Many companies use different types of promotional clothing in order to increase awareness of their brand, drive customer purchases, and develop goodwill. In some cases, promotional clothing is given away as part of a company's sponsorship of a charitable community or athletic event. In other cases, promotional items may be sold at a reduced price or given away as a premium to customers who buy a certain amount of products or who demonstrate loyalty over a long period of time. Many companies provide their employees with clothing items that are printed or embroidered with the company logo in order to increase awareness of the company's presence at a special event or even within the community at large. A variety of clothing items may be used for promotional purposes, and in some cases may be matched to the event at which a company is engaged in promotional activity.
The significance of promotional clothing can vary according to the context in which it is distributed. Many charities rely on local businesses to provide some type of tangible goods to donors and participants in charitable events. For some people, an item of clothing has significant value and may be particularly appreciated when provided by a charity. In such cases, both the charity and the business that donates the clothing benefit from an increase in public goodwill. A company may also use promotional clothing for its own benefit, such as offering a particularly attractive piece for free to a customer who purchases a certain amount of goods or services as an incentive to get customers to make larger purchases.
Perhaps one of the best-known types of promotional clothing is the logo T-shirt, which is popular in many areas and is worn by men, women, and children alike. One advantage to T-shirts as an advertising medium is that they typically have a large amount of space on which the company can print its logo, advertising message, and contact information. It is not unusual for companies to provide promotional T-shirts for free to local athletic teams or staff members of community service organizations that receive sponsorship money from the company. On the other hand, some bars and restaurants do brisk business selling T-shirts to tourists and visitors, particularly if the establishment enjoys a great deal of popularity. Other common types of promotional clothing include hats, jackets, and sweat pants and sweat shirts.