With tight budgets and rising costs, zoos need creative ways to generate revenue while also promoting their mission and brand. Offering unique promotional products is a win-win - it provides an additional revenue stream while also increasing brand visibility and engagement.
Here are 5 clever promo product ideas every zoo should consider:
Personalized Plush Toys
Let visitors adopt their favorite animal! Plush versions of the zoo's animals, especially baby versions, make for adorable and memorable keepsakes. Add a custom tag with the guest's name for a personalized souvenir they’ll treasure.
Popular options include plush giraffes with long necks for hugging, soft tigers and lions, cute elephants with big floppy ears, and other iconic zoo inhabitants. The cuter the better! For an extra special touch, offer to record a personalized message from the zookeeper to be inserted in the toy.
Animal-Shaped Water Bottles
Staying hydrated is important for zoo guests walking around in the sun all day. What better way to carry water than in a bottle shaped like a hippo, elephant or giraffe? Offer reusable water bottles in popular animal shapes and designs.
Make sure they are BPA-free and built to last through many refills. Etching the zoo’s logo directly onto the bottle adds durability. Offering bottles in a variety of sizes (like 20 oz for adults and 12 oz for kids) provides options. For simplicity, start with the zoo’s top 2 or 3 most beloved animals.
Animal Hats and Tees
Let guests show their zoo spirit back home! Animal-themed baseball caps and t-shirts emblazoned with the zoo's name and logo make great casual wear long after the visit ends.
Baseball hats with adjustable straps work for all ages. Cheerful t-shirt designs showing cartoon versions of the zoo’s animals appeal to kids, while vintage logos on weathered tees appeal to adults. Offering short and long-sleeved tees provides choices depending on weather. Local facts on the tag add flair.
Eco-Friendly Reusable Bags
Plastic bags are a big no-no, so offering stylish reusable bags with animal prints or the zoo's logo reduces waste while providing walking billboards. Cotton tote bags are a popular choice for durability and eco-friendly appeal.
Laminated reusable pouches are perfect for storing snacks and essentials during the visit. Backpacks let guests go hands-free. Include interesting animal facts on the bags to educate guests further on conservation efforts.
Animal-Themed Magnets
Brightly colored magnets shaped like animals, with the zoo's details on the back, are handy souvenirs guests will use long after returning home. Zoo visitors can stick them on fridges or cabinets as a daily reminder of their special experience.
Closely resemble the zoo’s actual animals for realism. Offer a wide selection featuring both familiar and lesser known inhabitants to teach as well as promote. Durable ceramic magnets with rounded corners are safe for homes with young kids.
Maximizing Promotional Product Sales
Here are some tips to boost promotional product sales and revenue:
- Strategic placement at exits so guests see products on the way out
- Eye catching displays to capture attention
- Bundling deals, like "Buy 2 magnets, get one free"
- Limited edition products to create urgency
- Special member discounts to increase purchases
- Hand-held mini catalogs for easy perusing while in gift shops
- Coupons and BOGOs in print and email newsletters
- Cross-promoting through social media and online ads
- Partnering with Groupon and other discount sites
- Consistently refreshing inventory and adding new products
- Tracking sales data to optimize your top-sellers
With a variety of creative and on-brand products at different price points, zoos can boost engagement and revenues through promotional merchandise. The key is choosing unique products that capture the special zoo experience for guests while implementing strategies to maximize purchase motivation and sales. Promotional products let zoos generate critical funds for operations and programs while also spreading brand awareness - that's a win indeed!