Promotional Products to Keep Customers Coming Back

Promotional products are a powerful tool for auto service centers to build brand awareness, foster customer loyalty, and differentiate themselves from competitors. They remind customers that you’re the place to contact if any issues arise or routine maintenance is needed.

For auto repair centers, selecting the right promotional items means choosing products that align with the services provided and resonate with the needs and interests of your customer base. You won’t focus on expensive luxury items if you deal in cheap oil changes. And if you cater to high-end vehicle owners, a cheap pen might go straight into the trash. Here’s a look at some effective promotional products that an auto repair service center might use to engage customers and deliver that coveted repeat business.

Custom Air Fresheners

Air fresheners are a classic and cost-effective promotional item for auto repair centers. Not only are they practical for customers, helping to keep their cars smelling fresh, but they also provide continuous brand visibility every time the car is used when hung in the rearview mirror. Auto repair centers can purchase custom air fresheners with their logo, contact information, and even choose a custom shape related to their business, like a car or tire.

This is a particularly popular giveaway when paired with a free car wash. As more service centers provide a complimentary wash and vacuum following repairs, your customers will appreciate their car being returned not just looking nice but smelling fresh as well. It is recommended to leave the air freshener in the packaging in case your customer has a sensitivity to fragrances.

Price varies based on several factors, such as shape, size, and especially quantity. A company like CustomAirFresheners.net sells custom-shaped air fresheners for under $1 at quantities of 500 and up. Meanwhile, you can save a few cents by going with a lower-quality option at 4Imprint that only comes in a few stock shapes. It all comes down to how you want to present your brand.

Keychain Add-Ons

Keychains have been a small yet impactful promotional product that service centers used for decades. It made sense because keys are carried daily, and a branded keychain constantly reminds you of your service center. But with newer cars all coming with bulky keyfobs, service centers need to think outside the box and focus on add-ons instead of actual keychains.

A mini flashlight with your service center listed on the outside is a great tool that can instantly click on their existing keychain. With strong LED lights being strong, it can be a valuable accessory in a tiny package. Same goes for a multi-tool, which every vehicle owner should have on them anyway. Some brands offer clips to make attaching and removing a breeze. It’s a great idea if you’re servicing trucks or other work vehicles where these tools may be handy.

Finally, dealership service centers may want to invest in keyfob covers since they’ll be dealing primarily with one make of vehicle. These covers can be carbon fiber, plastic, or even leather. Have your service center on the cover so customers can access it whenever a breakdown occurs.

Emergency Car Kits

Emergency car kits are thoughtful and practical promotional items that demonstrate an auto repair center’s commitment to customer safety and care. These kits can include essential items such as a flashlight, tire pressure gauge, first aid supplies, and even jumper cables. Branding the kit with your logo promotes your business and provides real value to customers, enhancing their trust and loyalty to your service center. Customers will see your brand each time they open a trunk and have your information ready when trouble rears its ugly head.

Prices vary greatly based on what kind of kit you want to give away and how many you order. But you can expect to spend roughly $15-$20 each for a 29-piece kit that includes all the goodies. This may be a bit steep to give out for small jobs, but it may be a great gift for your most loyal customers who have spent thousands of dollars in your shop.

Car Maintenance Logs

Offering branded car maintenance logs is a great way to encourage customers to keep track of their vehicle’s service history while keeping your brand visible. A maintenance log can include sections for oil changes, tire rotations, and other common services, along with reminders for future maintenance needs (and guess who they’ll go to!). Including your logo, contact information, and a promotional offer within the log can drive repeat business.

Window Sunshades

Window sunshades are a unique promotional product that can provide both utility and brand exposure. These can be customized with your service center’s logo and slogan and given to customers as a free gift with service.

They protect a car’s interior from UV damage, making them a valued item for any car owner, especially those living in sunny climates. And the best part is they’ll display your brand prominently whenever the car is parked to every passerby.

Reusable Travel Mugs

Reusable travel mugs or stainless steel tumblers are practical promotional products that many customers will find useful, especially if they spend a lot of time in their cars. We all need something to keep our coffee warm (or cold) during that morning commute. These items can be customized with your logo and contact information.

Travel mug are often kept in vehicles, providing continuous brand exposure as customers use them for their daily commutes or long drives. Just be sure to find one that fits in most cup holders and has a solid lid. You don’t want your brand tied to the time they spilled piping hot coffee all over their interior due to a flimsy lid.

Phone Chargers

Imagine breaking down in the middle of nowhere with your phone battery on its last legs. How excellent would a small portable charger be to keep your phone running till help arrives?

Phone chargers are a must-have accessory for any vehicle, making them ideal promotional products for auto service centers. Customers will keep them in the center console or glove compartment for when emergencies arise. Slap your logo on the side with some contact information, and you’ll be branding your service center each time their iPhone needs a little extra juice.

Tire Pressure Gauges

It’s an oldie, but a goodie. Branded tire pressure gauges are a small, cost-effective promotional item that adds significant value to the customer. They act as useful tools that can help drivers maintain proper tire inflation, improving vehicle safety and fuel efficiency. Providing these gauges as a free gift helps promote safe driving practices and keeps your brand visible in the glove compartment or trunk of customers’ vehicles. There’s a reason businesses have been giving them out for nearly 100 years.

Custom tire gauges can be purchased for under $1 with high enough quantities. That includes full aluminum, your choice of color, and your logo printed on the side. If you want to step up your game, some companies offer digital pressure gauges for a few more bucks. Maybe a better option if your clientele isn’t that handy.

Ice Scrapers

If your service center is up north, your customers will be dealing with snow and ice during the winter. So why not leave them with something useful like an ice scraper? They’ll keep it stored in the trunk or backseat, and it will be a branding opportunity each time they need to scrape ice off that windshield on a cold day.

Traditional 7” custom ice scrapers can be purchased for between $1-$2 each. But if you’re flying by on a tight budget, credit card-sized or visor scrapers can get you below that $1 each price point.

Magnets

Magnets, especially fridge magnets, are a very cost-effective way to keep your brand in customers’ minds. They can be customized with your logo, contact details, or a catchy slogan. They are inexpensive to produce and distribute and have a high retention rate, as people often use them to hold notes or photos on their refrigerators.

To spice it up and ensure they’re used, put a local sports team’s schedule on the magnet for the upcoming season. Or list out a bunch of emergency numbers they may find useful, such as Poison Control or a tow truck company you partner with. Anything you think would get your customer to keep that magnet up on their fridge year-round.

Figure Out What Your Customer Needs

Promotional products are nothing new for auto service centers. Everyone’s likely got a pen somewhere in a junk drawer from their local mechanic. But the idea goes beyond just finding something cheap. You want something your customer needs.

So before ordering a bunch of swag for the shop, think hard about who your customers are and their particular needs. Are you dealing with wealthy customers and expensive vehicles? Or are you doing repairs for blue-collar workers who need something functional for the workday? By choosing practical, high-quality items that resonate with car owners, service centers can ensure that their brand remains top-of-mind for customers and repeat business flowing your way.

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