How Total Merchandise Supported Smart Works With Charity Tote Bags

The team at Total Merchandise always love to do what they can to support the work of the many amazing charities and organisations across the UK - so we were delighted to recently support Smart Works with its eponymous Fashion Sale event.

We provided tote bags printed with the fundraising event's branding, with our canvas tote bags providing the perfect backdrop for Smart Works' striking blue design.

READ MORE:

• Why Promotional Products Work: The Value Of Merch For Your Business
• The Promotional Essentials Every UK Charity Needs

Read on for our case study of how we worked with Smart Works to support their important work.

The customer: Smart Works. 

Smart Works provides unemployed women with the clothing and coaching they need to help them feel confident in interviews and secure employment. (And it works - according to Smart Works, 69% of the women they work with get a job within one month!)

With a predominantly female workplace, Total Merchandise feels strongly about supporting organisations that help other women into the workplace - so when the opportunity presented itself, we were eager to get involved. 

The product: Printed Cotton Tote Bags

These best-selling tote bags offer the perfect canvas for any organisation or event to flaunt its branding. 

"We chose tote bags for our recent Fashion Sale event because typically, our shoppers will make multiple purchases, and they need something to take these home in," explains Ilana Koffman, Events Manager at Smart Works. "In addition to this, we want the event to be as environmentally friendly as possible, and we know that using reusable cotton bags would be a great alternative to single-use plastic carrier bags."

Smart Works helps unemployed women with clothing and coaching to get the job and transform their lives. 69% of clients get a job within a month.

The experience: how Smart Works found working with Total Merchandise

"We had a wonderful experience using Total Merchandise and collaborating with their team and account handlers – a big shout out to Anne-Marie!" says Ilana.

"From the initial contact and ordering process to the clear communication and delivery, everything went smoothly. The team was especially helpful with assisting our team on choosing colourways and their expertise was top-notch. Working with them was truly a delight."

The response: what did everyone think of Smart Works' charity tote bags?

The bags were a hit with all the stakeholders, as Ilana explains: "Our team and shoppers absolutely loved the tote bags! We have already seen some of the team adorning them with their outfits this week in the office, and our shoppers have promised to use them again at our next Fashion Sale event."

The insight: what should other customers know about our Printed Cotton Tote Bags?

Of course there are all sorts of reasons why a product might or might not suit the needs of an individual organisation - every company is different, after all. We asked Ilana to share the pros and cons of this product, in her opinion.

Over to you, Ilana...

"The pros of the bag include that they are reusable, great quality and an excellent way to promote our charity.

"I don’t think there are any cons – and you can never have too many tote bags!"

The purpose: how can products be used to promote awareness of a charity?

Branded items are amazing tools for helping to assert the work of a charity, with everything from wristbands to badges available to help promote a good cause.

"The tote bags are helpful for us as a charity as they help to increase our presence when our shoppers wear them out and about," says Ilana. "This might mean that an onlooker sees the bag, looks us up and learns about the charity. They might then attend our future fundraising events, including the Fashion Sales."

Not convinced that merchandise is worth the spend for your charity? Here's why we think merch is a valuable investment for any organisation's marketing budget...

• There are options to suit every price point: we know that every penny counts. As well as working with our suppliers to ensure we're offering our customers the lowest possible prices by default, our Price Match Guarantee also means that we'll match a lower price if you find it on a like-for-like, non-discounted item.
• There are products to cover all aspects of fundraising: from items that can be sold in exchange for monetary donations to products that can enhance a fundraising event (such as bunting, balloons and ticketing alternatives like wristbands), merchandise can bring a lot to any charitable organisation's output.
• There are items to suit any sector: whether your charity is focused on health, animals or humanitarian pursuits (or something else!), there are products to match. From perfectly themed merchandise (such as Stress Love Hearts for a health-oriented organisation) to clothing items for your team of fundraisers, we've got you covered.

Looking for the perfect merchandise option for your charity? Explore our range of charity merchandise and find the perfect products for your organisation today. Need any assistance? Simply contact a member of our friendly and experienced Sales team on 01376 509092 or email info@totalmerchandise.co.uk.