As winter approaches, so does the opportunity to warm your audience using cold-weather promotional items. These winter giveaway ideas, coupled with ways to build positive connections to your brand, won’t disappoint.
Promo items are consumers’ number one favorite type of advertising, beating out TV, radio and internet (PDF). And research shows companies that focus on what the customer wants are 60% more profitable than their less client-centric competitors (PDF). Bundle them up with warm, happy feelings using these tips and winter giveaway ideas they’re sure to love.
- Host cozy events
- Show appreciation with wintery gifts
- Run cold-weather promos
- Collaborate with co-branded swag
- Use cold-weather contest giveaways to boost engagement
- Build community by gifting winter promotional items
1. Host cozy events
Seventy-nine percent of people say they only buy from brands that care about them. Hosting a webinar? Warm up prospects and demonstrate your care by providing an extra cozy experience. Send registrants a cold-weather giveaway, like a Crossland® fleece blanket or trendy ceramic coffee mug stuffed with a hot chocolate kit, as a thank-you for signing up.
Host a winter-themed open-house event where attendees can learn something new, like holiday crafting or winter gardening. Give participants a gift for attending. Fairy string lights or a winter garden kit are perfect choices. Raffle off a quilted flannel full-zip hooded jacket to keep the warm fuzzies going. And send everyone home with a discount code or coupon they can use on future purchases.
2. Show appreciation with wintery gifts
Showing customer appreciation can increase referrals, loyalty and retention.
Give loyal customers a limited-edition holiday baking kit that includes an apron, candy cane cookie cutter, silicone baking utensil set and baking essentials box. Help recipients feel extra connected to your brand by tossing in a few favorite holiday recipes from team members.
Showing employee appreciation is equally as important. Thank team members for their contributions by promoting good self-care. Give your staff a winter wellness kit that includes peppermint essential oil, a master yoga mat with yoga dice and a clay beads neck and shoulder pack. Bonus: 67% of people agree that good self-care improves productivity.
3. Run cold-weather promos
The right promotion can boost the likelihood that a customer will buy from you. Create anticipation and excitement with a “Snow Day Surprise” promotion. Offer discounts based on the snowfall amount—the deeper the snow, the higher the discount. Or toss in a cold-weather promotional item, like a pack of winter playing cards, with purchases.
Put a cool twist on your loyalty program. Let customers earn “Penguin Points” for every purchase they make during the season. Accumulated points can be redeemed for exclusive winter swag, like a penguin plush toy, sportpack or mini hot/cold pack. This not only drives repeat purchases but also adds a fun, collectible element to customer interactions.
4. Collaborate with co-branded swag
Seventy-one percent of customers appreciate co-branded products.
Collaborate with neighboring businesses, for instance, your favorite coffee shop, bookseller and boutique. Customers who visit each location and order a specific winter-themed drink, bestseller or other item can enjoy a special deal plus co-branded winter swag, like these touch screen gloves.
Collaborate with a favorite charity to raise money while having good old-fashioned winter fun. Sponsor an ice sculpture or snowman-building contest. Participants pay to enter, and proceeds go to charity. You can increase donations by offering to match funds raised. Thank people for participating by giving out winter giveaways, like snowflake lip balm or snowman sportpacks. And reward the winners with tins of peppermint bark or cozy throw blankets.
5. Use cold-weather contest giveaways to boost engagement
Boost social media engagement with a winter photo contest. Ask participants to submit their best winter photos, from family fun to landscapes to wildlife. Reward winners with Crossland® heather beanies.
Or stir up daily anticipation with a prize drawing. Each day leading up to the first day of the season, a participant is selected to receive a winter promotional item, like a fleece ear band or snowflake ice scraper.
6. Build community by gifting winter promotional items
Ninety percent of employers say a sense of community is crucial to business success (PDF).
Launch a winter-themed book club to foster stronger relationships amongst team members. Provide participants with book suggestions plus cozy winter swag like a sherpa blanket (or wearable blanket hoodie) and a plantable evergreen tree bookmark. Encourage readers to engage in online discussions and meetups, creating a space for meaningful connections to flourish.
Want VIP clients or partners to feel special? Send them a snowmobile soft keychain imprinted with a QR code that leads to an exclusive online community, display or experience. They’ll be thrilled to be included and motivated to tell more people about your brand.
Cozy up with cold-weather promotional items
Stand out from the competition, foster stronger connections and showcase what makes your brand unique with these experiences and winter giveaway ideas. Customers, prospects and employees are sure to bundle up with your brand all season long.