As the millennial and Gen Z buying groups have come into their own, less emphasis has been put on purchasing items “just because,” and more focus has been put on purchasing items because they align with a certain cause of belief. Millennials and Gen Z consumers want to buy from companies that support a cause or have a strong purpose that’s similar to their own. Multiple surveys have been conducted in recent years proving this point. According to Zeno’s 2020 Strength of Purpose, when a company leads with purpose, respondents were 76% more likely to trust that company. Additionally, according to a Cone Communications study, 37% of consumers say a company’s goodwill influences them to purchase products or services.
Couple that with the plethora of cause awareness months happening this summer, and promotional products distributors (PPDs) have a ripe opportunity to partner with companies for strong cause awareness marketing success. Between corporate sponsorships, co-branding, and non-profit fundraising, partnering opportunities become stronger using unique, eye-catching products from Bandanna Promotions by Caro-line.
Pet Products: The ‘Paw-fect’ Opportunity for Cause Awareness
Let’s start with May, which is all about pets and pet products. According to research done by the American Pet Products Association (APPA), in the last eight years, average pet spending in the U.S. increased 67%, from $460 per year in 2013 to $770 per year in 2021. APPA also reports that Americans spent $136.8 billion (about $420 per person in the U.S.) on their pets in 2022. This explosive segment of promotional products is made stronger by Swag-Wag Pet Promotions by Caro-line. Here’s what PPDs have access to as part of this unique line:
- Pet Triangles – Available in a variety of sizes, colors, and styles, from custom USA-made pet bandanna triangles to import stock, this is a comprehensive wearable line to present to your clients working in the pet awareness space. Clients can choose from three in-house imprinting processes: rotary custom dyed, silk screen, or digital full color to fit their exact brand needs and budget.
- Snap & Go Bandannas – Easy on and off makes it a snap to go for a fun and safe walk with furry friends. The adjustable fit for any size dog or pet makes for the paw-fect uniform fit that will get your client’s brand noticed and create a truly sophisticated, fashionable look.
- Pet Collars and Leashes – As collars are typically worn by pets 24/7 and leashes are used on every walk, these mainstay products are a savvy way to deliver consistent, next-level, colorful branding for your clients. Think of both options as full-color palettes of artistic branding with dye-sublimation printing to create eye-catching designs that spread local to regional brand awareness.
But here’s the best part: These items are perfect beyond just pet cause awareness. You can take any awareness campaigning message and add it to these walking billboards for ultimate success. As your corporate clients begin to ramp up their messaging through fundraising runs, donation efforts, and more, offer these pet products for additional co-branding success. Pet triangles and bandannas are perfect for theme walks all summer long to raise additional awareness that speaks to pet owners who also love promoting their favorite cause.
Ramping Up Cause Efforts
Speaking of all summer long, distributors should also be helping their clients prep for June, July, and August. In addition to pet products, Bandanna Promotions also brings the cause awareness heat in other areas to ramp up co-branding efforts.
Anyone who’s participated in walks, marathons, and other physical charity events will tell you that one of the most rewarding parts of the process was crossing that finish line after months (or years) of training and preparation. The finish line could also be that proverbial monetary goal that gets reached in addition to the physical efforts of all involved. Promotional products like bandannas are perfect accompanying pieces for these types of athletic or charity events.
A bandanna ticks a lot of boxes for a successful promotion:
- Ample imprint space on a flat surface
- Usable/reusable (less likely to end up in a landfill after one day)
- Tons of color options to match specific corporate branding or logo design
- And more!
If your clients aren’t sure where to start, there are ample opportunities to add a corporate logo to a bandanna to create the ultimate co-branding opportunity that ties their name to an important cause. Here is a short list of ideas:
- Walks for a cause
- National health day celebrations
- Information on health risks (think heart health)
- Hospitals and wellness centers
- Pride Month (June) ·
- Patriotism and veteran-tied causes (July)
Bandannas, from pet triangles to traditional to extra-large, provide a wearable platform to get health facts and tips out to the public or champion a needed cause.
Now that you have these items in the hands of your clients that want to promote a cause, you need to teach everyone how to wear them! This ensures ultimate awareness messaging as consumers that wear these fashionable items will get messaging out time after time, long after an event or fundraising campaign has wrapped up.
Use this list to help your clients offer wearing ideas:
- Hat Band
- Hat Liner
- Head Band
- Head Wrap
- Neckerchief
- Shirt (Extra-large only)
- Arm Band
- Leg Band
- Tucked into a Pocket
As the trusted promotional products distributor, it’s up to you to guide your clients’ messaging when it comes to cause awareness that will, in turn, build up trust with their customers. Get your hands on a free sample kit and see what these items can to do elevate the events, causes, and fundraising campaigns that happen all summer long. Sample kits are also available for Swag-Wag pet products.
