Are promotional products a good investment for startups: Part 2

Earlier this week we went through why promotional products are a good investment for startups even with a tight marketing budget. They are absolutely a long term investment, with 58% of people keeping the gift for 1 year to 4 years, according to the Promotional Products Association International.

What's more, 83% of people like to receive promotional products with an advertising message (although we are yet to meet the remaining 17%... Who doesn't like a free gift?!). To top it off, 89% of recipients could recall the company who gave them the give, according to the survey.  

Read part 1 of our series on promotional products for UK start-up businesses.

Do Your Research

Now you know that promotional products can be effective, it's important to do your research so that you're buying the right things for the right people. Firstly, who are your target audience? Research what they like and value within their age group. You could go one step further and set up a poll on social media and ask which product they would most like to receive - pretty much takes the guesswork out of it. Furthermore, ensure the products you buy fit your budget after taking into account additional fees such as potential shipping costs or set up charges. We have a wide range of budget options that are high quality and useful, making the perfect combination for a startup investment in promotional products. Ensure that the products you choose to order add value to your brand.  

Ideas For You  

From our experience, the most popular promotional products for startups that are effective but also low cost are: 

  • tote bags  
  • pens  
  • silicon phone sleeves 
  • portable USB chargers  
  • water bottles 
  • coffee flasks  

So to sum up, promotional products are absolutely a good investment for your company! Start with lower quantities and see how they get on before moving on to more luxury goods and higher quantities!  

Browse our range of low-quantity promotional products for small businesses today and contact us to get your bespoke quote.

Written by

Adam Carter | Head of Products

Adam has been leading the Product team for over 18 years, during which time he's built up an enviable reputation as one of the industry's most trusted authorities on promotional merchandise. As well as supplier relations, product sourcing and pricing, Adam is also responsible for ensuring our promotional merchandise is presented on the website in the most effective manner. His expertise makes him the go-to person on the team for spotting merchandise trends and he's highly experienced in identifying the best branded products to meet our customers' needs. When he's not working, Adam enjoys travel, electronic music and all forms of cinema.

Connect with Adam Carter on LinkedIn Connect with Adam Carter on LinkedIn

The Best Promotional Merchandise for Schools

The Best Promotional Merchandise for Schools

Branded items for schools come in many shapes and sizes, and are never more useful than at school events. From summer fêtes to end-of-term concerts, charity raffles to Chr

Get Ahead of The Competition with Best-Selling Sports Merchandise

Get Ahead of The Competition with Best-Selling Sports Merchandise

With 84% of Brits having watched some sort of sport on the BBC alone last summer, it's fair to say that we're a nation of sports fans. Whether it was the FA Cup final, W

Unusual Corporate Gifts & Promotional Merchandise

Unusual Corporate Gifts & Promotional Merchandise

Have you received a promotional product at some point in your life? For most of us, the answer to this question is yes. So, how do you make sure your promotional product stands

Total Merchandise Achieves ISO 9001 Certification

Total Merchandise Achieves ISO 9001 Certification

Total Merchandise is proud to announce that we have successfully achieved ISO 9001 certification

Seven in a Row - Total Merchandise Continues Its Winning Streak

Seven in a Row - Total Merchandise Continues Its Winning Streak

We are delighted to announce that Total Merchandise has been voted Promotional Merchandise Distributor of the Year in the 2025 Sourcing City Awards, m

Best Summer Giveaways For 2025: Ideas For Any Business & Marketing Campaign

Best Summer Giveaways For 2025: Ideas For Any Business & Marketing Campaign

Summer 2025 is fast approaching, with the season officially kicking off on 21st June. And with that in mind, what better time to start considering the best summer giveaways to t