Succeed with the Top 15 Promotional Items for Small Businesses
September 9, 2024
Small businesses are as American as apple pie. They make up the fabric of our communities and are celebrated each year on Small Business Saturday in November. If you are an owner of a small business, you know that relationships and recognition are critical to your growth and long-term success.
Offering great products and services as well as being an honest, upright, and respected member of the community is what long-term success is built on. That said, offering a little swag can help get you started and growing by increasing your name and brand recognition and helping you express appreciation for your customers and stakeholders.
Promotional products for small businesses don’t have to break the bank to be effective. In fact, Crestline has hundreds of budget-friendly items starting at under $1. Promo products are great for any stage of a business–including grand openings, seasonal events, or community appreciation.
The next time you’re looking for small business promotional products, check out these top sellers from Crestline.
Promotional Pens
No one can have too many pens; in fact, they always seem to be difficult to find when you need one. Get your small business brand, logo, or image out in the community by sharing inexpensive promotional pens for small businesses generously.
Our Clic Stic® Pen is a great basic writing instrument that can be customized with your logo on the barrel or clip. Select from more than 600 color combinations at inexpensive, wholesale prices and offer budget pens generously in your stores, office reception areas or as giveaways at any event.
Check out a few more of our favorite advertising pens:
Merchandise & Gift Bags with Your Logo
One of the best promotional items for small businesses is the merchandise bag you use to package purchased items. Sure, you can sell products in an unmarked bag, but there’s a basic feeling of legitimacy and personality that comes from a custom imprinted bag. Whether you’re seeking inexpensive plastic bags, paper options or even reusable totes, Crestline has exactly what you want.
Our Billboard Brown Paper Bag 7 3/4" x 9 3/4" is made from white or brown kraft paper, designed to be both reusable and environmentally friendly. Shoppers will appreciate the matching twisted paper handles for added style and comfort.
Check out our other best-selling merchandise bags:
Explore our other popular options:
Custom Can Coolers
If you’re looking for a favorite small business promotional product, seriously consider custom can coolers. Customers and community members alike will appreciate these handy giveaways designed to keep their favorite drinks cool and their hands free of condensation.
Crestline’s Full Color KOOZIE® Can Kooler is made from polyester with a foam backing to insulate your favorite cans or bottles. Use a full color imprint to communicate your logo, brand, or message.
Company T-Shirts
Perhaps one of the most versatile items of apparel in the country, t-shirts make great inexpensive promotional products for small businesses. They are comfortable, can be worn in any season, and do a great job of spreading your business’s brand and messaging.
Our Ultra Cotton 100% Cotton T-Shirt is constructed out of 100% cotton material and features double needle sleeves, hem, and a seamless double needle collar for long lasting durability.
You’ll love these other top custom tee options:
Advertising Signage
Whether you’re at home, in an office, or at a trade show or conference, it’s important to let people know who you are. Signs catch the eyes of potential customers, let them know what you do and when you’re open, and advertise any sales/specials that may draw them in. They are great small business promotion items that do double duty.
Choose your sign based on the aesthetic you’re going for. Our Economy Wood Chalkboard A-Frame is perfect for an old-fashioned ice cream shop, while our Mini Promo Retractor Kit is a better option for a compact conference display.
Browse through Crestline’s other custom signage options:
Printed Notepads & Sticky Notes
Pair a mini notepad or sticky notes with a personalized pen to make the perfect office giveaway. These little pads are perfect for jotting down notes during a meeting, doodling inspiration, or writing down a phone number.
Our SOUVENIR® 4" x 6" Adhesive Notepads 50 Sheet Pad is a lined notepad that’s the perfect size for a desk, and sticky-note lovers are sure to use our Recycled Post-it® Pads 25 Sheets. Both are perfect promo ideas for small businesses.
Don’t forget to take a look at our other notepad options:
Branded Mugs
When folks in your community go for that morning cup of coffee, make sure they are grabbing one of your branded mugs. Not only do they serve an all-important purpose of holding favorite beverages, they tend to remain in prominent places a great deal of the time, working tirelessly to advertise your brand.
The 11 oz Morning Gloss Mug from Crestline is an ironstone ceramic mug that can hold an impressive 11 ounces when filled to the brim. Its large c-handle means a secure and comfortable hold, and the glossy exterior makes your brand message stand out.
You’ll love our other best sellers:
Giveaway Calendars
Even in the world of cell phones and shared electronic calendars, printed calendars still have an important place in society. People still glance at those magnetic fridge calendars or use hanging wall calendars to check the date, plan events, or count down the days to special occasions.
For your small business, giveaway calendars offer year-round advertising for all those who see them. Our 2024 Standard Press-N-Stick™ Calendar is adhesive-backed and spans 14 months. Print your message on durable vinyl for long-lasting messaging. They make some of the best promotional items for small businesses.
Explore our other calendar options:
Check out our other customer favorite keychains:
Personalized Keychains & Key Tags
Keychains and key tags are effective and affordable ways to encourage repeat business. Most people never leave their keys behind – and if your logo can tag along, you’ll get that much more brand exposure.
Our Large Rectangle Key Tag makes a great loyalty or rewards card to encourage clients to keep coming back. At only 1 ¼” by 2 ⅕”, these tags can be easily sent in the mail. To give recipients another reason to put your logo on their keychain, gift our Whistle/Light Key Ring. They’ll be sure to appreciate it the next time they’re in a sticky situation.
Custom Printed Hats
Offer personalized hats to your customers, and the next time they attend a sports game, spend a day at the beach, or go hiking, they’ll proudly wear your company logo while enjoying a bit of shade. You can’t go wrong with our Classic Ball Cap for a well-known design. For a cooler option, check out The Clincher Mesh Back Cap, which features a mesh back for optimal ventilation. Custom hats make great promotional merchandise for small businesses.
Don’t forget to go through our other cap options:
See other tech favorite gifts for under $5:
Tech Accessories with Logo
Everyone is surrounded by technological tools and toys these days, so why not take advantage by jumping on the bandwagon with branded accessories?
Crestline’s Silicone Tech Pocket is slim enough for any pocket and is a great alternative to a bulkier wallet or purse. It will hold a few credit cards, hotel room keys or IDs as well as a little cash and attach easily to a smooth-surface cell phone or tablet with a strong yet removable 3M adhesive.
Branded Water Bottles
Whether recipients grab them for the office, school, or gym, water bottles are a great way to get your brand on the go while encouraging healthy hydration habits. Our 21 oz Cayman Water Bottle is a classic screw-top bottle that’s perfect for sports. If you’re looking for a metal option, check out the 22 oz Darby Aluminum Bottle for a stylish water bottle.
Take a look at our other customized water bottles for the perfect design:
Peruse our other best-selling totes:
Reusable Shopping Totes
Bags are useful in a variety of settings – the grocery store, library, beach, and gym, to name a few. When you give customers personalized shopping totes, you’re basically creating a free walking billboard, and your business logo will be seen all over town.
Our Bargain Hunter Shopping Tote is a multi-purpose tote that makes a great alternative to plastic shopping bags. For a unique twist on the classic tote, consider our Colored Handle Tote Bag. If you’re looking for promotional merchandise for small businesses, be sure to consider reusable totes.
Giveaways for the Kids
For busy parents, gifts targeted at kids can be a lifesaver. When kids spot our 11" Qualatex® Balloons- Standard Colors, they’re going to want one – which gets parents in the door. Kids also love fiddling with our Pop It Fidget Toy Square, which can keep them entertained for hours.
Don’t forget to check out other favorite toys:
Explore our other business card sizes and designs:
Personalized Business Cards
It’s important to offer business cards to prospective customers and clients, as they might otherwise have no way to contact you. Consider eye-catching designs or creative alternatives to encourage customers to hang on to your card.
Our Full Color Business Card Magnet will keep your info on the fridge, even if it’s only holding up this week’s shopping list. Potential clients may not be interested in your services at the moment; but if you can keep your business on their radar, you may be able to get business from them in the future.
No matter what your business does, an inexpensive and personalized gift can improve customer opinions, build strong relationships, and set the stage for future interactions. Handy gifts like shopping totes or water bottles may get used every day, which reminds customers of your brand and shows your logo to their friends and family. At the same time, you’re showing how your business cares for the planet and preventing plastic bags and bottles from ending up in a landfill.
Giveaways and gifts don’t have to break the bank; Crestline offers hundreds of affordable and customizable promotional items for small businesses. Whether it’s a promotional pen, custom t-shirt, or personalized keychain, we have the perfect giveaways for your business.
References
U.S. Small Business Administration. Retrieved from,
https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/organization/sba-initiatives/small-business-saturday
Fairlie, M. (2023, Feb. 21). Business.com. Retrieved from,
https://www.business.com/articles/meredith-wood-small-businesses-empower-communities/
Jackson, A. (2019, Feb. 13). Design Hill. Retrieved from
https://www.designhill.com/design-blog/reasons-why-business-cards-are-still-important/
