Promoting your brand through custom printed clothing and merchandise can be an extremely effective marketing strategy if done right. Here are some tips on how to leverage printed apparel to boost brand awareness and sales in the UK.
Choose the Right Items
The first step is selecting the right type of apparel and merchandise to print your brand name and logos on. Consider who your target audience is and what items they would actually use. Popular choices include:
- T-Shirts – A wardrobe staple and great for everyday branding. Go for good quality materials and fits.
- Hoodies & Sweatshirts – Perfect for keeping your brand visible on chillier days. Consider zip-up and pullover styles.
- Hats & Caps – An easy way to get your brand noticed. Go for comfortable, adjustable baseball caps and beanie hats.
- Bags – Tote bags, backpacks, and more make useful branded merchandise people can carry around.
- Accessories – From scarves and gloves to jewellery and sunglasses, accessories offer easy branding real estate.
The items you choose should reflect your brand image and personality. Be consistent in your selection.
Focus Your Designs
Keep your printed designs simple and impactful. Centrally display your company name, logo, slogan, or website in a bold, eye-catching style. Avoid cluttering the design too much – you want the focus on your branding.
Pick a maximum of 2 or 3 colours that align with your brand palette. This looks more professional than random colours. Place prints on the front or back of apparel, not on the sleeves.
Choose Good Quality Printing
Don’t cut corners when it comes to production. High quality screen printing from a Cambridge print shop or embroidery will make your prints stand out and last longer. Poor printing can look cheap and reflect badly on your brand.
Research reliable UK apparel Cambridge printing services. Ask to see samples of their work first. Printed apparel made from good fabrics also gives a more positive impression.
Find the Right Brand Ambassadors
Giving out free branded apparel to the right brand ambassadors can be more beneficial than simply selling it. Consider giving merch to:
- Influencers who can style it on social media
- Sports teams and events sponsors
- Charities and organisations that align with your brand values
- Loyal customers as a reward and incentive
Seeing your target audience genuinely interacting with and enjoying your branded apparel makes a more authentic impact than just e-commerce sales.
Sell in the Right Places
You can sell printed apparel directly through your own e-commerce shop, but also consider other sales channels. Setting up an online merch store through sites like Teespring can help you reach wider audiences.
Attending trade shows and events to sell merch in-person also gets your brand directly in front of potential customers. You can also approach appropriate local retailers and small boutiques to stock your printed apparel on a sale or return basis.
Use Apparel Giveaways
Run free merchandise giveaways and competitions through social media and your website. This grows your follower count and email list while getting your branding worn by new potential customers.
You could also offer custom apparel as a branded gift with purchase or as a loyalty reward for repeat customers. These types of promotions incentivise sales while upping your visibility.
With the right strategy, printed apparel can become a highly visible and cost-effective moving billboard for your UK brand. Focus on quality over quantity and get your branded merchandise in front of your target audience for maximum impact.
