Custom Promotional Products: The Then and Now of Advertising

Many people do not realize the powerful history of custom promotional products or freebies as they are more commonly known. These items have been dated back to longer than people think, and they’ve really been quite effective.



The Then



It was in 1789 when custom promotional products were first officially used in the United States. It was in the election of President George Washington, who used commemorative buttons in his campaign. Back then, people were still only beginning to realize the power of these buttons and how they were eventually going to affect the world of advertising.



Custom promotional products were known earlier as "novelty and specialty goods" by business owners who realized that they needed to attract more business. They found that using these items was an excellent way of promoting and advertising their products. Soon, names of businesses spread on t-shirts, buttons, and baseball caps and custom promotional products became an instant hit.



The Now



Today, businesses have pushed the use of custom promotional products to a higher level. Items used for this purpose now range from the completely mundane (such as coffee cups) to the totally bizarre (such as inflatable maracas).



It’s been said that there are over 250,000 promotional items to choose from, the most common of which would be office supplies. This is true because office supplies such as pens and calendars are used almost every day. They are also visible to the most number of people for the longest period of time.



Other common promotional items are household products, particularly those used in the kitchen. Mugs and plates are excellent promotional items because they are used every day by consumers. Refrigerator magnets are also quite popular and are seen every day.



Some companies also use key chains to promote their products or services. Key chains are also used daily and are carried everywhere, hence logos printed on them are easily recalled.



Another excellent promotional strategy is the use of apparel. Although it’s true that people don’t usually wear the same shirt for weeks, apparel are excellent custom promotional products because they are used by one person, but seen by every other person that he meets.



Custom promotional products have been proven so effective that both large and small companies are known to set aside a yearly, quarterly, and even a monthly budget for them. And these budgets don’t even have to be that huge. This is because items that are made into custom promotional products are really very cheap. Companies can even get them cheaper if they buy them in bulk.



How it’s Done



The creation and use of custom promotional products is done in 3 easy steps. The first step is to choose an item you think best fits your company. The next step is to have your company logo or product name imprinted onto the product. And the last step would be to distribute the items.



In the end, there is nothing simpler or more effective than advertising through custom promotional products. It is a great way to reach out to the public, and its history of success says it all.





Ready to learn more about custom promotional products and business promotional products? Visit PromoGear.com today for more information!