Posted on November 14, 2024December 17, 2024

Interview with Jason Waskey of Brandor

You know your company is one-of-a-kind. So, you design an eye-popping logo. You develop a Unique Value Proposition (UVP) that separates you from the competition. You come up with a clever slogan that screams, “We’re Different!.” Finally, you decide you need to build some brand recognition with promotional merchandise. So what do you do? Slap your logo on a few hundred pens and call it a day.

Spot the problem? If your goal is to differentiate yourself from your competitors, why make your promotional products just another pen in the pile? 

This is the core message around which Jason Waskey, co-founder and owner of Brandor, runs his company. 

Since Jason is an expert on using promotional merchandise to literally turn heads, I sat down with him to get the skinny on why stock items like pens can be a missed opportunity and what to look for when selecting a branded merchandise supplier. 

Ideas to Help Make Your Business Unforgettable

If you’re struggling to imagine how merchandise can make your brand memorable, here are some fun examples from past Brandor projects.

Branded Popper Toys 

“We had enormous success at a trade show just by doing these little popper toys. You drop it on the ground, and it pops up in the air. We got those popping around, and pretty soon, everyone was like, hey, what are those, and where do I get one?”

Branded Tennis Shoes 

“One of our clients wanted to show some style at an event, so we had everyone working the booth wearing matching branded tennis shoes. They definitely created a conversation piece.”

Branded Youth Inspired Merchandise

“Jerr-dan makes rollback and tow trucks. Since so many kids love trucks, we developed a fully bespoke line of youth-inspired gear, including a Lightning-McQueen-inspired tow truck plush, backpack, and lunch pack. Parents were obviously super happy to gift those to their kids, and it brought a ton of positive attention to the brand.”

Branded Monopoly Game 

“The pieces and locations all tie back to the brand. Employees were playing and taking pictures of it and putting it on Instagram. So it built engagement and showed the company off in a playful and fun light.”

 

The Benefits of Superior Swag

These inventive ideas have many benefits beyond just having people remember your company’s name. Jason’s top three are:

Brand Identification 

By being intentional and creative with your merchandise ideas, you can help people understand and remember specific qualities about your business. Sneakers or clothing can signal that you are stylish and hyper-detailed. Kids backpacks help people feel that your company is family-oriented and down-to-earth. “These items are hopefully going to be seen thousands of times by a lot of people, so what you choose definitely affects how people think about your business,” says Jason.

Internal Culture Building 

Potential customers aren’t the only people who have an opinion about your business. “If you have a new hire or someone who’s celebrating an anniversary with the organization, when they get that gift box, they’re gonna immediately feel more appreciated and emotionally invested,” Jason says.

This is even more important with remote work on the rise. As Jason points out, “If an employee is working remotely, they’re not gonna see a sign every day. So, gifts can help them build some relationship with the brand. Or if you sell something intangible, like software or service, it can give them something tangible to show off.”

Outreach & Relationship Building 

Business development is a marathon, not a sprint, so why not leave a lasting impression with a branded gift? 

As Jason suggests, “The whole process usually starts with a meeting, right? If you meet with a prospect and, as a post-meeting thank you, gift them a Patagonia backpack, that’s going to foreshadow a good working relationship and make them remember you positively.”

 

What to Look for in a Branded Merchandise Supplier

If you’re looking to get creative and develop some memorable merch, Jason has a few tips when looking for a good supplier. 

Staying Ahead of the Retail Curve

“A lot of times, the merchandise industry kind of follows retail at a delayed pace, hopping on trends right when they’re going out of fashion,” Jason notes.  “Here at Brandor, we keep an eye on trends and make sure to get access early on. For example, when Under Armour was just becoming popular, we were one of the first ones to get our customers’ brands on it.” 

Branded Stores and Kits

There’s always a big demand for kits, which is two or three items packaged together as a set, but many companies out there really struggle with the timing and execution of bringing a good kit together. That’s something that we actually go hunting for because we know we do them exceptionally well.” Jason explains. 

“An online merch store is also super helpful for larger or growing companies because the logistics of getting all that merch to different countries or locations can be a nightmare. But stores are really great because they give your clients or employees options to choose from. If you just buy a bunch of hoodies, well, not everyone wears hoodies, right?”

 

Uniformity & Consistency

“One of the big acid tests for any size business is if you took all the merchandise they do and put it all on one table. Is it uniform? Does it all work together and represent the brand in the same way?” says Jason. “ That’s one thing we pride ourselves on at Brandor, is giving CMOs peace of mind that their merchandise will be consistent. Because brand merchandise isn’t just a one-time deal; it’s a lasting statement about your company.”

To learn more about Brandor, visit their website here.

And as always, if you want to discuss augmenting your in-house IT team with an MSP, don’t hesitate to reach out to Krister Dunn at kristerd@reliabletechnology.com.