Did you catch Olympic fever this summer? We sure did! It was such a joy to watch the best athletes in the world compete on a global stage. We rooted for our countries, we took in our favourite sports (or entirely new ones), and we celebrated the stories behind the competitors and the games. We also witnessed the Olympic “pin-demonium” where pin badge collectors from around the world gathered in Paris to collect and trade badges (like this Snoop Dogg one) and connect with fellow enthusiasts.
Charities, take note. People love badges and other branded merchandise, and this includes your supporters and donors. Fundraising merchandise can help you meet your financial targets. It raises brand awareness, makes your donors feel valued, and engages new supporters to get involved in your mission.
So, to help your charity maximise your fundraising activities, we’ve provided tips on how to design the most appealing and high-impact merchandise to support your important mission. Let’s go for the merchandise gold, together!
Understand your Audience
Before you select and design your charitable merchandise, take a step back and think about your audience. Who are they? What type of item would they appreciate? To some extent, selecting the right type of merchandise will depend on how you intend to use it. For example, if you’re designing a welcome kit for participants in a physical challenge, you might opt for a branded water bottle or a technical running vest.
You can rely on your own knowledge of your supporters to identify key audience demographics like age, gender, location, and interests. But you can also tap into other resources for deeper audience insights—such as surveys, feedback, and social media analysis. In fact, simply asking your community what types of items they would like (perhaps via a poll on your Facebook page or a short form on your website) is not only straightforward and helpful, but it also demonstrates that you value the opinions of your supporters.
Do Your Research and Seek Inspiration
Once you’ve got a sense of your intended audience and their preferences, it’s time to tap into your creative side. A great way to explore the latest trends and designs in fundraising merchandise is to take a little peek at other online charity shops. For example, The Donkey Sanctuary offers a range of products featuring the unique designs of Poppy Treffry. Is there a local artist you could work with? Or take a note from The Wildlife Trust and highlight ethical merchandise like this adorable otter tote bag made from 100% organic cotton.
Social media is another fabulous place to seek inspiration. Peruse sites like Pinterest or Instagram to see what your audience gravitates toward or to find creative examples of successful charity campaigns (or perhaps explore some of the recent Olympic badges!). Though it’s been said that imitation is a form of flattery, you don’t need to replicate someone else’s design. Just take what you like about it—perhaps a colour, material, or shape – and then make it your own.
Stay Consistent to your Brand
Creativity is a key component to designing eye-catching merchandise, but don’t stray too far from your overall brand. You want to be sure that people can instantly recognise your charity—whether you’ve added your logo to a keyring, a t-shirt, or a magnet. Consult any in-house style guides you keep, and make sure that your basic design elements like colour, font, logo, and slogan are consistent across all your merchandise. Remember, your supporters know you and they trust you. You can be playful and colour a bit outside the lines, but don’t “over-design” your products such that your quality and identity is diluted in the process.
Be You! Take a Custom Approach
At Rocket Charities, we offer a wide range of ready-to-design products. You simply add your image, colours, or logo and you’re good to go. Yet, we also encourage charities to think outside the box. For example, if you’d like to design a badge for your charity, you don’t have to stick with a circle or a square. What about a keyring in the shape of an animal? A food? A flower or tree? You can take a custom approach to nearly any product, from badges and keyrings to larger items like ornaments and air fresheners. We have a team of friendly experts on hand to guide you through the process and incorporate your custom designs into something spectacular and so very you.
Opt for Eco-Friendly Merch
Our last tip is to stand out and do good with planet-friendly products. In fact, eco-friendly products are one of the top five factors people consider when making a purchase. At Rocket Charities, we offer eco-friendly versions of nearly every product, including favourites like keyrings, badges, running shorts, totes, and water bottles.
To start, check out our recycled and reusable “bags for life”, like our Newchurch range of totes made from 70% natural recycled cotton and 30% rPET, which is made from recycled plastic bottles. Or check out our Natural Water Bottle made from sugar cane and bamboo which features a biodegradable lid. We also offer a range of recycled badges, running vests, and so much more!
The Summer Olympics are over, but the Paralympic Games in Paris are right around the corner! Just as the athletes inspire us, we hope this post inspires you to go for the gold when it comes designing eye-catching merchandise for your charity. It’s also really fun!
At Rocket Charities, we offer free in-house design services to make sure your products are perfect, and we’re committed to making your order a breeze, from design to final delivery. Get in touch with us today to get started.