At Go To Market, we are merch connoisseurs and love seeing different kinds of swag in all kinds of businesses. I’m frequently noticing the abundance of merchandise in restaurants and bakeries I visit. From trendy bakeries like Levain Bakery to local eateries, these establishments have recognized the importance of branded merchandise. However, a lot of the shirts and tote bags I see are mass produced with their logo slapped on them.
In this blog post, I’ll share some tips on how bakery and restaurant owners can leverage the power of swag to promote their brand and boost sales.
- Embrace Merchandise. The answer is always YES to creating and investing in swag that reflects your brand and makes your customers feel like they are a part of your community. Whether these customers are regulars or tourists, they like having a piece of the places they frequent or a souvenir to remember and tell their friends about. In a city like NYC, tourists are a significant customer base for the majority of businesses. Offer memorable souvenirs that represent your brand and the city, and even consider exclusive or limited-edition swag that will make tourists feel like they’ve discovered something unique to take home with them.
- Be Memorable. When walking down the street you aren’t necessarily intrigued by someone’s T-Shirt that just says a brand’s name on it. However, when you see something beautiful, inspiring or funny, you’re more likely to feel a connection to the brand that created it. A cookie shop making a “cookie monster” T-Shirt or a dumpling restaurant with a unique drawing will catch attention and start a conversation.
- In-Store and Online Experience. Although you’re using print on demand, that doesn’t mean you can’t have some inventory on hand! People visiting from out of town or even regular customers have impulse buys, so having a handful of pieces available for purchase is smart. For the rest of the merchandise, you can set up an online store where people can shop more styles and sizes. This offers a wider range of variety for all body and style types without buying every size and style in bulk to keep in store.
Branded merchandise is more than just a shirt with your logo on it. It’s a powerful and creative marketing tool that allows your community to connect with your brand on a deeper level. By investing in print on demand merchandise, you can create a sense of brand loyalty, enhance customer experience, and attract new customers through word-of-mouth and social media exposure. Next time you visit your favorite eatery, take a moment to appreciate the swag on display and consider how it can benefit your own business.
Have you ever purchased restaurant and/or bakery swag? Let us know what you got in the comments!