It is no secret that the Promotional Products Industry has faced some difficulties over the past
several weeks due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Customer meetings and travel have been halted,
work-from-home policies have been established for office staff, and sales have significantly
declined. Taking this into account during the current situation, how can distributors and suppliers
adjust to this “new normal” and how can they stabilize their sales?
Here’s a look at top emerging markets and key opportunities to keep in mind during the ongoing
pandemic.
Work-from-home
Let’s face it, many of us have had to adapt to working from home and it has become tempting to
stay in our coziest pajamas. While that may seem like a good idea, you can be missing out on a
great branding opportunity. With virtual meetings and webinars coming into play, you want to make
sure that your brand is still visible. This doesn’t mean you have to ditch the sweatpants
completely, however, looking the part on the top by wearing a polished but comfortable polo
featuring your company’s logo, can be enough to bring awareness to your brand.
Here at Vantage, we’ve created a digital Work-from-Home brochure that features decorated
and versatile custom apparel for your team to ensure they are generating that brand exposure
even when they’re apart.
Emerging Markets
Health & Wellness
We are very grateful for everything our healthcare heroes are currently doing to help
others during this time of need. We want them to be comfortable whether they are working in
the hospital or relaxing at home, and Vantage offers versatile apparel solutions that’ll say
“thank you” for their hard work.
In addition, with the shortage of medical supplies, the CDC is recommending cloth face
coverings in order to save medical grade masks for our front-liners. Many businesses as well
as Vantage Apparel, have utilized this opportunity to tap into personal protective equipment.
We have created non-medical reusable cotton face masks that are made from soft, breathable
100% ring spun cotton. These face masks are great for in public settings where social
distancing measures are taking place. Our reusable face masks are available in five different
colors and can be decorated with a 1-color Heat Transfer logo.
The Uniform Market
Uniforms are great at enhancing a brand’s image and embodying organizational culture. If
businesses aren’t offering uniforms now, they are likely to consider doing so as they slowly re-open
and want to show off a new look. It is important to offer complementary styles that are going to
display a sense of unity.
For indoor staff, going for a comfortable and
professional polo with a left-chest embroidered
logo may be the way to go. On the other hand, for staff who are constantly on-the-run or work
outside, a 1/4-Zip pullover with
a left-chest heat transfer logo is a good option so they continue to represent their brand even if
they’re outdoors.
The Education Market
Students worldwide have taken a hit during this pandemic with the conversion to online classes and
graduation commencements being either postponed or switched to virtual ceremonies. We understand how
devastating this can be to seniors looking forward to celebrating their big accomplishment with
friends and family, and we want them to be seen too. This is a great opportunity to tap into the
education market to show appreciation to teachers, staff, and students. Hoodies and tees with a front
chest “2020” or school logo, will allow students and staff to display their “school pride” and bring
awareness and representation to their universities.
To get started with an apparel program, Vantage has curated several
mini collections that provide diverse
apparel solutions for these hot markets and beyond. Our mini collections grant you access to top selling
styles and popular decoration techniques with pre-designed assortments.
Join Rob Watson for “Growing Sales in Top Emerging Markets” Presentation
If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, Rob Watson, Chief Experience Officer at Vantage
Apparel hosts a 30-minute presentation to discuss markets that have remained active despite the current
pandemic. He covers sales and marketing concepts, recovery opportunities, as well as specific steps to
take while we navigate our new normal. An On-Demand version of Rob’s presentation can be
accessed here.