7 Alternatives to Branded Merchandise for Promotional Giveaways

In the search for creative and impactful alternatives to traditional branded merchandise, we’ve gathered seven unique recommendations from leading CEOs and founders. From offering local food items to creating personalized event kits, discover a range of promotional giveaway ideas that can set your brand apart.

Want to get quoted in MarketerInterview.com content just like this? Apply to become a contributor today!

Offer Local Food Items

Instead of the usual branded merchandise, consider offering a delicious local food item with a story that ties into your brand. Customers have enough cheap swag that ends up forgotten or broken. A quality, memorable gift like this not only shows the recipient but also tells them something about your brand values. It’s a tangible way to show prospective customers the level of care and thoughtfulness they can expect from you.

Matt Cross, Co-Founder, Harvest Craft Chocolate

Provide Digital Experiences

A unique alternative to branded merchandise for promotional giveaways is offering digital experiences, like free access to a premium webinar or an exclusive online course. This approach not only provides value but also aligns with the growing trend of experiential marketing. 

For example, offering a complimentary masterclass related to your industry can leave a lasting impression and establish your brand as a thought leader. This strategy fosters deeper engagement and can lead to more meaningful connections than traditional swag.

Gregory Rozdeba, CEO, Dundas Life

Distribute Digital Downloads

Offering digital downloads, such as exclusive e-books or software tools, can be a highly effective alternative to traditional branded merchandise. These downloads can provide real value to recipients and have the added benefit of being easy to distribute. For instance, Webvizio has used this approach to offer valuable resources that resonate with our audience, driving higher engagement. Digital downloads not only align with our brand’s tech-savvy image but also offer an eco-friendly alternative that reduces physical waste.

Dan Ponomarenko, CEO, Webvizio

Send Handwritten Thank-You Cards

I recommend using personalized, handwritten thank-you cards as an alternative to branded merchandise for promotional giveaways. This approach goes beyond the superficial value of typical branded items, tapping into the emotional connection we build with our clients. Each card is thoughtfully crafted with a meaningful message, conveying genuine appreciation and showing that we’ve taken the time to recognize and value the relationship. This simple yet heartfelt gesture leaves a lasting impression, fostering deeper loyalty and trust. 

Clients are far more likely to remember a personalized note than a generic giveaway, making this a highly effective tool for strengthening long-term relationships. It’s a strategy rooted in authenticity, cultivating client bonds that last well beyond the transactional.

Brian Staver, CEO, NetPayAdvance.com

Give Away Popular Customer Products

The most successful alternative to branded merchandise for promotional giveaways is giving away your customers’ popular products.

My events team would do this all the time at events. We’d buy a bunch of our customers’ products (brands that we had case studies with) and give them away to prospects.

Instead of someone walking away with a pen or a T-shirt with your logo, they would take away popular products that they (or family and friends) would actually want.

More importantly, it allowed our field reps who were at the events to talk about our work with those brands and essentially pitch the case study as they were giving the items away.

What typically happened is that people would come up and ask, “Why do you have company X’s product?” or “Can you tell me more about Y?” And those questions would spark conversations, which created inbound traffic for our reps. It also made going up and talking to people much easier when we gave them a desirable product.

Jeremy Horowitz, CEO, Let’s Buy a Biz!

Utilize Digital Gift Cards

One effective alternative to branded merchandise for promotional giveaways is digital gift cards. For example, offering a $10 gift card to a popular online store can be a versatile and appealing incentive. It provides recipients with the freedom to choose what they want, which often results in higher engagement and satisfaction. 

At Plasthetix, using digital gift cards has proven successful in boosting response rates and building positive relationships without the hassle of managing physical inventory. This approach is convenient, cost-effective, and aligns well with modern consumer preferences.

Josiah Lipsmeyer, Founder, Plasthetix

Create Personalized Event Kits

One specific alternative to branded merchandise for promotional giveaways is personalized products!

At SOCi, we often put together “Hangover Kits” or “Wellness Bags” for our event attendees in place of any branded swag material. The kits often have goodies inside that are specific to the event we are promoting and are more likely to be used by the individual. For example, ones I have created in the past include Liquid IV, Advil, hand sanitizer, Starbucks gift cards, and so much more!

Creating these gifts for promotional giveaways adds a custom and personalized feel to hopefully connect on a deeper level with the attendees.

Camryn Wright, Event Marketing Planner, SOCi

Want to get quoted in MarketerInterview.com content just like this? Apply to become a contributor today!