How "Your Logo Here" Can Kick Off Your Business!

[caption id="attachment_558" align="alignnone" width="543"] Image source: Amymathers.com[/caption] Try to picture this scene: you’re standing in line at the post office when a stranger gets in line behind you. Something about him catches your eye… and that’s when you realize that he’s wearing your logo on his t-shirt.   With a slight smile, you turn to him and say, “Never heard of that company on your shirt before. They any good?”   The guy nods. “I wouldn’t be wearing their shirt if they weren’t.”   That’s a fantasy that many business owners have. Having a business take off is one thing, but having your customers proudly walk around with your logo displayed prominently on their shirt is the ultimate compliment.   Embroidered clothing can do wonders for a new or growing business. A lot of businesses tend to place heavy emphasis on billboards and commercials, but embroidered clothing has advantages that conventional advertising techniques couldn’t even dream of.  

Word of Mouth Marketing

Would you try out Special Brand Soda just because a billboard says that you should? Eh, probably not.   Would you try out Special Brand Soda because a friend recommends it? Definitely! [caption id="attachment_562" align="alignnone" width="542"] Image source: Georgevanantwerp.com[/caption] No business owner should underestimate the power of word of mouth advertising. The Internet has proven time and time again that a single outspoken fan can be more valuable than a flashing billboard on Times Square.   Every piece of embroidered clothing could potentially transform your loyal customers into walking billboards. As soon as a customer puts on a shirt or a hat with your business logo, they’re announcing to the world, “I love this brand!” Whether or not they realize it, these loyal customers are advertising to their friends and family for you. In fact, a 2012 Global Trust in Advertising survey found that 92% of people trust recommendations from their friends. Compare that to a mere 47% of people who trust TV commercials. [caption id="attachment_566" align="alignnone" width="620"] Image source: Mondaynote.com[/caption]

Additional Income

Merchandise is nothing to sneeze at – just look at companies like Coca-Cola. They bring in tons of cash from their soda, there’s no doubt about that, but they also rake in money hand over fist simply by adding their logo to merchandise. In fact, they bring in an estimated $1 billion in retail sales annually thanks to their merchandise licensing program. It’s almost too good to be true – your loyal customers will pay you for the privilege of helping you advertise.   It’s hard to overlook the profit margin of embroidered clothing. Hats, t-shirts, and tank tops are some of the most profitable types of merchandise available. [caption id="attachment_567" align="alignnone" width="600"] Image source: Digitalmusicnews.com[/caption]

Target the Right Audience

So, let’s say that you own a boat company and you’re trying to get the word out about your business. You could buy pricey billboard space near your local marina, or you could sell embroidered shirts to your favorite customers. Now, think about where that boat lover will be when he wears your shirt. He’ll hang out with other boat lovers, he’ll spend time at the marina, and he’ll go to boat shows – all while wearing your logo.   Home Plus, a grocery store in South Korea, is an excellent example of the importance of targeting the right audience. Rather than investing more and more money into marketing, they decided to appeal directly to South Korean consumers. Their new strategy allowed them to beat out their closest competitor, E-Mart, by becoming the number 1 grocery store in South Korea. http://youtu.be/fGaVFRzTTP4

So, How Do You Get Started?

Believe it or not, creating your own line of custom embroidered clothing can be even easier (and cheaper) than creating a billboard or commercial. Lead Apparel’s free online set-up will walk you through every step, from picking out the type of clothing to designing the layout.   You can place your brand on just about anything -- from jackets and baseball caps to luggage and bath robes. Head on over to our set-up page to request a quote or browse through our extensive selection of clothes, and get ready to take your business to the next level!