In today’s marketing landscape, standing out is everything. Some big brands have become household names with their catchy taglines. Maybe you’re thinking of some of them now. Brands are always on the hunt for ways to differentiate themselves from the rest of the crowd. For some, all it takes is a viral post or TikTok trend. But for others, it comes in the form of promotional apparel.
But why turn your brand into a merchandise line?
It’s simple. Creating cool and collectible merchandise can help make your brand appear desirable, acting as a tool to draw more attention to your company indirectly. But there is more that comes into creating desirable merch than just slapping your logo to a t-shirt.
So how do you do this effectively?
In this blog, we’ll go over the power of corporate merchandise as promotional tools, the popular types of apparel you can consider, and the strategies you can do to maximise your promotional investment.
Why Promotional Apparel is a Smart Investment
The numbers are clear. According to PPAI, 39% of end buyers prefer apparel promotional products. Apparel (including outwear, caps, and shirts) is also the promotional category that generates the most impressions as compared to other product categories.
Here are some of the reasons why you should invest in branded promotional apparel:
Brand Exposure
Wearable merchandise extends your brand’s reach beyond traditional advertising channels. Every time your customers wear your merchandise when they go out and about, your advertisement travels alongside them.
Community Building
When done right, merch can build a sense of community. Those who purchased the promotional apparel can feel like they’re part of an exclusive club together with others who appreciate the brand and its merch. Making limited merch drops can heighten this sense of exclusivity, making it something to look forward to when your business releases a new wave of merch.
Brand Loyalty and Identity
Fashion is all about self-expression—what people wear can give a glimpse into who they are and what they value. Creating promotional apparel not only solidifies your brand’s identity but also strikes a deeper connection with you and your audience. Your audience wearing your brand’s merchandise is a show of their loyalty and alignment with your values.
Long Lasting Impact
Clothing is a practical item used every day. By creating promotional apparel you can leverage its functionality as an extension of your brand’s exposure.
Customisation Options
Printed designs or embroidered logos? From colors, styles, and prints, there are a lot of branding techniques that come with promotional apparel. Brands can unleash their creativity and let their unique vision come to life in the form of corporate merchandise.
The Best Promotional Apparel for Events and Trade Shows
T-Shirts: The Classic Choice
T-shirts are the most popular promotional item for good reason—they’re affordable, customisable, and comfortable. Available in a variety of materials, including cotton, polyester, and performance blends, they can suit everything from casual wear to active lifestyles.
With multiple branding options like screen printing, embroidery, and sublimation, you can create a design that perfectly represents your business.
Ideal for trade shows, conferences, and corporate giveaways, t-shirts are a versatile and effective choice for promotional apparel.
Our picks include a unisex shirt that comes in a range of colors and a long-sleeved crew neck shirt that comes in men’s and women’s sizing.
Promotional apparel T Shirts The Classic Choice
Branded Polo Shirts: A Touch of Professionalism
While t-shirts offer a casual and comfortable style, polo shirts provide a clean, professional look—perfect for corporate uniforms, customer-facing staff, golf events, and trade shows.
With their polished appearance and durable materials, polo shirts are versatile enough for both indoor and outdoor events. Branding options include heat transfer and embroidery, allowing you to showcase your logo with a sleek finish.
Available in men’s and women’s sizing, polos deliver a refined style. Opt for a performance polo to elevate it into an athleisure staple, ideal for those with an active lifestyle.
Hoodies & Sweatshirts: Premium Comfort Wear
Boost your brand’s appeal with hoodies and sweatshirts as promotional merch. Thanks to their thicker construction, hoodies not only last longer but also carry a higher perceived value.
Their casual yet stylish charm makes them perfect for employee appreciation gifts, wearable workplace attire, and premium corporate giveaways. They’re also ideal for winter events and tech or modern companies looking for a relaxed yet professional look.
Choose from a variety of styles—sweatshirts, pullover hoodies, or zip-up hoodies—and materials like cotton fleece, organic blends, or performance fabrics. Customisation options include embroidery, patches, sublimation, and screen printing, allowing you to showcase your brand in style.
Our picks include this unisex hooded sweatshirt and classic sweatshirt that both come in a range of colors.
The Best Apparel for Employees & Corporate Gifts
Branded Jacket and Outerwear – Style Meets Function
Enhance your merchandise with stylish branded jackets and outerwear. Crafted from durable materials for a premium look and feel, they’re perfect for company events, outdoor activities, and corporate gifting.
Choose from a variety of styles, including softshell jackets, fleece jackets, and windbreakers. Add a subtle yet sophisticated touch with embroidered logos, custom patches, or even engraved details on zippers and tags.
Ideal for winter promotions, employee swag, or high-end corporate giveaways, branded outerwear makes a lasting impression while keeping your brand front and center.
This foldable unisex windbreaker is perfect for those on the go, while this warm unisex vest is the perfect companion for colder weather.
Custom Caps & Beanies: Branded Accessories for All
Complete your merchandise line with custom caps and beanies—stylish accessories that never go out of fashion. Available in a variety of styles and materials, headwear makes for a timeless addition to any branded merchandise collection.
Perfect for trade shows, corporate giveaways, or casual workwear, custom caps suit any industry. With branding options like embroidered logos, custom patches, and sublimation printing, you can get creative with your design.
Go for a classic faded cap for year-round wear, a cable knit beanie to keep warm in winter, or a wide-brim bucket hat that’s ideal for summer fishing trips.
Custom Socks – A Dash of Fun
Looking for something beyond the usual shirts and jackets? Display your brand’s fun and quirky side through custom socks! These trendy, unisex accessories are easy to distribute and perfect for brands that want to make a playful yet stylish statement.
Ideal for quirky promotions, employee swag, trade show giveaways, and subscription boxes, custom socks offer both versatility and personality. Choose from cotton blends, moisture-wicking fabrics, or eco-friendly bamboo to match your audience’s preferences. Add a creative touch with woven logos, embroidered patches, or custom knit patterns.
These customisable crew socks let you put your brand front and center in a unique and eye-catching way.
Maximising the Impact of Your Promotional Apparel
After all the brainstorming and designing that goes into choosing your promotional apparel, how do you ensure that it’s effective?
Don’t lose sight of your promotional merchandise’s potential. Here are some key things to help maximise its impact.
Select the Product Based on Your Target Audience
When it comes to choosing and designing branded merchandise, make sure to always keep your ideal audience in mind. Would it be something they would appreciate and make use of in their day-to-day life? Would it be something that can greatly add value to what you’re currently offering in terms of products or services?
Getting your audience’s demographics, hobbies, and interests down also helps you identify the best kind of promotional apparel to select. If your audience lives an active lifestyle, they might appreciate merchandise with moisture-wicking material such as dri fit t-shirts, sports socks, and the like.
Pair the Apparel with Other Promotional Items
While promotional apparel has value on its own, you can make your promo strategy more effective by pairing the apparel together with other merch items. Maybe in your next trade show, you can give away custom shirts inside a tote bag together with other goodies. Or surprise your newest hires with an employee welcome kit that contains custom socks and desk accessories.
Consider Your Distribution Strategies
Do you plan to give your promotional apparel as corporate giveaways or launch them as purchasable items with your other products? Consider your purpose for the merchandise and identify the best method of distributing them to get the most impact.
For trade shows, let audiences take home your merchandise giveaway in a handy tote bag. For employee gifts, package the apparel inside a welcome kit together with other items that could help your newest hires on their first day. For corporate gifts to VIP clients, you may want to prepare fancy packaging and make sure it’s delivered to their doorstep or office.
Where to Buy High-Quality Promotional Apparel in Australia
The start of your corporate merchandise strategy starts with finding the right vendor who can help you from start to finish. When selecting the right promotional apparel, it’s important to consider quality, customisation, and pricing.
For hassle-free logistics and easier communication, it’s best to work with an Australian vendor like Red Tomato who can bring your custom-branded ideas to life.
Branded Corporate Swag for Your Events and Campaigns
Invest in promotional apparel to aid your promotional strategies. Whether it’s for a corporate event, trade show, or client gift, nothing comes close to the practicality and brand exposure that promotional apparel can offer.
Get started on creating your custom branded apparel with a trusted Australian vendor with a track record of successful promotional campaigns. Check out Red Tomato’s catalogue or book an ideas call with us for personalised swag creations.
