Giving away free products with company branding is a smart marketing strategy, especially in smaller cities. This approach is used widely in many situations.
For example, when you buy clothes at a store, they often give you a free bag to carry your items home. The same goes for jewelry shops. I’m not talking about product packaging like Apple’s impressive designs, but rather small accessory-type items with branding on them.
A great example is McDonald’s Coke bottles. They don’t use ordinary bottles; they have well-designed ones for delivery through services like Swiggy or Zomato. These bottles can be reused at home for other purposes. Every time someone sees the bottle, they’re reminded of the brand.
This physical reminder is an effective way to keep a brand in customers’ minds without using digital retargeting campaigns.
Businesses that focus on cutting costs by not providing free branded items should reconsider the potential benefits of this strategy. In smaller cities in India, it can be quite powerful and underestimated. With fewer choices for local people when shopping offline, offering free branded items can be a great deal for businesses and customers alike.
