Custom stuffed animals are a great way to promote a business, especially if that business caters to moms or children. Stuffed animals with logos make great giveaways at many types of promotional events, from trade shows to conferences. Promo plush toys come in a variety of sizes, shapes and characters. You will also find you have a lot of flexibility to customize logos on plush toys.

The pricing and costs of promotional stuffed animals will all depend on the type of animal you choose and how you want the logo imprinted. Customizable options for corporate plush toys and logos include:

1. The size of the animal.

2. The species of animal you want to promote your brand.

3. The promotional plush's clothing, where your logo will be printed.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Determine the best size for your promotional stuffed toys

The size of promotional stuffed animals has the biggest effect on cost. Sizes range from a 3-inch mini-plush to giant 8-foot tall animals. The smallest promotions only cost about $3 to $7 per animal, while larger promotions can cost $15 or more per unit.

I recommend: Beverly Hills International offer 6- to 10-inch customizable plush animals. If you want more say on the size and shape of your promotion, Custom Plush Toys provides complete customization, from what the animals look like to the colors and where the logo will be imprinted.

Pick a species of corporate stuffed animals for promotions

The type of animal you want to represent your brand is another factor to consider. Teddy bears are the most popular promotional plush, but many others are available, including cows, giraffes, monkeys, birds and dogs. You should carefully consider the type of animal you use, so you don't choose one that portrays your company in a negative light. Prices vary slightly depending on the species of animal, and teddy bears are often the cheapest. You can find bears as low as $4 for an 8-inch plush.

I recommend: Leaderpromos.com offers many different animal species for its stuffed toy promotional products. Absorbent, Ink provides a blog called Ask Abby that provides marketing tips on promotional items, including plush toys. The Branding Ideas Blog has lots of advice and news on the latest promotional items and tips for corporate gifts and trade shows.

Choose the type of clothing your promo stuffed animals wear

Most manufacturers of outfit promotional plush animals with some type of clothing and print company logos on that. Promotional plush fashions include t-shirts, scarves, handkerchiefs and even hats. While size determines the price of the promotional toy, adding a larger space for the logo will often add $1 or $2 to the price.

I recommend: It's All Greek to Me is a promotional company that offers extensive artwork guidelines to help you imprint its promotional plush products with the most effective company logo. EPromos offers many types plush toys with neckties, T-shirts and handkerchiefs.

Few people can resist the cuddly cuteness of stuffed animals. From aardvarks to zebras, there's just something about little plush toys that makes them endearing to young children, older adults and everyone in-between.

Personalized stuffed animals have long been an extremely popular promotional item for all types of businesses, from corporate giants to small, locally owned establishments. Promotional plush animals are a popular choice with schools as well, with the school or team mascot often being the animal of choice.

Promotional stuffed animals are an excellent choice because:

1. Plush toys are appropriate for people of every age and demographic.

2. Promo stuffed animals have a long shelf life.

3. Options for the size, type and look of personalized stuffed animals are virtually unlimited.

Action Steps
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Select your promotional plush animal

Companies often choose stuffed animals with logos based on the type of business they're in, their company name, their logo or the product/service they're promoting. No matter what you're looking for, there's a good chance you'll find it-or you can always have it custom made.

I recommend: Explore your options. Garrett Specialties lists its promotional stuffed animals by category such as terrycloth, long hair, plush, etc. Absorbent, Ink alphabetizes its selection by name. And if you're looking for something to call your very own, then I suggest checking into a company such as Kool Dawg Tees, which makes custom promotional stuffed toys.

Decide what type of custom stuffed animal you want

Options extend far beyond a simple personalized stuffed bear that sits on a shelf looking cute. These days, stuffed animals with logos are available as magnets, keychains, beanbags, clip-ons, even banks. They also can be bendable, stretchable and used as stress relievers.

I recommend: If you want your promotional stuffed animals to serve a purpose other than sitting on a shelf, check out your options for ordering them as functional items such keychains at Blueberry Ink or bookmarks at ePromos. Huggable and poseable animals from Branders are a fun option, as well—sure to bring a smile to anyone's face!

Identify where and how your custom stuffed animals will be used

Are your custom stuffed toys for a one-time event such as the launch of a new product or an upcoming trade show? Are you purchasing them for employees or customers? Do you plan to sell them or use them as giveaways or prizes? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you determine what to have imprinted on your plush toys and how many of them to purchase.

I recommend: If your promotional plush animals are one-time trade show or promotional giveaways, it would be wise to stay small in both quantities and features like the bean bag animals at Motivators. If, however, you plan to resell them or use them as prizes or product "icons," it's probably wise to get the larger quantity discount. Since logos and other imprints typically are printed on a T-shirt or pendant rather than the animal itself (see examples at Promopeddler), be sure your message fits, is recognizable and is readable—otherwise, your investment will be lost.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  As with any marketing endeavor, it's imperative that you know your audience and your objectives when ordering custom stuffed animals. Think it through and explore your options before coming up with a plan.
• •  Corporate plush toys aren't limited to animals. Playing cards, smiley faces, houses and even beanbag 'people' are available when animals aren't exactly what you're looking for.

Promo stuffed animals are wonderful to use to get your business' name and logo out into the world. They have a very high perceived value yet are relatively inexpensive, especially if you buy them in bulk.

You can give out promotional stuffed toys at special events or use them as contest prizes. The most important thing is that you include your company's name and logo on them. There are several promotional stuffed animals types and styles you can use, each displaying your logo in a different way. Three of the most popular are:

1. Animals that have the company logo on an article of clothing they're wearing, usually a t-shirt;

2. Corporate plush toys that have the company logo embroidered directly on them;

3. Custom stuffed toys that are designed specifically for a certain company and may represent the logo itself.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Check out stuffed animals with logos on their clothing

Promotional stuffed toys that simply have a branded t-shirt or other article of clothing on are usually the least expensive. This is because the manufacturer can produce the animals in bulk and does not have to customize them. This is probably your best option if you have a small advertising budget.

I recommend: Check out the selection at ePromos. The company has animals with imprinted t-shirts, scarves and even inner tubes. Then go to Garret Specialties' site and check out their animals wearing imprinted vests, ribbons and ties.

Look at stuffed animals with logos directly on them

One problem with animals that have logos only on their clothing is that the clothing is usually removable. When the clothing goes, so does your advertising. If your logo is on the animal itself, you know it will always have your ad on full display.

I recommend: Go to Ferox's website advertising their Custom Logo Bears. You can have your logo embroidered directly on each beanie bear's belly and even give it a coordinated neck ribbon. Then visit IdentityLinks' stuffed animal pages. All of the animals that are not wearing clothing are available for custom embroidery. This includes fish, birds and even a stuffed playing card with arms and legs.

Consider personalized stuffed animals made exclusively for your company

Some companies choose to go with custom stuffed animals since they want no other organization to have them. In the best case scenario, people will look at these animals from a distance and think immediately of your company, because they are so well-branded and unique. It also helps increase demand for the animals, since people like novel things.

I recommend: Look at Kool Dawg Tees' website. This company offers a service where it will develop a design concept according to your specifications and then produce custom animals just for your company. Then check out CustomPlushToys operated by Binkley Plush Toys. Binkley offers a similar service. Get quotes from both so you can compare prices. Custom toys do not come cheap, unless you order several thousand.