Did you know that lighters were invented before matches?

John Walker accidentally created friction matches in 1826 while lighters were invented in 1816.

Yet today, matches carry a feeling of nostalgia that lighters do not. Matches, with their unique designs and their use of space, can be the perfect advertising opportunity for your brand or company.

Are you thinking about what item to use for your next promotional product? You could go the safe route with a t-shirt or mug. Instead, you could do something novel, such as a matchbook.

Matchbooks are unique, useful, and highly customizable. Read on to get some inspiration for your next giveaway and see how matchbooks can be a great idea.

Why Use a Matchbook as a Promotional Item

According to a study done by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), 85 percent of people remember the advertiser that gave them a promotional product. The study also says that promotional products rank as the most popular form of advertising.

Matchbooks can be an effective advertising item because they give your brand repeated exposure. If a standard matchbook has 20 matches, your brand can be seen 20 times or more.

Matchbooks are also incredibly useful. You can use them to light candles in a power outage or a fireplace during cold winter nights.

A Conversational Piece

Matchbooks have a vintage look and feel that make them a great conversational piece.

There is even a term for those who collect matchbooks. Phillumeny is the art of collecting matchbooks, matchsticks, and anything related to matches.

Be Creative with Your Matchbook Design

You can design your matchbooks to reflect your company’s brand.

If you own a restaurant, you can design matchbooks to look like a small menu that has your restaurant name and contact information.

How about an auto repair shop? They can hand out a “toolbox” matchbox. A tailor shop or seamstress can customize mini “sewing kit” matchboxes. A casino can give away a poker chip matchbook.

Matchbooks are a novelty and research shows that any novelty that grabs your attention can activate your memory and help you remember what is associated with that novelty.

Customize Your Matchbooks

You can choose between a book of matches or a box of matches. You can even customize the color of the match tips to match your company logo.

There is plenty of space on a matchbook to include your company name, logo, and slogan. Or, instead of text, you can customize your matchbook with an image.

A Unique Freebie

People love freebies and they talking about them. Studies show that getting a freebie increases the chance of people talking about the associated product by 15 percent. Matchbooks can be a great freebie to hand out because they can get people talking about your brand.

Do you want to learn more about ordering customized matchbooks or matchboxes? Contact us to learn more.

Wagner Match has specialized in providing impeccable service to the hospitality, entertainment and service industries since 1981.