By Nick Mann

For years, promotional products have proven to be a cost-effective way to advertise small retail businesses like military surplus/outdoor/tactical stores. LinkedIn research has found that “Approximately 80% of consumers can recall the branding on promotional items they receive, underscoring the lasting impression these products create.” And with more than 60% of consumers keeping promotional products for two years, it can lead to prolonged visibility to continually advertise your store. Not to mention, almost everyone appreciates getting something for free, which can help you establish better rapport with existing customers. Of course, your basics like t-shirts, hats and stickers can be good promotional products. But in this article, let’s think outside of the box and look at creative ideas that can create a lasting impression without breaking the bank. 

Reusable bags

Plastic bags have become a serious plague on the environment. According to Beyond Plastics, “Approximately five trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year, equating to 160,000 bags per second.” A great way to make your business more eco-friendly while also seamlessly promoting your brand is to give your customers reusable bags, which can serve two purposes. Reusable bags are great because they can be used for shopping (at your store and any other store) or as a tote bag, which can carry a variety of items like a phone, keys and clothing. And just think of the visibility. Any time someone is out and about with one of your custom bags featuring your brand logo, it acts as free advertising. When this happens at scale where you have hundreds or even thousands of people carrying your reusable bags, this can lead to maximum exposure — all while doing your part to reduce plastic waste. In terms of cost, a non-woven polypropylene bag typically costs around $1.15 per unit, while a high-quality canvas tote bag costs around $3.65. However, if you order in bulk, you may be able to pay as little as $0.80 per unit for lower-end bags. 

Vehicle magnets

When it comes to visibility, it doesn’t get much better than having your military surplus/outdoor/tactical business’s logo plastered on countless vehicles in your area. Even if your brand is featured on just a handful of vehicles it can have an impact. But if you’re featured on hundreds or thousands, this can send your brand equity through the roof and be a driving force in consistently bringing new customers into your store. That’s why vehicle magnets are a great choice for small retail businesses. These look like traditional stickers, but rather than being stuck in one position with sticky adhesive, they can easily be moved around in different positions or to different vehicles. Because vehicles are constantly in motion, this is an excellent way to get your business in front of tons of potential customers with minimal effort on your end. As for pricing, you can find basic 5- x 3-inch oval magnets for as low as $1 per unit. So even with a small order of 100 magnets, you could get your business’s name out to a huge audience for just $100. 

Reusable water bottles

Earlier, I mentioned the problem of plastic bag waste. But another huge environmental issue is plastic water bottles. Habits of Waste reports that “Roughly 481.6 billion plastic bottles were used worldwide in a single year, equating to about 40 billion per month or 1.3 billion per day.” And with plastic bottles taking up to 450 years to decompose, they can be incredibly toxic to the environment. A great solution to this problem, however, is reusable water bottles, which have gained a lot of popularity in recent years. You can capitalize on this trend by attaching your brand logo to these water bottles and handing them out to customers in your store. While these likely won’t get quite as much exposure as reusable bags and vehicle magnets, they can still get plenty of attention. When it comes to cost, you can find an economical option like a basic 28 oz. plastic water bottle for as low as $1.21 per unit.

Phone grips

If you’re unfamiliar, a phone grip is an extendable phone holder that’s attached to the back of a smartphone. It fits between the index and middle finger and is designed to provide added stability. Besides the functionality, a phone grip has also become a popular way to add a bit of flair to a phone, as it can come in a nearly infinite number of designs. From a person’s favorite sports team to art to animals and beyond, you can add virtually any design to a phone grip. And this presents yet another opportunity for a promotional product, since you can create customized phone grips with your business logo on them. Given how frequently most people use their smartphones, this can get your retail store in front of tons of potential customers. If you’re looking for dirt-cheap advertising that can generate considerable exposure, this is perfect because you can find deals on 150 customized phone grips for just $114, which comes out to $0.76 per unit. 

Building your customer base on the cheap

Sometimes you don’t need to reinvent the wheel to successfully advertise your military surplus/outdoor/tactical store. You just need to strategically target your core audience while also reaching other potential customers who may have an interest in your business. Promotional products like the ones mentioned here offer a potent way to accomplish this without spending a fortune. And the mix of creatively promoting your business while giving customers something for free kills two birds with one stone, as it raises brand awareness while strengthening relationships.