With the huge variety of coolers available, it’s clear that these promotional gifts can work for almost any business or occasion. We chatted with Melanie V., a senior category manager at 4imprint specializing in coolers, to find out the latest trends.
While coolers make many people think of hot days in the sun, Melanie pointed out that even when the temperatures drop, coolers still make great gifts for customers, prospects and staff. “Everyone can use them,” she said. “They invoke good feelings of vacations, relaxing, fun times tailgating and group events. It’s that good feeling of being outdoors.”
Tailor your gift with the recipient in mind, she advised. For example, a backpack cooler makes a great gift for those customers who are focused on active lifestyles.
Rolling coolers make their leisure time easier
A practical promotional gift they may not have yet is a rolling cooler. Just like wheeled luggage, a wheeled cooler makes it easy to move its contents with minimal effort. Ice, beverages, meat, fruit and more can get heavy, so give them the gift of convenience with a rolling cooler! Melanie says these are great for tailgating and other sporting events.
Consider the classic Coleman® 60-Quart Wheeled Cooler (with a huge 95-can capacity!) or choose a similar design in a smaller 16-, 28- or 45-qt. size. The Coleman® 42-Can Soft-Sided Wheeled Cooler has a removable hard liner that makes cleaning a breeze! The Arctic Zone® Titan Deep Freeze Rolling Cooler has rugged wheels and a fold-down feature for storage, plus plenty of pockets to hold picnic and tailgating supplies.
Hard-sided coolers are great for the long haul
Hard-sided coolers are the classic design many of us grew up with. It’s hard to beat a hard-cooler’s durability and long-lasting value, so your brand will stay on their radar for years if you give these to valued customers and staff. “These are great for long trips, and they do well in rugged terrain or being out in the elements,” she said. Think about your customers who like to camp or who have an adventurous side. They also make great door prizes at open houses or special events.
Check out the Basecamp® Ice Block 20L Cooler. Durable roto-molded plastic construction with a hinged lid and freezer-style latches make sure this logo-printed cooler is part of the fun for years to come! The Engel® 19-Quart Cooler is another high-quality copolymer cooler with high-grade molded polystyrene foam insulation and airtight EVA gasket seal to keep food and drinks cold and fresh! Stainless steel latches and a self-stopping hinge securely keep the lid in place.
Backpack coolers go hands-free
Carrying weight on the shoulders makes sense, because the shoulders distribute the weight and make the task easier. That’s the idea behind backpacks, and it’s also the key advantage of backpack coolers. Melanie pointed out another advantage of promotional backpack coolers: They leave the hands free for other tasks, whether that’s carrying more items or corralling small children. Those on-the-go customers with an active lifestyle will appreciate their personalized backpack coolers.
The Igloo® Marine Ultra Backpack Cooler has a large zippered main compartment that can stow up to 32 cans, plus more pockets on the top, front and sides! It’s made of a tarpaulin material for durability with a leak-resistant, antimicrobial PEVA lining. The Branson Backpack Cooler is made of sturdy 600-denier polyester and can be carried with adjustable backpack straps or an adjustable shoulder strap. Extra storage in a bottom cooler compartment on the Koozie® Recreation Laptop Cooler Backpack saves having to carry a separate lunch cooler
Multi-use coolers offer more for your marketing dollars
Versatile multi-use coolers offer your gift recipients a bonus, whether it’s extra storage, conversion to a duffel or even a built-in speaker to keep the party going with tunes. These dual-use coolers bring you more value for your marketing bucks, too, and ensure that your customers will use these more, remembering who gave them the great gift each time they see your logo.
An example of a multi-use cooler is the Crossland® 20-Can Outdoor Cooler, which makes packing your picnic or event supplies easy with added storage on the back for blankets or towels. “The removable liner makes cleaning up a breeze and the included bottle opener ensures you are never fumbling around looking for one,” Melanie said.
Two examples of the combo cooler/speaker are the Koozie® Chillin Bluetooth® Speaker Kooler and the Arctic Zone® Titan Deep Freeze Bluetooth® Speaker Cooler. These are great gifts for campers or tailgaters who don’t want to go anywhere without music!