In the competitive world of e-commerce, businesses are always on the lookout for effective ways to boost sales and connect with their target audience. One strategy that has proven to be a game-changer is offering a free gift with purchase (GWP).
We’ve witnessed firsthand how GWP campaigns, especially those with an eco-friendly twist, can skyrocket sales and help brands build better relationships with eco conscious customers.
Let’s dive into the world of GWP promotions, sharing expert insights, real-life case studies, and actionable tips to help you create an irresistible offer that resonates with your audience and drives results.
Why Gift With Purchase Promotions Work Wonders
Alright, let’s break it down – why exactly are gift with purchase promotions such a big deal?
- They incentivize customers to spend more, bumping up that average order value.
- They attract new customers and keep existing ones coming back for more.
- They help you stand out from the competition and show off your unique brand values.
- They create a sense of urgency and FOMO that’s hard to resist – leading to more conversions and ROI.
In our experience, a well-executed gift with purchase promotion can be the difference between a “meh” quarter and a record-breaking one. But here’s the catch – your free gift has to be something that really wows your customers. It can’t just be some cheap trinket that’ll end up in the junk drawer. Nope, it needs to provide genuine value and align with what your brand stands for.
That’s where a lot of businesses miss the mark. They slap a logo on a generic freebie and call it a day. But to really nail a GWP promotion, you gotta put some thought into it! What do your customers actually care about? What would make them feel like they’re part of something bigger?
Gift Trees – The Best Free Gift With Purchase Idea
The ultimate eco-friendly gift with purchase idea that’s been a total game-changer for our customers: gift trees!
By partnering with us, businesses can plant trees for every purchase made. It’s like giving Mother Nature a big ol’ hug with every transaction!
Here’s why this is effective:
- Perfectly aligns with the values of environmentally conscious consumers.
- Provides a unique and meaningful gift that keeps on giving (literally!).
- Showcases your brand’s commitment to sustainability in a tangible way.
- They provide high perceived value without breaking the bank.
GWP Campaign Case Studies From Our Customers
Let’s take a look at how some of our rockstar customers have absolutely crushed it with their gift with purchase campaigns.
Philips Monitors
Philips Monitors plant trees for every eco-friendly monitor purchased. This gives them a major uptick in sales, with customers raving about the feel-good factor of knowing their new screen gives back!
They’ve promoted this initiative by gifting Tree Kits to their customers. Now they’re also using Gift Stories to communicate they planted.
Solution Group
Solution Group, a promo products distributor in Italy, plants 100 trees for every 5000€ in sales.
They spread the word about their initiative in various ways:
- QR code on product packaging linking to their Forest Profile. This way customers can see their impact.
- Personalized Impact Certificates and Sustainability Reports fpr clients, encouraging them to share on social media.
What we are perceiving the most is the positioning of the Solution Group brand as a supplier amongst our customers. We are stuck in their minds as the company who does things differently and that will make their purchasing more meaningful.
Manuel Xueref – Marketing/CSR Director, Solution Group
Image Source
Image Source, a promo products distributor in the US, plants a tree in their very own branded forest for every single order.
They promote it prominently on their website, social media, and even email signatures. And get this – they’ve even got their clients planting their own forests!
Image Source is a Top 100 PPAI Distributor. We analyzed the growth rate shared by PPAI for all 100 Distributors and found that those who scored high in Responsibility grew 2x times compared to those who didn’t!
Brondell
Every Earth Month, Brondell gifts branded Tree Kits to customers who place an order.
It’s been such a hit, they’ve kept the tradition going strong since 2022!
What’s The Playbook?
As you can see, there are various ways to go about it. It depends on your budget and marketing strategy. But essentially, these are the options:
- gift trees with every order
- gift trees for certain product lines
- gift trees during certain periods (Earth Month, Cyber Week, Holidays)
- gift trees for orders above a certain minimum value
How To Gift Trees For Every Purchase
Launching a tree-planting gift with purchase campaign is as easy as 1-2-tree 🙂
- Share your impact with customers as you hit milestones.
- Decide how many trees you want to plant per order based on your sustainability goals and budget.
- Customize your Forest profile to show off your brand’s personality and talk about your initiative.
- Choose whether you want to plant trees in real-time or send us a purchase order to invoice.
We’ve got a whole toolbox to help you spread the word about your initiative:
- A custom Forest Profile to track and share your progress.
- An Impact Guarantee to make sure you are making a difference.
- Seamless setup and integration with your existing systems.
- Regular updates on your tree plantings and their growth.
- A WePlant Badge to show off your eco-cred on your website.
- Unique QR codes that lead to your Forest Profile for maximum customer engagement.
- Personalized Gift Stories to share your intiative in a fun, interactive way.
Why Free Shipping Is Not The Best Gift With Purchase Idea
While free shipping can be a nice perk, it’s not always the most effective or memorable option for a GWP. Here’s why:
- It can eat into your profits.
- It’s expected.
- It lacks emotional impact.
- It doesn’t align with your brand values.
Now, this isn’t to say that free shipping is always a bad idea. It can be a great way to remove barriers to purchase and encourage customers to buy more. But when it comes to creating a truly impactful gift with purchase, it’s worth thinking beyond the standard free shipping offer.
More Strategies and Tactics For Your Gift With Purchase Campaign
Here are a few more ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
- Offer free samples or trial sizes of complementary products to cross-promote your range
- Bundle the gift with the main product for a cohesive package
- Use limited-time offers to create a sense of urgency and FOMO
- Tailor your gift with purchase to different customer segments or loyalty tiers for a personal touch
- Incorporate your gift into your brand story for a promo that packs an emotional punch
The key is to get creative and think about what truly resonates with your audience. What are their pain points? What makes them tick? And most importantly, how can your gift with purchase offer make their lives a little bit better (and greener)?
3 Ways To Boost Sales With Your GWP Campaign
Now that you’ve got a killer gift with purchase offer up your sleeve, it’s time to make sure it gets the attention it deserves! Here are three ways to crank up the volume:
- Make your offer impossible to miss by plastering it all over your website and marketing materials
- Use compelling visuals and copy that highlight the value of your gift and make it a total no-brainer
- Encourage customers to share their experience with your gift with purchase on social media for some sweet, sweet user-generated content
And don’t forget about the post-purchase experience! Follow up with customers to thank them for their order and remind them of the awesome impact they’ve made by choosing your brand. A little appreciation goes a long way in turning one-time shoppers into lifelong fans.
Wrapping Up
Launching a successful gift with purchase strategy is an iterative process. It might take some trial and error to find the perfect formula for your brand, but the payoff in terms of increased sales, customer loyalty, and positive impact is well worth the effort.
So what are you waiting for? It’s time to take the plunge and create a GWP offer that will make your customers (and the planet) smile. And if you need a little help along the way, we are always here to lend a hand and cheer you on.
Let’s make your next gift with purchase campaign one for the record books!
Contact us today to start planting the seeds of success. 🌳
FAQs
Offering a free gift with purchase can be an effective way to attract eco-conscious customers by providing them with additional value that aligns with their values. By choosing environmentally friendly gift items, you can demonstrate your brand’s commitment to sustainability and encourage customers to take advantage of your offer. This approach can increase brand loyalty and make customers more likely to buy from you over a competitor.
To implement a free gift promotion without significantly impacting profit margins, consider using excess inventory or low-cost, high-perceived-value items as your gift product. Set a purchase threshold to ensure the main item’s profit covers the cost of the free gift. You can also limit the quantity of free gifts available or offer them for a specific timeframe to control costs. Additionally, the increased average order value (AOV) and potential for repeat customers can offset the cost of the promotion.
To encourage customers to take advantage of a free gift offer, try these strategies: prominently display the offer on your website and in marketing campaigns, use eye-catching POS displays in-store, send targeted emails to your customer base, highlight the value and eco-friendly nature of the gift, create urgency with limited-time offers, and consider using social media to showcase the free gift and generate excitement. Make sure the offer is clearly visible and easy for customers to understand and redeem.
Adding a gift with purchase can help increase your average order value (AOV) by incentivizing customers to spend more to reach the qualifying threshold for the free gift. For example, if you offer a free gift with purchases over $50, customers who were planning to spend $40 might be more likely to add an extra item to their cart to qualify for the gift. This not only increases the AOV but also introduces customers to more of your product range, potentially leading to future purchases.
To build brand loyalty among eco-conscious consumers using free gifts, focus on offering high-quality, sustainable items that align with your brand values. Consider creating a loyalty program where customers earn points towards exclusive eco-friendly gifts. Use the free gifts as an opportunity to educate customers about your sustainability initiatives and encourage them to share their experiences on social media. Consistently offering valuable, environmentally friendly gifts can help create a positive association with your brand and increase the likelihood of customers returning for future purchases.
Some creative ways to present free gifts to eco-conscious buyers include using minimal, recyclable packaging, wrapping items in reusable fabric, or presenting them in upcycled containers. You could also include a small card explaining the eco-friendly aspects of the gift and how it aligns with your brand’s sustainability goals. The presentation should emphasize the gift’s sustainability and usefulness to appeal to environmentally conscious customers.
