Outdoor sports and recreational activities have been increasingly popular in the US from 2014 to 2023, as reported by Statista.com. The percentage of citizens participating in outdoor sports activities has risen from 48.4% to 57.3% during this period, with the 2024 data yet to be finalized. This trend indicates significant opportunities for outdoor sports brands to cater to the adventurous, spiritual, and physical well-being needs of the people.
While modern marketing techniques typically focus on production, positioning, placement, and pricing, I will discuss a more cost-effective promotion technique in this blog – custom patches. This approach not only helps with brand recognition but also fosters strong and loyal relationships with customers.
Custom patches are fabric emblems designed with your brand’s logo or message. They enhance brand recognition and awareness. In this article, we will discuss the role of custom patches in promoting your outdoor brand. So, make sure you read this article to the end!
The Power of Custom Patches for Outdoor Brand
1. Build Brand Identity
As an outdoor brand, you provide value to customers by helping them unleash their adventurous spirit or by promoting environmental consciousness. Custom patches can help you effectively showcase the value your brand offers. You can use them to highlight messages related to well-being, such as “Push your limits,” or to promote environmental sustainability with messages like “Protect the environment.”
Custom patches also give you the freedom to customize them according to your preferences, allowing you to choose the design, quality, backing options, color scheme, and type of material.
2. Promote Brand Loyalty and Foster a Sense of Community
Custom patches can be used to enhance brand recognition and promote brand loyalty by creating a sense of community. Brands can introduce loyalty programs and use custom patches as rewards.
For example, customers can be motivated to complete specific activities, such as a multi-day hike with the brand’s gear, and then be rewarded with a “Trailblazer patch” to acknowledge their achievement.
Furthermore, brands can provide commemorative patches for campaign events and design a series of patches with different themes or locations to encourage customers to collect them all. This can spark conversations among outdoor enthusiasts and further promote the brand.
Additionally, when customers wear these patches, they act as walking advertisements for the brand and feel like part of a community that shares their love for the outdoors. These strategies can help build strong customer loyalty and engage them with the brand in various meaningful ways.
3. A Unique Marketing Tool
In the previous section, I explained how custom patches can be used to enhance brand recognition and build strong customer loyalty. However, custom patches offer numerous other advantages as a unique marketing tool, including:
1. Versatility: Patches are versatile and can be easily attached to various items such as backpacks, jackets, hats, tents, sleeping bags, or sold as standalone merchandise. Their potential applications are limitless, making them a valuable and customizable accessory for individuals and businesses alike.
2. Walking Billboards: People who proudly display your patches serve as walking advertisements for your brand. As they go about their daily activities, your brand gains visibility, leading to organic brand awareness. For example, imagine a group of backpackers embarking on a mountain trail, each proudly displaying your brand’s patch—this presents a valuable opportunity for free promotion.
3. Durability: Selecting high-quality materials for your patches is essential to ensure they can withstand the demands of outdoor activities. A durable patch serves as a lasting reminder of your brand, leaving a strong impression on your audience. If you don’t have durable patches, I suggest opting for embroidered patches, PVC patches, or woven patches.
How to craft the perfect Custom Patch for your Outdoor Brand
Above, I have discussed how custom patches can help you unlock numerous opportunities for your outdoor brand, but how do you move forward to create your patches well no worries, as I will also tell you the factors to consider before getting your custom patches designed:
1. Define the purpose of why you shouldn’t create a custom patch for your brand. It could be for promotion, awareness, community building, or fostering strong loyalty. Just set your goals and make the objective clear.
2. After defining the purpose, choose the right type of patch, as you will be overwhelmed with the numerous options available. For your outdoor brand, the right patch options would be Embroidered, PVC, and Woven patches.
3. Once you’ve chosen the type of patch you want, unleash your creativity and turn your ideas into striking designs. When looking for patch makers, you’ll come across various providers. Some will work with your designs, while others offer flexibility by either accepting existing designs or creating patches from scratch based on your requirements, like ThePatchio.
4. Choose the colour options and backing material to get your product finished and start promoting your brand in a modern, cost-effective way.
How to choose the right patch makers for your outdoor brand
When looking for a custom patch maker to bring your outdoor brand’s vision to life, taking specific steps is essential. Start by clearly defining your goals, budget, and desired patch features. Then, research potential manufacturers through online directories, reviews, and portfolio samples.
Look for manufacturers with experience in outdoor brands, various durable materials, and customization options that meet your needs. Consider minimum order quantity, pricing structure, turnaround time, and customer service.
Contact your shortlisted manufacturers, ask questions, and compare quotes before making your final decision. Remember that the cheapest option may be the best sometimes; consider overall value and quality. Also, ask about eco-friendly practices if sustainability is essential to your brand.
Following these steps, you’ll find the perfect patch maker to strengthen your brand’s identity and resonate with your outdoor enthusiasts.
Conclusion
So here you have it; after reading thus far, I hope you will now know the difference custom patches can make in uplifting your brand. If you have second thoughts, then to motivate you, I’ll be ending the blog with a list of brands that have already leveraged customized patches to boost their brand presence:
· The North Face
· Yosemite National Park
· Cotopaxi
· The Dyrit.