Creative Marketing: Clothing

[Young Spark]

Hey everybody. I was just seeking some opinions from people on a certain method of marketing/advertising that I got from somebody in another one of them post's (courtesy of usakos) --- hopefully he doesn't take this as stealing his idea... but I am seeking some opinions that came to me from one of his posts.

The topic is this: marketing and advertising using clothing. Now I am not necessarily saying to go out and buy thousands of shirts just to advertise your business unless you have money like that for your startup... but what about advertising and marketing via clothing.

This can be quite low cost if you think about it. It can go on anything (just like me and my fiance have jackets made with our names on it to symbolize our engagement/love... the big one's with the fur around the hood.) The point is: You can for a (little bit) of money, advertise your company without even saying a word, especially if your around people that could use your services but don't know that you know you offer it. And you can wear these clothes yourself... and it includes jeans, pants, shorts, polo shirts, tees, long sleeve tees, sweaters, hats, shoes... hell, even sock's will do

As Versas would probably say... what is everyone's opinion on marketing on clothes (or being a big ass billboard?)

EDIT: Here is another thing too... what about marketing your company with hangtags on clothes... that's a good idea?

[usakos]

ur very welcome Spark...

Guyes, did u hear about those who imprint companies logos on their bald shaved heads or baby names for money?

A while back, i think two or three years ago, a certain company, whose name I've forgot paid thousands of dollars to some dude to imprint their company logo on his forehead.

[Unreal030]

well 95% of the clothes out there (t-shirts at least) are advertising, wether it be a style that is noticeable as a certain brand, this can be anything from the whole shirt to a small thing like the V on the pockets of Levi jeans...to direct things like Abercrombie on a hoodie, an eagle on a collar shirt sold at American eagle to "Guppies Pro Bass Fishing Equipment" with the phone number on the back.

So yeah, its a good idea, if its in your startup, especially if you can find a cheap screen printer. It can also help show more professionalism if your say a student entrepreneur at a college and you have your employees wear a hat or t-shirt when they work that has the name of the company on it or something like that.

[Young Spark]

In my opinion... its a great idea as well... but its beginning to make me think (the whole advertising on a hangtag idea.) Maybe I should plan that out and sell it ... lol, j/k

[rejoice]

it's already being done through promotional merchandise
anything you could ever dream about having your company logo on
it may be used to develop a corporate identity
used as a gift with purchase to increase sales and brand loyalty
employee incentive and recognition programs
etc
it's no longer a cheap and nasty industry
but is now orientated around high perceived value
well there's my 2 cents

[Young Spark]

^^ I agree with you but I didn't necessarily mean promotional merchandise... I'm talking about a new startup company... surely promotional merchandise can gain a business more customer's but main factor I was associating with this topic is for us entrepreneurs with a new startup company, what is your opinion on wearing clothing promoting your company as a low-cost effective startup business method?

[rejoice]

i think it's great... it just falls under corporate identity or uniform
which is still promotional merchandise used in a different light

[Young Spark]

Thanks Jacob for your response... anybody else care to share?

[dbc55]

I think this could be a great idea - highly depends on execution though!

If your clothes were properly designed more like a fashion brand, rather than a corporate uniform, people who see you wearing them will like the clothes for their design and aesthetics, and be drawn to look because of that. (Might make you feel like a bit less of a dork too, if you want to wear them everyday.) When people are interested in your clothes, they will notice the brand, and remember it. Your friends may want to buy your fashion label as well, if they like it and want to support you and your business.

If you can design it up properly, you might be able to turn your business from a "name" into a "lifestyle." I think it would probably suit a marketing firm quite well - much more so, than a web development business, or a courier , or an installer of signs, etc.

I think it's a fantastic idea, and I've thought about this myself at times. Have you got any ideas for designs?

[Young Spark]

^^ I'm not really looking to start my own clothing company, I'm talking about advertising your company on regular clothing that you wear, like take it somewhere and have your company airbrushed on your clothes or silk-screen printed on your clothing. Things like that, not necessarily starting an entire brand for yourself... that market from my research is getting quite saturated with all these new brands coming out then they fall off because of either poor marketing or some other reason.

That's what I meant...

[totalmoney]

Its a decent Idea but think about this...WOuldn't it be more cost effective if you just make some creative looking pins which are fashionable...I mean they could be tranferred to any clothing you don't have to spend money on a new one...That way you could advertise anywhere you go...The difference is size of advertisement too..Obviously a tee shirt could hold a bigger logo...Not a bad idea

[Young Spark]

Creative looking pins can be an idea... but I would prefer giving "the bigger picture" as I consider it to be, the bigger the picture, the more attention it grabs and the more effective marketing it'll perform.

[philv]

pay someone to jump out an airplane and have your logo on the parachute....then tell him to fall down to LA or NYC and say they got lost....media coverage babyyyy

[mrebrandstudios]

we do t shirts & polo shirts for companies that have their information on it. They seem to look at it as unity withing their company and did not see it as a advertisement first off. It shows some professionalism with that organization. Then the public sees the employees with the logos, sayings or pictures on their garments and thats when the talk begins. Like Oliver said it must have a twist.