Do you remember the whole “rubber bracelet for a cause” thing?
You probably recall these apparel items from the heyday of Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong campaign, when custom sports wristbands were all the rage. That was back in the mid- to late-2000s, but it might surprise you to know that cheap silicone bracelets are still en vogue.
The ubiquitous yellow bands are probably most famous for raising cancer awareness. But there are many more ways that cheap wristbands can be put to effective use.
So here’s a look at some of the most common uses for silicone gel bracelets:
1. Medical Care
One of the more prevalent uses for rubber wristbands is in the healthcare industry.
Silicone bracelets are particularly useful in rehab centers and assisted-living facilities. They are easily mass-producible and can be churned out in many different colors. This opens up the possibility of using color-coded bracelets to signify a patient’s medical condition—heart disease, for instance, or diabetes.
The staff can quickly identify a patient’s needs and administer the correct medication based on these color-coded wristbands.
2. Promotional Freebies
The affordability of rubber wristbands in bulk makes them very attractive as giveaway items. At tradeshows, conventions, and exhibitions, companies love to distribute these cheap trinkets as part of their promotional swag.
Usually, this involves some customization as well. For example, companies will print their logos, information, and web addresses on the rubber wristbands. This is a great way to pick up new customers.
3. Fundraising
If the Livestrong campaign taught us anything, it’s that rubber wristbands can be a powerful awareness-raising tool. And this can translate into some serious fundraising firepower.
The idea here is that cheap silicone wristbands can be purchased by those wishing to donate to a particular cause. The wristband then remains as a memento signaling one’s support for the cause. And, in our cause-mongering age, fundraising wristbands should have no trouble selling like hotcakes.
4. Identification
The mass-production ability of rubber bracelets makes them ideal for identification purposes.
Ticket issuing and ticket checking can be a laborious and inefficient process. In the age of COVID-19, there’s the added pressure to thin large crowds and keep people moving if and when large venues should open up again.
Rubber wristbands are a great solution. Imprinting them with barcodes or QR codes and issuing them to ticket purchasers reduces the bottlenecks that occur at entry points, and keeps things moving along swiftly.
5. A Show of Support
Silicone bracelets are also a great way of showing school spirit or support for a particular sports team.
It’s easy to encode cheap wristbands with the name or logo of a school or sports team, or any other organization that you wish to support. Because of their affordability, the bracelets can be quickly and easily distributed on a large scale.
The Rubber Bracelet for a Cause Isn’t Going Away Anytime Soon
These are just a few of the many reasons that the rubber bracelet for a cause is still a popular marketing and fundraising strategy. Can you think of a few more reasons why silicone wrist bands are a popular marketing and branding tool?
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