Why Are Promotional Products So Effective for Small Businesses?

Craig Martin • December 16, 2024

Promotional products are a simple yet powerful way to grow your brand, engage customers, and build loyalty. According to ASI’s 2024 End-Buyer Survey, small businesses of all sizes leverage these tools to drive results. Here's why they work and how businesses of different sizes make the most of them.

Two people are standing on a sidewalk with the words `` passion led us here '' written on the ground.

Key Insights for Small Businesses


1. Small Teams (10 or Fewer Employees):

  • Investment: Spend 32% of their marketing budget on promo products.
  • Goals: Focus on thanking employees and customers (76%) and fostering loyalty.
  • Popular Products: Considerable items like magnets, pens, tote bags, notepads, and keychains.


2. Growing Teams (11–50 Employees):

  • Investment: Allocate 34% of their marketing budget to promotional items.
  • Goals: Drive sales growth (72%) and boost brand awareness.
  • Popular Products: Functional items such as drinkware (water bottles, mugs, tumblers), branded apparel (t-shirts, hats), tech accessories (chargers, power banks), and notebooks.


3. Established Teams (51–100 Employees):

  • Investment: Spend the most—39% of their marketing budget—on promotional products.
  • Goals: Prioritize brand awareness (85%) and customer engagement.
  • Popular Products: Office-centric items like calendars, stationery, desk organizers, gift wrap, and branded supplies such as sticky notes and folders.


Why Promotional Products Work


High ROI:

  • 97% of businesses with 11–50 employees and 86% with 51–100 employees report satisfaction with their ROI.


Marketing Impact:

  • Nearly 37% of companies consider promo products essential to their strategy.


Versatile Engagement:

  • Items like drinkware and calendars stay visible, creating long-lasting brand impressions.


How Bluelephant.ca Can Help


We simplify the process of finding the perfect promotional products to match your business goals:


  • Source: Discover high-quality, brand-aligned options.
  • Evaluate: Select the right products with expert guidance.
  • Deliver: We handle the details, so you don’t have to—at no extra cost.


Promotional products are practical, visible, and memorable—making them a winning strategy for any small business. Ready to see the impact for your business? Let’s make it happen!


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