2020 Trends For Your Promotional Products

With the post-Christmas limbo officially over and 2020 properly here (anyone else wondering how they're going to cope without roast potatoes and chocolate biscuits on-tap...?), now's the perfect opportunity for us to shine a light on the promotional ideas we believe will add some serious 'wow' to your marketing campaigns over the next 12 months.

Before we begin, a quick disclaimer. Whilst these are the promotional merchandise ideas that we think will be big over the coming year, that's by no means to say you should overlook the classics. A quick glance at our best-selling promotional products will give you an idea of the fantastic branded items we offer that are all guaranteed to help generate awareness for your business.

However, sometimes it can give your brand a 'finger on the pulse' appearance to embrace something fresh - after all, there's nothing wrong with trying something new every now and then, is there?

Read on for a few of our #trending ideas for your 2020 marketing campaigns. 

Travel Mugs Are Still Your Customers' Cup Of Tea

Or coffee! The popularity of our eco-friendly custom travel mugs has continued to grow over the last 12 months, and it's little surprise that businesses are consistently choosing them as the perfect promotional products to give to their customers.

Factor in that the number of people choosing to enjoy their favourite cuppa outside of the home has risen - oh, and that our coffee consumption has drastically increased over the last decade - and it's pretty clear to see that branded travel mugs are a fantastic giveaway option for your audience.

These reusable branded coffee cups are saviours for commuters, enabling your colleagues and clients to enjoy their favourite caffeine fix whilst also eliminating the need for a throwaway paper cup. 

For a classic option, consider our best-selling Thermo Travel Mugs, which are the perfect size for a 350ml drink (the same volume as a 'small' from many coffee shops) and can be printed with your brand's artwork in up-to four colours.

For a 2020 twist, consider our chic Collapsible Coffee Cups, shown above, which are available in a range of eye-catching colours. These stylish branded travel mugs offer practicality as well as some Insta-worthy flair. Once empty, your customers can simply push them down in order to 'collapse' them, making them easy to store in handbags or pockets when not in use. 

Eco-Friendly Promotional Products Are On The Rise

With the conversation surrounding the range of environmental issues we're facing getting ever louder, the desire to choose eco-friendly promotional merchandise is on the up. In fact, research recently shared by the British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA) found that the majority of professionals in the merchandise industry have identified a significant leap in the number of eco-based queries they've received from customers over the last 12 months.

Best-sellers within our range of eco friendly merchandise include our printed cotton tote bags, which are made from natural cotton (and make a great alternative to plastic carrier bags), as well as our ever-popular Talca Bamboo Travel Mugs, which allow your customers the opportunity to swap single-use paper coffee cups for a takeaway alternative they can drink from time after time. 

For a 2020 take on eco-merch, pick an unusual or unexpected item for your marketing campaign. We're talking lip balm sticksT-shirts with low environmental footprints, branded coasters made from recycled tyres... We have all sorts of eco-friendly products that are ideal for adding a touch of green to your marketing efforts in 2020.

If you're considering eco, also give some thought to the materials of the items you choose. We offer a range of promotional products that are made from bamboo, sugar cane and wheat straw, which are all sustainable and make for great talking points, too.

Will Pantone's Colour Of The Year Have An Impact On Your Plans?

Each year, Pantone unveils its Colour of the Yearthe colour that will influence everything from interiors to fashion. In 2020, the couleur de l'année is Classic Blue, shown below. This, says Pantone, is a shade that 'reflects the sky at dusk': it's deep, dark and utterly sophisticated.

Classic Blue pantone
Image via Instagram.com/Pantone.

If you have flexibility in regards to the colours you can choose for your promotional products, incorporating on-trend tones could be worth considering for your 2020 giveaways. And don't forget - Total Merchandise can Pantone-match a huge range of promotional products to the precise shade(s) you desire.

It doesn't end with that captivating inky blue, by the way. A collaboration between Coloro and trend forecasters WGSN revealed five more colours that are going to be key to lifestyle, fashion and other sectors across the next 12 months. The quintet of stand-out shades includes the pleasingly named Mellow Yellow, Cassis, Purist Blue, Cantaloupe and Neo-Mint - all guaranteed to warm up your marketing materials.

Keep Customers Sweet With Personalised Foodie Giveaways

Promotional merchandise is all well and good but promotional merchandise that can be eaten takes things to a whole new delicious level. If your business will have a presence at a trade event or exhibition later this year, foodie-related products could be a great way to ensure your brand stays memorable in people's minds.

If you love the tried-and-tested classics, such as tins of mints or branded jelly bean pouches, and are hungry to try something different in 2020, we have all sorts of delicious new ideas for your brand to consider.

With everything from branded green tea to frosted cupcakes available, Total Merchandise has a wide range of edible products that your customers will love to receive. As ideal for keeping in your workplace to impress visitors as they are for handing to potential customers at a trade event or exhibition, we have a wide range of promotional food and drink items that are perfect for delighting your customers.

Tap Into Health & Wellbeing With Branded Fitness Products

Encouraging your customers to put their health and wellbeing at the top of their priorities is a great way to demonstrate your company cares. Total Merchandise has a wide range of promotional sports products that can be branded with your logo, including personalised sports bottles, embroidered clothing and more. Whether your client-base comprises serious athletes, occasional gym-goers or simply like going for a stroll with the dog, consider making 2020 the year you make it easier for them than ever before to enjoy exercise.

Items such as our Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds will eliminate the irritation of earphones flying out mid-jog, whilst our Smartphone Armbands will make running with a smartphone in tow a pleasure rather than a chore.

For commuters, our Collapsible Water Bottles will make drinking the recommended two-litres-a-day a breeze, with the design meaning the bottles can be compressed and neatly stored in bags or pockets when not full.

Want more inspiration for your 2020 marketing campaigns? Explore our best-selling promotional products and contact us today to get a bespoke quote for your business; also, browse the latest promotional products to land on the Total Merchandise website.

Main image via Pexels.

Written by

Katie Clark | Head of Digital Marketing

With over a decade in print and digital journalism, Katie possesses a wide skill-set that incorporates everything from SEO to PR. Joining the team in early 2019, her expertise lies in writing sparkling copy about promotional merchandise and related topics, as well as managing social media activity and developing creative solutions to keep the Total Merchandise brand at the forefront of people’s minds. With a background that includes event-planning and volunteering for charitable organisations, she has a first-hand appreciation for the needs and questions a customer might have when acquiring promotional products for their organisation. In her spare time, she loves reading, going to the cinema and learning to cook.

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