A Look Back at the Most Popular Swag Items and What’s Trending

Whether you’re looking to increase brand awareness, reward your team, or just make a good impression with clients, promotional items are a great way to achieve all three goals. 

In 2023 and beyond, promotional items such as custom-branded bags, t-shirts, pens, mugs, tumblers, water bottles, and hats will remain popular for companies of all sizes. 

And to understand what will be popular this year, we need to look at the top-trending promo items from last year. We researched all the swag items that were most ordered in 2022 by our clients and researched them based on the most popular items in the multifamily market. 

Let’s take a look…

1. BEST Coolie – Branded Beverage Holder

Easily the most popular and most-ordered promo item this year was the BEST Coolie. Made from premium quality 1/8″ thick, open-cell Econo foam, this coolie is available in an assortment of stylish colors and provides great insulation, and absorbs condensation. 

It can be customized with an imprinted apartment logo, company name, event title, or any information you want to convey. A second side and bottom imprint are also offered. The Coolie keeps drinks cold in summer and hands warm and dry in winter.

2. Ellipse Softy With Stylus Pens 

Pens are not only a cost-effective trade show swag item, but they’re great for taking notes at meetings and events. Pens with your company logo or URL on them are nothing new. You see these pens at every bank and car dealership you’ve ever been to. But, what is new and popular in recent years is the Stylus pens. 

Ellipse Softy with Stylus pens will continue to make an indelible mark on your customers and supporters this year. These Softy metal pens include a stylus tip, a rubberized barrel design with chrome accents, and a handy pocket clip. You can choose your barrel color and add your logo, emblem, or message through the signature ColorJet imprint to build a cool gift or giveaway for marketing events.

3. Large Non-Woven Grocery Tote

This year’s third-most-popular promo item is grocery totes, specifically this large non-woven reusable grocery bag. You can promote the reuse of this bag and transfer over from using plastic bags to this grocery tote. The 15″ H x 13″ W x 10″ D large bag is constructed of 80 gsm non-woven polypropylene and features reinforced 22″ handles, a 10″ gusset, and a removable board bottom insert. 

It’s ideal for toting groceries home or bringing food to an outdoor event. This is a great giveaway for businesses within any industry. Just customize with a silkscreen imprint to promote your multifamily brand and choose from three assorted colors at no additional charge.

4. Custom Bags, Backpacks, and Duffles

Bags are always popular promotional gifts for customers, and it was by far the most popular promo item in 2022. Whether it be a backpack or duffle bag with your company logo, bags are sure to leave an impression. 

5. Soft, Designed T-Shirts 

Shirts are also popular promotional items for companies this year. Not only do they make great client gifts, but they can also help team members feel connected to the company. 

We are not talking about those uncomfortable, non-stretchy t-shirts with your logo slapped on them that people inevitably donate to Goodwill. We are talking about the super soft, stretchy shirts with a custom design that your team members, clients, and partners will rave about!

6. Mugs and Tumblers

Mugs are also becoming increasingly popular promotional items this year as companies look for client gifts or mugs to use in-office by their teams. Tumblers, especially name-brand ones like RTIC and Yeti, have also become very popular due to their practicality and durability. 

7. Reusable Water Bottles

The “new year, new you” saying also leads to the increased popularity of water bottles. Plus, the glass water bottles’ aesthetic, convenience, and eco-friendly aspects make them a popular choice year-round.

8. Branded Hats and Caps

Lastly, branded baseball caps, beanies, and trucker hats are always among our most ordered promotional items each year, especially for trade show swag. Our clients and customers love to hand these out to their team members and partners and bring these as giveaway items to trade shows and conferences! 

With so many color options, styles, and several places to imprint your logo or design, it’s not surprising that hats are continually a popular promo item choice.

Create a Lasting Impression With Branded Promo Items

For multifamily marketers looking to build their brand awareness, promotional products are a great way to spread your message. Not only do they create a lasting impression on potential residents, but they also help you stand out from the competition.

By offering promotional items related to the multifamily brand or community, multifamily marketers can increase visibility with potential leads, build relationships with current tenants, and create lasting connections with new prospects.

Consider these great options if you’re looking for promotional items to give out this year or next. Ready to shop for swag and custom-branded promotional items for your properties or business? You can browse our promo items site or contact us directly to pull options that best match your needs and goals!

How to Use Branded Swag to Increase Leads and Brand Loyalty

For multifamily marketers looking to build their brand awareness, promotional products are a great way to spread your message. Not only do they create a lasting impression on potential residents, but they also help you stand out from the competition. 

By offering promotional items related to the multifamily brand or community, multifamily marketers can increase visibility with potential leads, build relationships with current tenants, and create lasting connections with new prospects.

Here are 10 ways promotional products can improve your brand awareness:

1. Increase Exposure

Promotional products give marketers an effective and affordable way to reach larger audiences. Whether at multifamily trade shows, conferences, or stores, displaying branded items will increase your company’s presence.

Multifamily properties can quickly establish brand recognition in their local community by offering promotional items. These products are often used at events such as open houses or sponsored events — they can market the property while providing useful information about its amenities and services. Prospective residents will be more likely to remember an apartment complex when they have something tangible to take home that represents the multifamily brand.

2. Raise Multifamily Brand Recognition

Promotional products make it easy for people to recognize and remember your multifamily brand. It’s also much easier for someone to recall a product that was given as opposed to what they read in an advertisement.

3. Create Brand Loyalty

Swag is also a great way to show appreciation. Promotional products can reward existing residents for their loyalty and encourage them to continue leasing at your property. This creates a sense of trust with your audience and makes them feel valued by your company.

By providing residents with branded items such as t-shirts, water bottles, or mugs, multifamily marketers can increase resident loyalty and word-of-mouth referrals for their community.

4. Convey Your Marketing Message

Branding items with your apartment logo, slogan, or other visuals help marketers communicate their message quickly and efficiently. People will also be able to recognize your brand when they see it again elsewhere instantly.

5. Make a Lasting Impression

Placing promotional items at trade shows or in your leasing office allows marketers to stand out from the competition and make a lasting impression on potential residents. It’s also a great way to differentiate yourself from other multifamily brands.

6. Generate Interest in the Brand

Marketers giving away branded products can generate interest and curiosity in their brand. Renters may be more likely to research your property or look up your product if they have something tangible related to it.

7. Encourage Word-of-Mouth Referrals

Swag increases the chances of generating more leases and referrals for an apartment community. Promotional items are a great way to increase visibility and create lasting relationships with prospective and current residents.

By giving people promotional items, marketers can encourage word-of-mouth advertising, one of the most effective forms of apartment marketing available today. People will be more likely to talk about your multifamily brand if they have something tangible that links back to you.

8. Create Connections With Local Businesses

Promotional items can also help communities create connections with local businesses in the area. By distributing swag at sponsored events in the local area, multifamily properties can establish relationships with business owners and start networking opportunities. These partnerships will enhance the property’s visibility and help generate more apartment leads.

9. Stay Top-of-Mind

Since promotional products are always visible, marketers can stay top-of-mind with potential residents. Whenever someone sees the product you gave them, it will bring your brand back to the forefront of their mind. 

10. Generate Excitement About the Property

Promotional products can be used to stir up excitement about your property and all its offerings. You can use them as event giveaways or mail them directly to prospective residents and prospects for maximum impact. 

Don’t forget to create a fun gift basket and put it on your social media for a giveaway! This way, you can generate new social media followers while drumming up more excitement for your property.

The Power of Promotional Products in Your Multifamily Marketing

Using promotional products is a great way for marketers to increase their brand awareness and differentiate themselves from the competition. Whether it’s increasing exposure, creating loyalty or generating interest, promotional products can make a difference in your multifamily marketing efforts. By leveraging the power of promotional products, marketers can reach larger audiences and create a lasting impression on potential customers.

The key is finding the right promotional item representing your multifamily property and its services. With various options available on the market, you can choose items that fit your multifamily brand and match your marketing goals. 

For example, if you are aiming to increase brand loyalty, look for t-shirts or mugs with your apartment logo on it. Alternatively, if you want to network with local businesses, look for items like pens, notebooks, or notepads with your logo. You can increase apartment leads and word-of-mouth referrals by choosing the right promotional item that best represents your community.

Ready to shop for swag and custom-branded promotional items for your properties or business? You can browse our promo items site or contact us directly to pull options that best match your needs and goals!

With the holidays fast approaching, you are likely scouring the web for corporate gift ideas that will impress your hard-to-shop-for clients, coworkers, bosses, business associates, and even prospective partners.

According to Fortune, more than 75 percent of businesses plan to send gifts to their clients and employees this year. Additionally, 57 percent of respondents in a different survey said “gifts can impact their opinion of a business partner both positively and negatively,” according to Business Gift Satisfaction Survey.

However, deciding on the perfect holiday gift is no easy task — especially when it comes to the workplace. Your gift needs to be appropriate, practical, and personal. Most importantly, the item must be within budget but still high-quality.

We put together the ultimate holiday gift guide, filled with the perfect corporate gift ideas for every price point:

Rangeley Gourmet Snack Pack Cooler

Forget tossable gift baskets. Give the gift of a reusable, personalized cooler instead! The Rangeley Box Cooler is filled with a variety of sweet and savory snacks. Treats include chocolate chip cookies, smoked almonds, cheddar cheese straws, caramel popcorn, and more.

Stainless Steel Water Bottles

What’s one thing nearly everyone in the office does on a daily basis? Most likely, they drink water or coffee. This year, consider giving a corporate gift people actually want: a 20-ounce stainless steel water bottle. These bottles feature a Tritan plastic screw-on cap and double wall vacuum insulation to keep drinks hot or cold for hours on end. As an added bonus, the exterior of the bottle is customizable should you choose to add your logo for extra brand exposure.

Heritage Supply Highline Tote Gourmet Gift Set

Gourmet snacks are always a good idea, particularly when they come in a personalized, modern tote bag. Also included in this sleek gift set is a leather writing pad, retractable pen, and coordinating leatherette desktop box filled with tasty snacks. From raspberry honey mustard dip and pretzel twists, to shortbread and almond tea cookies, there is a delectable snack for everyone. Customize the items with an imprint of your choice to add an even more personal touch!

Speckle Ceramic Campfire Mugs

Just about everyone loves coffee, hot cocoa, or warm tea, so why not give your team or clients a gift they can use year-round? These nine-ounce mugs feature a glazed speckle design with a black rim. With eight colors to choose from and the ability to imprint them with your name or logo, these mugs are sure to make your brand more visible. Pair them with a package of gourmet coffee or a jar of hot cocoa mix, and you have yourself the perfect corporate gift.

Bamboo Cheese Board With Knife Set in a Hidden Drawer

This bamboo cheese board will delight and impress your clients, especially if you pair it with a seasonal wine and delicious cheese spread. The deluxe Malvern cheese board set features a cracker serving tray around the entire board, plus a hidden drawer that stores four stainless steel tools. Personalize the board with your name, logo, or slogan to complete the look.

Stemless Wine Glasses

Whether you are trying to impress a new client or capture the attention of a prospective partner, these stemless wine glasses are sure to please the masses. Each glass holds up to 16 ounces and comes in several color options. Complete the look with custom imprinting and your favorite grape variety. To step it up, complement it with a mix of fruit and cheeses from your local market.

Micro-Mink Plaid Sherpa Blanket

Give the gift of actually being warm in the office for once. We all know it gets chilly in the workplace, regardless of the temperature outdoors. These micro-mink sherpa blankets are the perfect corporate gift for any office size, not to mention one people will actually use. Each blanket is 50 inches by 60 inches and is made of faux micro-mink on one side and lambswool sherpa on the other. If your budget allows, pair these blankets with the ceramic campfire coffee mugs for an even cozier holiday gift.

Coffee & Cookie Basket With Himalayan Tumbler

The holidays aren’t complete without coffee and cookies. This year, offer your clients and coworkers a gift basket filled with treats for the entire office to share. The basket includes fresh ground Colombian beans, a 20-ounce Himalayan tumbler, Noble Knight almond tea cookies, chocolate chunk cookies, and cool peppermint puffs. Each basket is cello wrapped and tied with a personalized ribbon with your logo.

Popcorn Tin With Trio of Butter, Cheddar, and Caramel Popcorn

This gift is almost guaranteed to make your business “pop.” Each popcorn tin features 3.5 gallons of freshly popped butter, cheddar, and caramel popcorn. Each tin is fully customizable and reusable!

Custom Imprinted Chocolate Truffles

Looking for something Kosher? We’ve got you covered. Whether you are in search of a great corporate office gift or fun holiday giveaway, these custom imprinted chocolate truffles are sure to impress. Give the gift of premium-themed Belgian milk or dark chocolate truffles with a custom edible imprint. Choose between a 10-, 16-, or 32-piece set depending on the office size — or appetite!

Deluxe Charcuterie Gourmet Meat & Cheese Set

Mouth-watering dry-cured salami, crackers, assorted cheeses, and gourmet mustards. Need we say more? This delectable set comes in a gift box with a customizable lid to showcase your branding.

Callaway Golf Gift Card

For the busy working professional or hard-to-shop-for boss, give the gift of golfing. If snacks, holiday treats, and promotional items aren’t your gifting style, consider these customizable gift cards. Purchase a Callaway Golf gift card and let your customers or coworkers choose from a variety of golf products.

Don’t see what you are looking for? Browse our swag website for more promotional products, holiday gift ideas, and the latest in office gadgets.