loop (and in the want of what you’ve got). You could coordinate collaborations with local influencers or businesses, and drop limited-edition products to increase desirability. In any case, encourage your customers to post user-generated content with their reactions, because word-of-mouth is still one of the most effective forms of marketing. 

Well, folks, that’s it for today! We wish you every bit of luck in your business ventures. One last top tip: take time in designing your business cards and give one away with every branded product! And if you need some insider info on creating the ideal design, take a look at “How to Design Business Cards for Maximum Marketing Impact.”