Most of our blogs are very general about swag ideas, what’s popular and trendy & new ideas. Since Barefoot Promotions Your Swag Connection has three offices across the country (NC, MI & OR), we thought it might be a fun twist to explore the most popular items in each of our areas.
Since I do the blogging, we are starting with my home base (seems fair, right?). Ahh, Asheville, NC (Black Mountain, to be exact). Athough I came here by way of Ohio (and Virginia before that), this became home and my favorite place ever! With Boone, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, NC and Tri-Cities, TN, Spartanburg/Greenville, SC all within easy driving distance, it’s the perfect place to be.
There are always those tried-and-true swag items that are popular throughout the country (and world) like T-shirts, water bottles, pens and technology items that will always be popular in the mountains of North Carolina also. But to really make an impact, look at items that really fit the needs and lifestyles of your clients and recipients.
Mountains- oh the mountains- hiking, mountain biking, water falls, bird watching. It is a nature lover and outdoor enthusiasts dream.
As I write, it is spring. And that brings lots of outdoor activities, but it also brings out the bears. Just last week I had a mom and 3 cubs on our back deck. Not wanting to give up hiking, I carry one of these handy whistles below. Not only are they great to scare off bears, but just in case I get lost or hurt they will help to notify other hikers of my location. The whistles have a clip for easy attachment to a pack or lanyard and are also reflective to add another element of safety. Priced as low as .95 each, they are a cost effective promotional item with a long life.
The Asheville area is home to many spiritual retreats, seminars and gatherings. The area has many vortexes that draw people in. Journals and spiral notebooks are thoughtful and appreciated gifts for swag bags, room drops, conference hand outs, or trade shows. Your recipient can use them for everything from journaling to keeping track of what trails they hiked or birds they saw. With prices starting around $1 for a jotter style notebook, there are options for every budget, event and need. Check out these beautiful journals which are made from apple residuals and other vegetable fibers that are ground and emulsified into an organic paper, with an Eco-peel cover and are available in three different sizes and a variety of colors:
With such a huge variety of outdoor activities being so popular, buffs make excellent giveaways for events, bike races, 5K’s. With a lower price point they are also excellent souvenier items to sell at events or fund raisers. Hikers, athletes, anglers, outdoor concert goers all appreciate the cooling effect, sun protection and wind protection offered by the versatile head and neckwear. How many swag items can you buy that work in so many different ways: bandana, headband, beanie,skullcap, scrunchie, neck warmer, armband, wristband, tube top, rally towel, neck guard or belt.
Our domestic options include a one color imprint (left), or with enough lead time (15 days to 8 weeks) we can get really creative with your design and do a really custom item (right) for your event or promotion.
And I can’t forget the four legged friends. Asheville and the surrounding area is very pet friendly, so anything to help out “pet parents” with our fur babies is always appreciated. One of my favorite things that I carry everywhere is a collapsible bowl. The dogs go out to eat with us, on hikes, on the boat- pretty much everywhere so having their own bowl for water or food is really handy. It also makes me feel a little better for them to be drinking out of their bowl instead of a communal bowl. Check out a variety of dog bowls we can add your logo to here. Or my two favorites below:
Need swag ideas for your area? Just give our team a call or shoot us an email and we will be happy to put together ideas specific to your needs.
Check out our blog on swag perfect for Michigan here.
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Swag Ideas for Creative Branding 