Looking for new umbrella customers? Well, take cover! We’re about to rain prospects and selling points on you. Read on to discover the top five markets for promotional umbrellas, along with expert product recommendations and stats that will help you seal the deal with every industry.
#1– Healthcare
#2 – Hospitality
#3 – Finance
#4 – Education
#5 – Sporting & Outdoors
#1 Healthcare
Healthcare is a big buyer of umbrellas, which shouldn’t surprise you: Healthcare is the second largest contributor to distributor revenue overall, accounting for 8.7% of distributor sales per the ASI Counselor State of the Industry Report. If you’re looking for large orders, the healthcare sector will be your prescription for success.
To win their business, highlight the potential of the promos they’re investing in. For instance, the Global Ad Impressions Study found that umbrellas generate approximately 1,100 impressions in their lifetime. That’s over a thousand impressions for just one promo. Few other items can compare to that kind of reach, making umbrellas a great choice for medical professionals.
Top Prospects:
ü Hospitals
ü Medical groups
ü Doctors
ü Dentists
ü Nursing homes
ü Medical laboratories
Suggested Uses:
· Gifts for National Nurses Week
(May 6th - May 12th)
· Gifts for National Hospital Week
(May 2nd - May 8th)
· Incentives for employee recruiting programs
· Rewards for new patients or members
· On-site gift shops or pharmacies sales
· Promote charity events and blood drives
Plan Ahead for Healthy Sales
Looking for more opportunities in the healthcare and medical field? Take a look at these 2021 events, to bring in healthy umbrella sales year-round:
JANUARY
National Volunteer Blood Donor Month
National IV Nurses Day (January 25th)
FEBRUARY
National Cancer Prevention Month
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (March 1st - March 7th)
National Donor Day (February 14th)
MARCH
National Nutrition Month
Brain Awareness Week (March 15th – 21st)
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (March 22nd - 28th)
World Oral Health Day (March 20th)
National Doctors Day (March 30th)
APRIL
National Autism Awareness Month
National Public Health Week (April 5th - 11th)
World Health Day (April 7th)
MAY
National Mental Health Month
National Women's Health Week (May 9th - 15th)
World No Tobacco Day (May 31st)
JUNE
Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month
Men's Health Week (June 14th - 20th)
National HIV Testing Day (June 27th)
JULY
Eye Injury Prevention Month
UV Safety Month
World Hepatitis Day (July 28th)
AUGUST
Summer Sun Safety Month
National Health Center Week (August 12th - 18th)
World Lung Cancer Day (August 1st)
SEPTEMBER
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
National Rehabilitation Awareness Week (September 21st – 27th)
World Heart Day (September 29th)
OCTOBER
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Dental Hygiene Month
Red Ribbon Week (October 23rd – 31st)
Walk and Bike to School Day (October 6th)
NOVEMBER
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
National Diabetes Education Week (November 7th - 13th)
Great American Smokeout (November 19th)
DECEMBER
Safe Toys and Gifts Month
National Influenza Vaccination Week (December 5th - 11th)
World AIDS Day (December 1st)
Leed’s Recommends These Umbrella Styles:
2050-01 41" Folding Umbrella
2050-02 42" Auto Open Folding Umbrella
2050-16 46" Blue Skies Auto Open Folding Umbrella
2050-49 46" Vented, Auto Open Folding PinWheel Umbrella
2050-53 42" Auto Open Folding, Color Splash Umbrella
2050-69 42” Auto Open Windproof Umbrella
#2 Hospitality
Rain or Shine, your clients will be able to step in and save the day by offering promotional umbrellas that’ll keep guests dry or shaded, depending on the weather, on their way to the activities they planned for the day.
Promotional umbrellas are kept an average of 14 months, per the Global Ad Impressions Study, so your hospitality clients will get over a year’s worth of advertising power from just one umbrella.
Top Prospects:
ü Hotels
ü Resorts
ü Restaurants, Cafes, Bistros
ü Bed & Breakfasts
ü Cruise Lines
Suggested Uses:
· Gifts for guests or travel agents
· Courtesy umbrellas for rainy days
· Employee morale and rewards programs
· On-site souvenir and gift shop sales
· Promoting special events and tournaments
Recommended Umbrella Styles:
2050-05 58" Auto Open Folding Golf Umbrella
2050-57 46" Auto Open, Fashion Umbrella
2050-66 48" Colorized Manual Inversion Umbrella
2050-71 48" Auto Open Inversion Umbrella
2050-91 58" Inversion Auto Close Golf Umbrella
2050-94 48" Auto Close Heathered Inversion Umbrella
#3 Financial Institutions
Looking for a little more cha-ching? Look no further than Financial Institutions, the third largest contributor to distributor revenue per the Counselor State of the Industry Report, making up 7.4% of sales.
Why is this market great for umbrellas? Because big-budget clients like this want promos with high perceived value, but they don’t necessarily want a big price tag. Umbrellas hit that sweet spot of high-class style at an affordable price point while delivering a quality item consumers will actually use. Don’t forget, 58% of consumers report the quality of an umbrella is the number-one reason they keep it, per the Global Ad Impressions Study.
Top Prospects:
ü Banks
ü Credit unions
ü Insurance companies
ü Savings and loan groups
ü Brokerage firms
ü Financial consultants
Suggested Uses:
· Gifts for new customers and accounts
· Promotional items at sales meetings
· Giveaways at industry trade shows
· Prospecting tools for salespeople and agents
· Promoting “umbrella coverage” products
Recommended Umbrella Styles:
2050-02 42" Auto Open Folding Umbrella
2050-14 46" Chairman Auto Open/Close Vented Umbrella
2050-53 42" Auto Open Folding, Color Splash Umbrella
2050-93 42" Auto Open/Close Bluetooth Audio Tech Umbrella
2050-94 48" Auto Close Heathered Inversion Umbrella
2051-16 64" Auto Open Reflective Golf Umbrella
#4 Education
Score high marks with education customers: As the top contributor to distributor revenue, education accounts for a massive 13% of overall sales per the ASI Counselor State of the Industry Report. Competition will be fierce to win the business of these customers, but you can come out on top if you go to your presentations prepared.
Highlight the features colleges and universities care about most. For instance, showcase styles that come in a wide range of colors to capture any school’s colors in full glory. Or, include recommendations on how they can be used, like tour guides using them during orientation or campus tours, so prospects can see the potential of investing in them.
Top Prospects:
ü Colleges and universities
ü Grade schools at all levels – K-12
ü Booster clubs
Suggested Uses:
· Gifts for teachers and parent volunteers
· Mementos for graduating classes
· Campus bookstores
· Fundraisers for sports teams and clubs
· Promote alumni programs
Recommended Umbrella Styles:
2050-01 41" Folding Umbrella
2050-02 42" Auto Open Folding Umbrella
2050-03 42" Auto Open Folding Safety Umbrella
2050-09 62" Course Vented Golf Umbrella
2050-66 48" Colorized Manual Inversion Umbrella
2051-16 64" Auto Open Reflective Golf Umbrella
#5 Sports/Outdoors
Game on. Wintergreen Research estimates the U.S. youth sports market is worth over $15.5 billion – and there’s even more profit potential if you factor in the adult sports market too. You can capture a piece of that pie for yourself by pitching fan-approved promos like umbrellas to sports organizations in your community.
While branded sports balls and pompoms are great, what will really give sports clients bang for their buck are promos fans can take home to use after the game – or even bring back to future games. Don’t forget to pitch promos that appeal to the parents of little athletes too: The Global Ad Impressions Study found 59% of baby boomers keep promotional umbrellas they receive for over two years.
Top Prospects:
ü College and university sports teams
ü Local recreational leagues
ü Booster clubs and fundraisers
ü Hiking and camping grounds
ü Sponsored sporting events
Suggested Uses:
· Game day giveaways
· Sell in college bookstores and souvenir shops
· Sell to raise funds for booster clubs
· Free gifts to sponsors of corporate sporting events
· Raffle prizes at sporting events
Capture Corporate Orders With Golf Outing Promos
Not only are umbrellas great for sports organizations, they’re super popular with corporate clients, too. Why? Umbrellas are impressive (and useful!) giveaways for corporate sporting events, such as a golf outings or golf fundraisers. Rather than pitch to the golf courses or country clubs themselves, reach out to the corporate sponsors to see if they’d like to invest in promotional items participants can take home and continue using after the big event.
Recommended Umbrella Styles:
2050-05 58" Auto Open Folding Golf Umbrella
2050-09 62" Course Vented Golf Umbrella
2050-55 58" Ultra Value Auto Open Golf Umbrella
2050-89 60" Jacquard Sport Auto Open Golf Umbrella
2051-04 60" Heathered Sport Auto Open Golf Umbrella
2051-14 60" Double Vented Golf Umbrella
