We ranked the best. We crowned the champs. But what about the products that almost made the list? The niche plays, the specialists, the underdogs. The following physical marketing tools didn’t crack the Top 30 this year—but under the right conditions? They still perform.
Here are a few standouts that had us debating at the deadline.
🐾 Custom Dog Tags
Cool Factor: High | Use Case: Narrow | Streetwear x Swag Vibes
Dog tags aren’t just for pets or military-style branding anymore. We’re seeing them used as wearable promos, membership credentials, and event passes. Great for youth-focused brands, edgy merch drops, or campaigns where you want your brand hanging literally around someone’s neck.
Use it right: VIP tags, collectible sets, staff credentials, or paired with QR codes for check-in or content access.
🔊 Branded Bluetooth Speakers
Perceived Value: Off the Charts | Cost: Higher | Impact: Loud and Clear
Speakers are always a hit—especially when they sound good. They’re premium giveaways for top clients, team members, or raffle winners. Why didn’t they make the Top 30? Because they’re campaign-specific. Not scalable for large giveaways, but when quality matters? A slam dunk.
Use it right: Corporate gifts, incentive programs, conference awards, or luxury bundles.
🩹 Branded Bandaid Cases
Usefulness: Real | Novelty: Memorable | Visibility: Limited
A surprisingly thoughtful item, branded bandaid cases pop up in health & wellness kits, childcare campaigns, first-aid drop-ins, or workplace safety initiatives. They’re appreciated more than you’d expect—especially when travel-sized and well-designed.
Use it right: Healthcare orgs, family events, trades targeting parents or educators.
🏃 Branded Joggers
Comfort: A+ | Trend: Growing | Scalability: Tough
Joggers are this year’s hoodie-in-waiting. Stylish, wearable, and perfect for hybrid work culture or active brands. But with sizing complexity, higher cost, and print limitations, they’re more of a merch store item than a giveaway staple—for now.
Use it right: Influencer kits, company apparel drops, VIP merch stores, or culture-driven team gifts.
Table Tents (With QR Codes)
Practicality: Strong | Lifespan: Short | Power: Location-Based
Restaurants, waiting rooms, event booths, hotel lobbies—table tents with smart messaging or QR functionality are still wildly relevant. But they’re environment-dependent, not always portable, and don’t offer long-term brand exposure.
Use it right: In-location campaigns, review generation, product education, or temporary promotions.
🏁 The Final Word:
These products may not be in the Top 30, but they’re far from benched. Each one has a role to play in the right marketing scenario—especially when tied to the right audience, message, or setting.
Sometimes the strongest plays come from the right tool at the right time.
