Summer Promotional Products: 15 Categories for Sizzling Summer Swag
Summer is the season of sun-soaked adventures, leisurely picnics, refreshing pool parties, and unforgettable beach escapes. It’s also the ideal time to launch new, eye-catching products in your store, capturing the season’s vibrant spirit.
As temperatures soar and people flock to outdoor events, festivals, and celebrations, opportunities abound for merchants to showcase their unique custom summer products. Make the most of these sun-drenched moments and leave a lasting impression on potential customers.
To help you capitalize on the season’s potential, we’ve compiled a list of the top 15 categories of summer promotional products that will heat up your sales. Along with this curated selection, we’ll also share insights on events perfect for selling these seasonal promotional items.
15 Categories of the Best Summer Promotional Products
Summer promotional products are the ultimate way to increase your brand’s visibility as the temperatures rise and people head outdoors to enjoy the summer fun. With Printify and print-on-demand, you can easily customize a wide range of products to showcase your brand, company name, and design skills.
From beach getaways to outdoor festivals, these categories of functional, fun, and trendy items provide an excellent opportunity to bring the heat to your sales. We’ve curated a list of the top 15 categories of summer products that will help you stand out and bring the heat to your sales.
1. T-Shirts & Tank Tops
As the weather turns warmer, summer staples like lightweight tees, tie-dye shirts, and tank tops take the central position in fashion. Customized apparel is a powerful promotional tool, allowing you to showcase your brand on camping trips and other outdoor activities in the summer months while offering comfortable and fashionable clothing options.
2. Beach Bonanza
Get ready for a beach bonanza with an array of summer essentials like a custom beach towel, swimsuits, swimming trunks, and flip-flops. These beach accessories not only make for fun summer giveaways but also help your customers enjoy their summer-long beach days and pool parties in style. So, dive into the warm sand and create some waves with your promotional beach towels and more this summer.
3. Tote Bags & More
Make a lasting impression this summer with fun bags – from tote bags and drawstring bags to fanny packs, backpacks, and beyond. Our practical and stylish bags are perfect for beach outings, shopping, camping trips, and other summer adventures that could use summer swag. As reusable and eco-friendly options, they showcase your brand’s commitment to sustainability and conscious living. So, add these versatile summer promotional products to your lineup and watch your brand shine bright all season long.
4. Custom Water Bottles
One of the essential summer accessories is the water bottle. As people engage in outdoor activities and sporting events, having a handy and eco-friendly way to stay hydrated becomes a priority. Custom water bottles are fun summer promotional products and encourage a sustainable lifestyle. Check out these four fantastic water bottle options that are perfect for making a splash this summer, whether it’s a music festival or a hike in the mountains.
5. Tumblers & Mugs
Keep your brand at the forefront this summer with customized tumblers and mugs. Perfect for poolside parties or even just a backyard BBQ, these stylish and practical drinkware options will quench your customers’ thirst while showcasing your brand. From insulated tumblers to keep drinks cold to travel mugs for those on the go, your products will be a hot hit all summer long. And don’t forget that these are also excellent summer promotion staples.
6. Hats and Caps
Hats make excellent summer promotional items because they’re practical, visible, and versatile. With the warmer weather comes more time spent outside, and design caps protect from the sun while providing summer swag to any outfit. Custom caps are a walking billboard, offering high visibility for your company name. Using hats as summer promotion products can help your business increase exposure during various outdoor activities and sporting events and make a lasting impression on potential customers.
7. Can Coolers
With customizable options, you can tailor can cooler designs to your target audience and brand image. Our coolers come in various materials, sizes, and styles, so they’re versatile enough for picnics, tailgates, and other outdoor events. By including cooler bags in your product lineup, you can provide a functional and fun product that is useful and attractive while showcasing your design skills and generating revenue.
8. Picnic Party Starters
Elevate your customers’ summer fun with picnic party starters like custom lunch boxes, lunch bags, blankets, and ice buckets. These versatile accessories make company picnics and outdoor gatherings all the more memorable, and they’re perfect for showcasing your brand’s logo. So, pack a basket full of promotional products for summer and let the good times roll!
9. Phone Cases
Help your customers protect their smartphones from beach spills and summer adventures with custom phone cases. These practical and stylish accessories are an excellent way to showcase your brand and make a statement during the warmer months. So, slip into a summer groove and let your awesome products do the talking.
10. Pin Buttons & Stickers
Spread some summer cheer with custom pin buttons and stickers. These eye-catching promotional items are perfect for adding a touch of personality to bags, laptops, or even clothing. Slap on your brand logo or a catchy text and let your business shine. So, have your brand stick around all summer with these fun and memorable summer products.
11. BBQ Buddies
Fire up the grill and sizzle your way to success with BBQ staples like custom aprons, beer mugs, and cutting boards. These promotional products for summer are perfect for backyard cookouts, summer giveaways, and more. So, make your brand the start of the BBQ with these smokin’ hot items.
12. Travel Products
Set sail for a summer of adventure with travel treasures like portable Bluetooth speakers, luggage tags, suitcases, travel mugs, passport covers, and keyrings. These handy custom goodies make globetrotting a breeze and ensure your brand stays top-of-mind wherever the journey takes your customers.
13. Pawesome Pet Products
Show your brand’s love for four-legged friends with print-on-demand pet products like pet beds, tags, bandanas, collars, bowls, and feeding mats. Custom pet products are sure to leave tails wagging and will keep your furry customers (and their humans) happy all summer.
14. Sports Goods
Help your customers stay active and stylish this summer with sportswear like custom jerseys, shorts, and sports bras. They’re perfect for outdoor activities, sporting events, and fitness enthusiasts, so gear up for a winning summer with your brand front and center.
15. Stationery Staples
Even during the sunny season, stationery staples like custom notebooks, desk mats, and planners can make a splash. These custom items, decorated with your designs, are perfect for students, professionals, and anyone needing some organization. So, brighten up your customers’ desks and help them stay on track this summer.
Make It Happen Today!
Sell Summer Promotional Products or Order for Yourself
Get ready for summer by adding a personalized touch to your line of summer swag. Whether you’re looking to sell promotional products or order some for yourself, Printify makes it super easy.
Step 1: Sign Up
Embark on your creative journey and create a free Printify account, a seamless process that opens up a world of customization possibilities. With just a few simple steps, you’ll gain access to our user-friendly platform designed to bring your artistic vision to life.
Step 2: Select a Product
Choose the perfect products to sell from our extensive Catalog of over 850 items, tailored to match your style and target audience.
Step 3: Bring Your Design to Life
Let your creativity shine and bring your stunning design to fruition using our intuitive Mockup Generator. In minutes, you’ll transform a blank item into a unique and stylish custom product bound to captivate customers and drive traffic to your online store.
Our no-minimum policy allows ordering just one product at no additional cost. Try Printify today and start designing a line of the perfect summer essentials.
Eight Events to Sell Summer Promotional Items
Memorial Day
Promotional products:
Marketing ideas:
- Share stories of fallen heroes and the significance of their sacrifice
- Partner with a veteran’s organization to raise funds for charity
- Offer special discounts for military families during Memorial Day weekend
- Organize a community outdoor event to bring people together in remembrance
- Encourage customers to share their personal Memorial Day stories on social media
Pride
Show your support and celebrate diversity with Pride. Pride is a vibrant and inclusive event that promotes equality, love, and acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community and is a great summer event to sell Pride merch.
Promotional products:
- Colorful Pride shirts and accessories
- Customized flags and banners showcasing LGBTQ+ Pride
- Unique Pride-themed keychains and pins
- Rainbow-colored drinkware and water bottles
- Branded Pride-themed tote bags
Marketing ideas:
- Create a Pride-themed gift collection highlighting a range of promotional items
- Offer special discounts or promotions for Pride-related purchases
- Collaborate with LGBTQ+ influencers or community organizations for joint marketing initiatives
- Host a Pride-themed contest or giveaway on social media to engage your audience
- Participate in local Pride parades or events by sponsoring or setting up a booth
- Share inspiring stories of individuals within the LGBTQ+ community and their journeys of self-acceptance and empowerment
Father's Day
Celebrated on the third Sunday in June, Father’s Day is a day to honor and appreciate fathers and father figures.
Promotional products:
- Customized mugs, shirts, and caps
- Personalized tools and gadgets
- Sports equipment and accessories
- Father’s Day cards
- Custom office or desk items
Marketing ideas:
- Launch a Father’s Day gift ideas guide featuring a variety of products for different interests
- Offer limited-time discounts or bundle deals for Father’s Day purchases
- Host a Father’s Day giveaway on social media to increase engagement
- Partner with local businesses to create unique father-centric experiences
- Share customer stories or testimonials about the fathers in their lives
4th of July
Independence Day, or the 4th of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776.
Promotional products:
- Custom beach bags, beach towels
- Patriotic apparel (4th of July shirts, hats, accessories)
- Party supplies (shot glasses, beer mugs, cups, decorations)
- Custom canvas
- Host a 4th of July giveaway featuring your patriotic products
- Create limited-edition, USA-themed items exclusive to the holiday
- Offer discounts on party supplies and decorations
- Collaborate with local businesses for a community-wide celebration
- Showcase customer-generated content featuring your products during the 4th of July festivities
Summer Festivals
Popular summer festivals include music festivals, food festivals, and art festivals. Create a line of summer swag that will cater to festivalgoers’ needs, no matter if they’re into pop music or vegan sausage on a stick.
Promotional products:
- Custom shirts and hoodies
- Sunglasses and sun protection items
- Custom drinkware
- Custom bum bags and lunch bags
- Totes and backpacks for carrying essentials
Marketing ideas:
- Collaborate with festival organizers to create exclusive merchandise
- Sponsor a booth or activity at the event to showcase your products
- Offer special discounts or promotions for festival attendees
- Develop limited-edition items inspired by the festival theme
- Encourage customers to share their festival experiences with your products on social media
Wedding Sales
Popular summer festivals include music festivals, food festivals, and art festivals. Create a line of summer swag that will cater to festivalgoers’ needs, no matter if they’re into pop music or vegan sausage on a stick.
Summer promotional product ideas:
- Custom wedding favors (candles, wine tumblers)
- Personalized gifts (photo frames, customized keepsakes)
- Wedding party apparel (matching tees, socks)
- Invitations and thank you cards
Marketing ideas:
- Offer customizable wedding packages tailored to different budgets
- Collaborate with wedding planners to provide exclusive deals
- Create a wedding-themed lookbook showcasing your products in various settings
- Partner with photographers and florists to offer bundled services
- Launch a social media contest for couples to win a discount on their wedding package
Bachelor & Bachelorette Parties
Popular summer festivals include music festivals, food festivals, and art festivals. Create a line of summer swag that will cater to festivalgoers’ needs, no matter if they’re into pop music or vegan sausage on a stick.
Promotional products:
- Custom party supplies (cups, shot glasses, bottle openers)
- Bachelorette shirts, socks, underwear, and other apparel
- Personalized gift bags or boxes for guests
- Party games and novelties
Marketing ideas:
- Create themed party packages for different group sizes and interests
- Offer group discounts for larger parties
- Partner with local venues and transportation companies for exclusive deals
- Develop a referral program for party planners or previous clients
- Use social media to showcase successful parties and unique product offerings
Labor Day
Labor Day falls on the first Monday in September and honors the contributions of the American workforce, often celebrated with outdoor gatherings and family fun.
Promotional products:
- Labor Day-themed items (patriotic decorations, custom banners)
- BBQ accessories (grilling tools, aprons, can coolers)
- Outdoor games (frisbees, beach balls, lawn games)
- Picnic supplies (custom blankets, cushions, drinkware)
Marketing ideas:
- Offer a limited-time Labor Day sale with discounts on select items
- Create limited-edition products exclusive to the holiday
- Host an online giveaway to build excitement and customer engagement
- Collaborate with local businesses for a community-wide celebration
- Share user-generated content on social media featuring your products in use during Labor Day events
To Summarize
In conclusion, summer presents many opportunities to showcase and sell promotional products as people engage in outdoor events, festivals, and celebrations. Some of the best promotional items for the season include water bottles, totes, towels, slide sandals, shirts, tank tops, swimwear, hats, can coolers, and picnic blankets. These products are versatile, functional, and perfect for increasing your brand’s visibility.
When marketing your summer promotional products, consider targeting Father’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, summer festivals, weddings, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and Labor Day. By tailoring your products and marketing efforts to these occasions, you can maximize your brand’s exposure and create lasting impressions on potential buyers.
Get started with Printify today and create a line of summer essentials that capture the season’s vibrant spirit within minutes. With endless design options and an easy-to-use Mockup Generator, you can bring the heat to your sales and keep your customers coming back for more.
Make It Happen Today!
Written by
Zane Bratuskina
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2 comments
JUST GETTING STARTED THANKS FOR THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY
Tried getting it to work… I designed a blanket and can’t get payment to proceed so I can get my blanket.