blank umbrellas on the street

10 May, 2022

Reasons Why Custom Printed Umbrellas Are Great For Advertising

When choosing a promotional product, you want something that has high visibility, is used often and helps with brand reinforcement and preferably increases brand loyalty. The good news is that custom printed umbrellas tick all of these boxes and that is why they are such an effective marketing tool. In Australia’s climate, you also get two bangs for your buck. People will use them when it is raining, but many use umbrellas during hot summer months to help protect themselves from the harsh sun.

Let’s look at why umbrellas make such good promotional products. Firstly, it is about visibility. There is nothing more visual and easier to see than branding on an umbrella. It is almost impossible not to see with umbrellas not being far off eye height. The branding offered on umbrellas means you can print every other panel with your logo or message guaranteeing anyone in view of the umbrella from any angle, will see your logo. Also, umbrellas are large. We are not talking about a small branding on a polo shirt or embroidery on a cap where you need to be close to the item to read what it says. Umbrellas are very visual and large once opened. Even smaller compact umbrellas still have a good-sized canopy once fully opened. This ensures a clear view of anything printed on the umbrellas.

Next is usability. As mentioned earlier, umbrellas in Australia are used all the year. They are used both in rainy conditions, but also when the sun is shining and bearing down in summer. The heat can be oppressive and we all know how harsh the Australian sun is on our skin, so many people use an umbrella in summer as well. This is giving you great exposure and the more the item is used, the better. Each time they open the canopy they are being reminded of your company, plus anyone in the vicinity of the umbrella will also see the advertising.

Brand loyalty is a big one. When people think of a product or service that your company offers, you want your name to be the first they think of. Let’s do an example. If I was to ask you what is a famous soft drink I would guarantee you the answer from the majority of people would be Coca Cola. So, if they were in an unfamiliar place and looking for a soft drink, they would be scanning for a Coca Cola in the fridge, whether they were aware of it or not. This is brand loyalty. You want people to keep coming back for your product and to recognise it. By giving away a free custom umbrella you are building brand loyalty. Umbrellas have a high perceived value. Many promotional items are perceived as just low-cost giveaways, but when you present an existing client or potential client an umbrella, this is a significant gift and builds loyalty between your brand and the customer.

You also want people to be reminded of your business. This happens through usability and makes for brand reinforcement. Each time the client is seeing your branding, it will remind them of your company, whether it is real or subliminal. The more it is seen, the better chance it is remembered. ASI did a study and found during the average life of a promotional umbrella it will produce 1,100 impressions. Also, an umbrella is kept for a minimum of 18 months. That’s a lot of impressions and a long time for anyone to hold onto the one item.

Umbrellas are a very versatile gift. They can be used as a direct thank you to an existing client, they can be given to employees to lift morale or offered as part of a rewards program, they can be used in souvenir shops or special event promotions, they can be used as fundraising gifts, volunteer presents, give them at sales meetings or perhaps an industry trade show. The list is endless and all of them are perfect ways to get your branding into the marketplace.

If you’d like to use custom printed umbrellas for your next event or promotion and need help in choosing, contact us and we’d love to guide you through the different options.


The Umbrellas Only Team