If the past year has taught us anything, perhaps it has been to expect the unexpected. Or better yet, have no expectations. But with the new year coming into view, we can’t help feeling a little anxious; what could 2021 have in store for us?
Truth is, only time will tell. And while that doesn’t answer the question, the busy elves at Cubik have been prepping for this very occasion - to set your brand up for success in this new year. With our nose to the grindstone, we’ve sniffed out (figuratively) what will be hot and be loved (think, more brand impressions!) in 2021. What’s working in your favor this year? Gifted swag is now possibly more effective than ever before – 2020 has been tough run for us all, but it has taught us to appreciate what we have; your kind gestures and gifts will not go unnoticed.
TIE-DYE
Making a Colorful Comeback
Although it had already made its way onto the fashion runways over the past few seasons, the pandemic is what put the tie-dye craze in overdrive. No longer just for the free-spirited, it’s as if this fad has become the pandemic’s uniform – uniting us while we are all “home together”. Now if the idea of this psychedelic trend having another round has your eyes rolling, there is a reasonable explanation for it all! Besides the bright hues being cheerful and uplifting, the tie dye process is a simple and inexpensive DIY project. So, with the top labels adding tie dyed sweatshirts and other fashionable quarantine pieces to their lineup, this style trend is also within reach to many who can’t pay the Prada price. In fact, many DIYers who are willing to get their hands (and err…. everything else) dirty, have found it to be an easy way to upcycle pieces already in their closets!
Browse our tie dye collection HERE!
HEALTH
Becoming Your Best Yet
Following suit with year’s past, motivation of a fresh start once again has us geared up to take better care of ourselves, and New Year’s resolutions are being set with rigid determination. But this year, health and wellness items are soaring in popularity. Why? The recent pandemic has proven it’s worthwhile to keep yourself strong and healthy. With restrictions still in place, and others simply trying to avoid social gathering places, we’re left to our own devices to create our gyms at home - making fitness equipment a top item! Other popular promotional products we see in this trend include health food items, wearable smart devices, beauty and many other personal care products.
ECO-FRIENDLY
Keep it Natural
Surrounded by recent shutdowns and cabin fever quickly becoming widespread, it’s now in to be out. Whether it’s fitness routines, midnight stargazing or simply breathing that crisp clear air that’s lured us outdoors, all this time communing with nature has brought renewed appreciation for Mother Nature and fresh motivation to protect her. This huge uptick in recently converted outdoor enthusiasts means it is now much more important that we each are responsible to reduce our environmental footprint to preserve this beautiful creation. (Bonus points if we can get others to do so as well!) So naturally, this has created high demand for outdoor lifestyle products that are ecofriendly. This idea may stir up images of items made from recycled materials and organic cotton. And yes, those are excellent environmentally friendly options, but there are actually quite a number of processes companies can implement to earn that sustainability badge; using renewable energy sources, using responsible shipping methods, ensuring fair labor practices, or even planning for a product’s end of life, to name a few.
Allbirds Shoes are made with planet-friendly natural materials, like merino wool and eucalyptus trees. Contact us to brand your own pair!
AT HOME ITEMS
Bringing it Home
Another trend thanks to Covid: people are spending a lot more time at home. It’s like staying in has become the new going out – we’re working, schooling, hanging out… everything at home. We see this continuing in 2021 as regulations are now clamping down again. Fitting gifts include blankets, comfy cozy clothing, puzzles and games, and kitchen items. At a time when many have been negatively affected, there is nothing more thoughtful than these gifts that provide comfort. Taking advantage of our drop ship program makes sending individual shipments to your contact’s homes hassle-free! (Pssst…these individual items are still eligible for combined quantity discounts!)
PERSONAL PROTECTION
With personal health being top of mind for us all individually as well as employers in every sector, branded PPE has become a huge marketing opportunity. This, of course, includes wearables such as masks and face shields, gloves, shoe covers, and gowns, but there are so many more products to choose from that support our new way of living. Touch free accessories such as door openers and styluses, antimicrobial charging cords, pens, mousepads, tumblers and more, cleaning kits and antibacterial products to name a few! Add these types of branded items to your line of swag for 2021 and you’ll be right on trend. Practical items that are sure to be used again and again, gaining your brand recognition every time.
HOME ORGANIZATION
Neat & Tidy
Maybe New Year’s resolutions play into this category as well - creating a drive to do better this year - but, with parents working and kids schooling all within the same home, things can get a little hairy. We see home office organization a trend that will continue through 2021. These useful items make great promotional products as your brand will be right in their home and seen innumerable times each day! As we all know, more brand impressions = more sales!! Some of the most popular promotional items we have seen in this category include Bluetooth items, webcams, webcam covers, smart home devices and lumbar support pillows. Browse our remote office essentials collection here.
VIRTUAL EVENT GIFTS
A New way to Event Swag
The pandemic has completely shifted how we do live events. Like them or lump them, virtual meetings are replacing the tradeshows, social gatherings, and other physically attended occasions of yesteryear. And well…. they are virtually hard to get ‘into’. You’re home, it’s just you and your screen…..how engaging. You see the struggle.
While it may take a little more planning, our ever-creative marketing folks have the solution. Virtual event swag bags; physical swag packs for your event attendees, no different (other than the distribution) than we used to do at in-person events. In fact, now that face-to-face interaction is so limited, event swag plays an even bigger role. These branded giveaways are not only a fun way to add hype to your event, they play a strategic part in your event’s success! It’s the personal touch these branded gifts bring that make your connections meaningful and your event memorable. They provide a sense of exclusivity and interaction for your guests. They’re a way to say thank you for participating. They keep fans talking (and sharing) about your brand, extending the life of the event long after it’s over.
So how do you go about giving swag bags for your virtual events? The possibilities are endless, but here’s a few ideas to get you started - send participants a gift box upon registration, games provide an interactive way for participants to snag a cool prize, or follow up the event with a box of cool swag. No matter how you decide to go about it, we’ve got a few tools up our sleeve to make this easy! We’d love to help you build a great swag bag and with the use of our drop ship program, we can simplify the process of getting these individual shipments out in a timely fashion!
