Why Gift Customers: Co-ops

Gifting Co-op Customers

According to the U.S Chamber of Commerce, one of the biggest post-COVID consumer trends is an increase in shopping locally. 56% of customers are now shopping at neighborhood stores or choosing local products, and 75% of consumers in 2021 were planning to increase their local shopping over the next year. Co-ops–whether they focus on groceries, consumer goods, farming supplies, or services–are poised to greatly increase their customer base in light of this shift. And one important way that a co-op can attract loyal patrons is by giving customer gifts.

Custom T-Shirts for Co-op Customers

At Merchology, we believe that the real purpose of merch is to connect with people. Custom printed tees or sweatshirts with your logo are the perfect way to not only bring your team together but to reach out to your customers, supporters, followers, and business partners. Not only do we have the custom T-shirts and merch you need for your co-op event, but we also have a new custom tee printing method that allows for even faster, lower-cost, more detailed, more durable designs! Check out direct apparel printing for your co-op customer tees!

Show Appreciate for Customers

Even more than with most small businesses, co-op shoppers are contributing to an idea they believe in. When you give your most loyal customers gifts, you are showing them that you see them as part of your co-op family. Small businesses have faced many hardships over the pandemic, and it’s a great idea to find ways to thank your regular patrons for helping you make it through.

Build Repeat Customers and Loyalty

Not only does gifting help reward your regulars, but custom merch from co-ops can also turn new shoppers into regular customers. Co-ops are not just faceless corporations–your brand represents a group of people who are working together to provide a service for your community. When you add your co-op logo to high-quality custom merch, those gifts encourage customers to remember your brand and what it stands for and to come back again and again. This strategy can be especially successful with the creation of an incentive program.

Build an Incentive Program for Your Co-op

An incentive program is a great way to encourage and reward repeat customers with awesome custom swag. Customers who receive useful logo-branded gifts will want to keep shopping local with your organization. You can choose from a variety of incentive systems, such as punch cards for in-person shopping or rewards accounts for online purchases. Tiered plans can be especially effective, where newer customers get lower-cost gifts (such as co-op logo stickers or custom notebooks), and they build up to high-end products (like co-op jackets, co-op branded sweatshirts, and corporate tumblers). Customers are more likely to choose your organization for their purchases when they know that they are working toward a fun gift.

Brand Recognition and ROI Value

With shopping local becoming more and more trendy, consumers love to rep their favorite small businesses. And when that business is a co-op, there’s even more reason for them to care about spreading the word. If you make sure your co-op has an attractive logo or promotional design that represents your values, your customers will want to show it off. And every time they wear your co-op t-shirt or carry your water bottle, your brand will reach more eyes, creating high ROI value. Your custom co-op merch can reach hundreds or thousands of potential new customers, thereby performing triple duty: rewarding regular customers, encouraging new customers to come back, and advertising to new audiences.

Merchology has the Perfect Customer Gifts for Your Co-op!

Here at Merchology, we specialize in putting your logo on great products that your customers will love. Below are some of our top customer gift ideas for your co-op!

Custom Reusable Drinkware

There’s something personal about a person’s drinkware. Whether it’s the mug they enjoy coffee out of each morning or a water bottle they carry on all their errands, people like their corporate drinkware to represent something they care about. Give the customers who care about your co-op a high-quality mug, tumbler, or bottle, and it will likely become their new favorite piece of custom drinkware. With your logo prominently displayed, your customers will remember how much they love your co-op with every sip.

Custom Tote Bags & Corporate Coolers

Customers who are conscious about how they spend their dollars are often also conscious about their environmental impact, making logo-branded reusable bags and coolers a great choice for custom merch from co-ops. When you choose one of Merchology’s sustainable, eco-friendly options, that’s even better. A convenient tote bag will let customers shop at your business and others without needing disposable bags, while a lunch bag or cooler will display your logo every time customers pack a lunch for work or play.

Logo-Branded Sweatshirts & Sustainable Fleeces

As mentioned above, incentive programs work best if customers get better gifts the more they shop, and a warm, durable sweatshirt is something every loyal patron will appreciate. With options including sustainable fleeces, stylish custom full-zip hoodies, and a standard comfy crew neck, Merchology can add your logo to apparel that will make great co-op gifts.

Logo Co-op Hats

Hats are another product that people use to display brands or organizations they identify with. This makes them great customer gift ideas for your co-op! Custom Dad caps, corporate trucker hats, and outdoorsy bucket hats also match well with the scrappy, DIY feel of co-ops, especially ones that focus on farm and garden supplies or local produce. Your loyal customers will be happy to wear these comfortable hats for all their outdoor tasks, spreading the word about your organization everywhere they go.

Contact Us at Merchology!

Let us help you reward your customers for shopping local by matching you with the best logo-branded gifts. With a loyalty gift plan, customers will return to your beloved co-op again and again. Call a Merchologist today to get started!