By Nancy Gudekunst
Why do contractors use imprinted products for construction projects? Is it worth the investment? Our construction clients in Portland & around the country say yes! Using smart picks for your promotional products is like having a construction marketing agency in your pocket.
Check out these creative ideas to help you stand out from the competition! Not only for your prospects, but to help retain quality staff.
Construction Marketing
Put your proposal on a branded USB drive and avoid the "doorstop"! This works best for eco-minded recipients.
“Build” a rendering of the proposed site out of custom molded chocolate to really “wow” your prospect.
Golf items including balls, divot fixers, towels, and drinkware are always well received, and help players talk about your company during their outing.
On The Job Construction Swag
Brand your safety cones to ensure you get them back! And if you don’t, at least your brand will be associated with safety wherever they land.
Speaking of safe landings, keeping track of tools and phones at high elevations is not only safer, but convenient with one of these custom branded tool tethers. With many tool-specific holders available in a variety of styles and strengths, your crew can keep all their essential items on-hand and drop-safe.
ToolMate Retractable Tool Tethers
Are you stuck outside in the wet while needing to jot a quick note? Use one of our stone paper jotter pads for waterproof reliability.
Weatherproof and durable stone paper notebooks are available in a variety of sizes. Works very well with our Uni-Ball Power Tank pen that actually writes under water and in freezing temperatures!
Post-it® Transparent Notes and Arrow Flags with Custom Cover
Use our transparent, weatherproof adhesive notepads to mark punch-list items – these make a great prospect gift as well.
Signage on-site can be as simple as a branded banner, or as complex as an architectural cast cornerstone. Need important safety guidelines visible for work crews? We can print them in any size & on any signage material you need.
Construction Uniforms
Ever look out onto the job site trying to find your workers in a sea of concrete, mud, and moving bodies? You can easily spot your crew when they are wearing your logo on their safety vest, hardhat, and shirt. Plus, off the clock your personnel will be advertising your company to the community and stay on their best behavior while they represent your business.
Reflective Ink Herrenknecht Hoodie
Keep your workers safe in the field with proper gear including hardhats, safety vests, rain gear, gloves, and safety glasses, all with your company’s logo imprint. In addition to safety wear in ANSI-approved orange, pink, or lime green, consider screening your logo in reflective ink on jackets – it’s a real eye-catcher for enhanced nighttime visibility!
If you need next-generation hard hat protection, look no further than Oregon's own Studson brand of hard hats - engineered for industry-leading impact resistance, comfort, and to accommodate the demands of daily life in the trades.
For more dynamic custom t-shirts and accessories for your crew, consider dye sublimation or DTF printing to allow reproduction of full-color photographic art. Use a picture to explain what your company does without any words, like our friends at Herrenknecht did with their full color golf towels showing off their tunneling systems.
Full Color Golf Towel Example with Herrenknecht Tunneling System Photo
Construction Rewards
It makes good sense to keep your team looking sharp while protecting them from the elements. Many construction companies hold a “topping off” party to reward workers for achieving this milestone. This is often accompanied by a token of appreciation bearing the company name and the building name. T-shirts are a standard offering, while insulated drinkware or hoodies are also well received.
Basecamp K2 30oz Tumblers with Laser Engraving or Custom Print
Safety and Safety Awards
Encourage safe work habits by using safety-themed promotional items to remind your workforce to practice due diligence every day! Stainless clipboards have a closure to protect important papers from wind and other elements. Other useful ideas include tools, tape measures, conductive fingertip gloves, cooling neckwear, and safety sunglasses.
The logo should be present to remind the recipient where the gift came from and/or why the gift exists, but it should be subtle so it doesn't look like the main purpose of the gift is for company advertising. Or worse, that it was pulled from the marketing inventory at the last minute!
And if your team has performed well, consider awarding a nicer safety gift to show how important they are. The best gifts keep the recipients in mind. I once took over a corporate program where outdoor-oriented employees, mostly men, were offered a crystal letter opener as their 5-year service award! Talk about missing the point! Items like branded smoker grills, hefty coolers, or fishing poles would have been a much better fit for this audience. Some companies offer recipients a choice of gifts which is perfect for service awards.
Popular safety awards include personalized Carhartt jackets, hunting knives, rugged or retail-quality backpacks, indestructible coolers, caps and beanies, and binoculars or golf range finders. Take it further with custom large gear like imprinted bicycles, kayaks, and paddleboards!
"I'm glad you're safe" Imprinted Photo Frame
You can include the worker’s family in honoring safety with gifts for the home including cutting boards and knife blocks. Imagine a nice photo frame with an “I’m glad you’re safe” imprinted message.
A gift that builds up over time can get your recipients vying for more – we offer sets of Bluetooth speakers that pair with each other to complete a surround-sound experience for the listener! Imprint a different image on each speaker for a coordinated look.
These are just a few safety award ideas from our vast selection. Be sure to ask your rep to suggest gifts that keep your branding and budget in mind.
Building Construction Swag Ideas Since 1959
We hope that these new constuction marketing ideas have inspired you to customize better merchandise to promote your construction company or services. If you need something special imprinted for your construction operation, just ask and we'll send you personalized promo picks for your brand & marketing budget! We’ve been working with construction companies since 1959, and we love to share our ideas.
Since the mid-90's, Nancy Gudekunst, MAS, has been the 2nd generation owner of MARCO Ideas Unlimited, an Oregon family business founded in 1959. Nancy's years of experience help cut through the clutter of swag options with creative ideas that achieve goals. Certified as a WBE and DBE in Oregon and Washington.