When it comes to boosting engagement, nothing beats the allure of a tangible reward. The "reward-with-loyalty" model has long been a staple of marketing strategies, but its applications extend far beyond retail. One incredible example of this model in action is the Australian Red Cross’s donor rewards program. By offering branded merchandise such as caps, beanies, drink bottles, blanket, and coffee cups to blood donors, the ARC has turned everyday items into powerful motivators for life-saving contributions.
At Printwear, we understand how impactful these programs can be, and we’re here to help organisations and businesses create their own initiatives that resonate with their audience.
Why Rewards-with-Loyalty Works
Promotional products offer a unique emotional connection. When someone receives a high-quality, branded item, it fosters a sense of appreciation and loyalty. Here’s why this approach works so well:
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Tangible Rewards: People love receiving something they can use. Items like drink bottles or coffee cups carry utility and create daily reminders of the organisation they support.
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Brand Visibility: A branded towel or cap doesn’t just reward the recipient; it also acts as a walking billboard for your cause.
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Psychological Motivation: The reciprocity principle plays a role—when people receive something, they feel encouraged to give back.
How the Australian Red Cross Uses Merch to Drive Donations
The Australian Red Cross leverages branded promotional items to encourage blood donations. Donors who give blood multiple times or during specific campaigns can earn practical and appealing gifts. This program:
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Encourages Repeat Donations: Offering rewards for multiple donations creates a cycle of engagement.
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Builds Community Connection: Donors feel part of a larger cause when they see others using ARC-branded items.
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Promotes the Cause: Each branded product spreads awareness of the ARC’s mission, amplifying their reach.
How Printwear Can Help Your Organisation Do the Same
If you’re inspired by the success of the Australian Red Cross’s program, Printwear can help bring your vision to life. Here’s how:
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Custom Design: We’ll work with you to design eye-catching, memorable merchandise that aligns with your brand and mission.
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High-Quality Products: From eco-friendly drink bottles to plush towels and trendy caps, we provide durable, premium items your audience will love.
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Bulk Printing & Embroidery: Whether you need screen printing, embroidery, or full-colour digital designs, we’ve got you covered.
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Seamless Production: With our expertise in managing bulk orders, you can rest assured your products will be delivered on time and on budget.
Ideas for Your Own Gift-with-Purchase Campaign
Here are a few ways to adapt this model to your organisation:
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Fundraising Campaigns: Offer branded merchandise as a thank-you gift for donations to your charity or nonprofit.
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Membership Incentives: Give away caps or tote bags to new members joining your club, gym, or association.
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Event Promotions: Reward attendees at your next conference or festival with drink bottles or coffee cups emblazoned with your logo.
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Employee Recognition: Celebrate milestones by gifting employees custom-branded items.
Drive Engagement and Amplify Your Mission
By incorporating a gift-with-purchase model into your strategy, you can create meaningful connections with your audience while driving tangible results. Whether you’re running a nonprofit, business, or school program, Printwear has the tools and expertise to make your promotional campaigns shine.
Reach out today to discuss how we can help you design and produce merchandise that aligns with your goals and inspires your community.
About the ARC Lifeblood Gifts Program
Lifeblood Gifts first launched in 2023 to improve how we recognise our donors. About 92,000 donors signed up for the trial program and shared their feedback with us, which helped us create our new Lifeblood Gifts.
After a trial program last year, ARC took on feedback from donors so they could plan the future of their loyalty and recognition program. ARC wanted to make it bigger and better for donors, which is why they’ve launched the 2024 program.
They received lots of wonderful feedback from many donors who participated and the key issues that were raised included:
Wait times: Donors had to wait too long for their rewards to be delivered to them. It’s why they’ve introduced a gift redemption system in donor centres (vs. through the mail).
Sustainability: Donors give life and are kind to Mother Nature – what a combination! That’s why their items this year have an even greater focus on sustainability. ARC has selected items that help reduce the use of single-use plastics.
Can you join? You are eligible to opt in to Lifeblood Gifts if you are a registered blood donor in Australia and are eligible to donate.
Opt in date: Donors that were opted in to the Lifeblood Gifts trial program during November 2022 and September 2023 will automatically be opted in to the new Lifeblood Gifts program with their opt in date set as 1 June 2024. Donors that were not opted in to the Lifeblood Gifts trial program may opt in online or with a Lifeblood team member, and their opt in date will be set as the date they opt in (on or after 1 June 2024).
Once a donor has opted in, any attendances within the seven days prior (up to, but not before 1 June) to that opt in date will be counted towards their gifts count. No attendances prior to 1 June will be counted, regardless of opt in date or trial participation.
Eligibility for a gift: Every three (3) donation attendances you make at a Lifeblood Donor Centre after your opt in date mean you are eligible to choose one gift as part of the Lifeblood Gifts program. Autologous or therapeutic donations do not count towards eligibility for a gift.
Redeeming your donation goals for Lifeblood Gifts items: Gifts can be redeemed in-centre on arrival every time you are eligible for a gift – that is every third scheduled donation attendance. If you choose not to take a gift when you are eligible, this can be carried over to your next donation attendance. Only one gift may be redeemed every third donation.
Lifeblood can’t guarantee that the gift you select will be available. Gifts are allocated in a “first come first served” basis, while stocks last. If a gift is damaged or is faulty, we will try to replace the item but the same item or similar may not be available. Lifeblood cannot offer cash instead of any gift even if a gift is unavailable or is damaged. The only gifts available are the gifts on offer as communicated by Lifeblood.
Once you have received your gift and left the donor centre, the gift cannot be exchanged unless faulty. A gift cannot be returned.
