Edible Swag! It’s fun, it’s unique and it’s gaining popularity as a trend in business giving. Everything from branded chocolates to personalized bottles of hot sauce is out there in the marketplace, and a lot of companies are starting to catch on to sharing edible items for corporate gifts and promos. Let’s dig into some of the details.
It’s Memorable and Appreciated
Edible swag is a distinctive and much-appreciated gift. For one thing, people absolutely love receiving food (after all, everyone needs to eat!) But the bonus result is creating a positive connection with your brand. In fact, a study by the Promotional Products Association International found that food and beverage items are the most commonly kept and appreciated promotional items. By providing your clients with delicious treats, you’re that much more likely to create a lasting impression. You can also use edible swag for a variety of occasions in addition to client gifts, such as employee appreciation, or as giveaways at trade shows and events.
Here at The Messy Cookie we’ve noticed that employee appreciation often gets overlooked outside of the holiday season. But according to research we read about in Test Gorilla, gift-giving is actually an “appreciation language” that can be used to foster a positive experience amongst your employees, a crucial practice for employee engagement.
From the article: “In fact, 71% of organizations with highly engaged employees recognize employees when they do a good job, compared with just 41% of less engaged businesses.” They go on to describe why food makes such a great gift for staff. We couldn’t help but notice that there’s no mention of cookies at all - even though yummy gifts for staff could actually have the company logo put right on them! Which would absolutely make it taste better! (#science)
It’s Cost-Effective
Giving edible swag is also a super cost-effective way to promote your business. Compared to spendy promotional items like branded hoodies or tech gadgets, edible gifts can be produced at a much lower cost, especially when ordered in bulk.
It’s Versatile - and a powerful marketing tool!
Edible swag is also incredibly versatile. From sugar cookies to granola bars to artisanal popcorn, there are literally countless options for flavorsome items that can be customized with your branding.
It can also be a powerful marketing tool for your business. Because sharing food photos is such a popular trend, your giftees are very likely to show off their delicious treats on social media, giving your brand additional exposure to their followers. You can help to encourage that by having a hashtag or social media handle on the packaging, or by creating an additional giveaway that motivates people to post pictures of their swag to their networks.
Bonus: It’s Environmentally Friendly
Finally, edible swag can be a more environmentally friendly option than traditional promotional items. Branded water bottles or tote bags may be useful, but they also contribute to the plastic waste problem. Edible swag, on the other hand, gets consumed and doesn’t leave a lasting impact on the environment. You can also look for suppliers who use sustainable packaging or source their ingredients locally to further reduce your environmental footprint.
We think the verdict is in: Edible swag is absolutely a worthwhile business investment. It’s memorable, cost-effective, versatile, and can generate social media buzz. Additionally, it can be a more environmentally friendly option compared to other promotional items. If your company wants a truly unique way to promote its brand or to show appreciation to clients or employees, take a look at edible swag.
Looking for some branded swag for your clients? We’ve got you covered: Click here.