Fun promo items to bring extra joy to your brand

By Mae Strehlow

When brands set out to elicit one emotion—joy—above all else, it’s termed “joy marketing opens in new window.” The goal of joy marketing is to leave your audience with a lasting, positive impression of your brand. Joy can be a differentiator opens in new window. While your competitors might offer products just as high-performing, long-lasting or impressive, yours can stand out by providing a special spark of happiness. Here are ideas to incorporate fun promo items into your strategy to get your audience grinning.

Gifts and incentives to keep your team smiling

When you embrace joy marketing, you not only aim to delight your external audiences, you can also create a positive atmosphere opens in new window within your organization. When a challenging or long-running project concludes, applaud employees for their heroic efforts and give MopTopper^® Superhero Pens or Superhero Sportpacks. Keep a few extras on hand to pass to vendors, clients and customers.

Celebrate special occasions, such as award wins, work anniversaries or retirements, with a party. Assemble goodie bags that include fun promo items, like hand clappers and cube puzzles, to lighten the mood.

Event items to bring joy to the public

When we experience joy, our brains release chemicals, like dopamine and serotonin, that make us feel good. In the same way those chemicals give us a warm emotional embrace, fun trade show giveaways can give event attendees the warm fuzzies.

Offer smiles—literally—in the form of a smile emoji stress reliever to anyone who stops by your booth to chat. An exhibitor in the agriculture or food industry can elicit smiles by offering duck sportpacks in return for a survey submission or newsletter signup. Or offer attendees at a health fair, fun ways to be active. Give jump ropes or sport flyers as rewards for watching a presentation or product demo and put your brand on the move.

Promo products to surprise customers

Fun marketing giveaways can also get those feel-good brain chemicals flowing. Run a “Saturday Smiles” promotion and add a free smiley toy or smiley guy phone holder to every purchase.

There’s joy to be had in learning too. February is National Children’s Dental Health Month south of the border—and dental offices here in Canada join in on the fun. For instance, a dentist’s office might hand out dental colouring books featuring 16 pages of colouring and activity text with important and easy-to-learn messages, after every appointment. Similarly, a bank or credit union could promote Financial Literacy Month in November, and offer piggy banks when families arrive at an appointment.

Thank-you gifts to send a meaningful message

Pass the positive vibes on to clients and community partners with joyful thank-you gifts. Deliver S’mores kits or popcorn tins to show appreciation to community supporters or partner organizations. The snacks also encourage recipients to take a break and snack together.

After beginning a new customer relationship, a business could send a watering can blossom kit or Wooden Cube Blossom Kit to express gratitude. Include a message about your excitement to watch the relationship grow and flourish.

Spark joy and stand out

Marketers use a range of emotions when making their appeals. By choosing joy, your brand can radiate positivity and give consumers the warmth of happiness when they engage with your people, products or services. And fun promo items can be a recurring reminder of those fond feelings.

Mae Strehlow

Mae Strehlow has 23 years of importing and merchandising experience at 4imprint—and 15 years in international and domestic retail before that—bringing nearly four decades of expertise to the promotional products industry. Over the years, she’s worked across a wide range of product categories, but drinkware is where her true passion lies. Mae thrives on product development, whether it’s creating exclusive private label lines or collaborating with suppliers to turn market trends into practical, successful solutions. She loves the challenge of refining shapes and styles to meet the unique demands of the promotional products industry. She believes that transparency, collaboration and a shared commitment to success—both internally and with 4imprint’s vendor partners—are what truly sets 4imprint apart.

All marks are the property of 4imprint or their respective owners.

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