Not-for-profits, charities, campaigns, causes; all have been part of the silicone wristband craze that has engulfed the world over the past 15 years. But for the first time, a new product threatens to topple silicone wristbands as the primary “cause wristband”, and for good reason. Today, we’ll be looking at the feud, the war, the battle that is silicone wristbands vs slapbands! Those with a gentle disposition, look away now because this could get ugly.
Silicone wristbands vs Slapbands… Pick your side!
It’s an interesting choice. Whilst silicone wristbands are the traditional favourite, primarily due to the fact that they are easily recognisable and cost effective, slapbands are growing in popularity at an incredible rate. Below, we’ll present cases for the two antagonists and announce a winner, based on 4 core functions; price, effectiveness of communicating a message, memorability and the all important ‘cool factor’.
Round 1 – Ding Ding: Price
Many causes and non for profits are incredibly cost conscious. While some have exceptionally high budgets due to long term and well managed campaigning and fundraising, most do not. Look at the current ice water bucked challenge that is sweeping the world, with everyone from Barrack Obama to David Beckham taking part. Either way, as with any decision regarding spending in business, cost must be considered a primary factor in decision making.
Silicone wristbands are very cost effective, especially in large quantities. The larger campaigns in Australia and around the world, where upwards of 1,000,000 silicone wristbands may be acquired, pay as little as 10-12c per wristband. Even in small quantities, commonly purchased by schools and local community fund raisers, are extremely cost effective and allow causes to utilise the common practice of handing out silicone wristbands along with a small donation.
Slapbands cost more than silicone wristbands. They are larger and the manufacturing process has more stages, resulting in this extra cost. It is common for a slapband to cost 20-100% more than a silicone wristband, depending on quantity purchases, artwork, turnaround times etc (all the usual production questions you are no doubt familiar with!).
Winner: Silicone wristbands (comfortably)
Round 2 – Ding Ding: Effective of communicating a message
When looking at this category, there are two factors to consider:
1. How well the message is presented on the wristband
2. How likely is it that the wristband will be worn, and for how long
3. Design capabilities on the wristband
Silicone wristbands provide an area of 202mm length x 12mm in height, a total branding space of 2,424 square millimetres. A slapband, by comparison will usually measure 300mm in length x 25mm in width, providing a total branding space of 7,500 square millimetres, more than three times the space.
This is really important. Many causes and charities involve partners and sponsors, who in most cases are donating time and money to the cause in exchange for publicity. The opportunity to allow them space to include a message of their own for their logo/website/message, is a considerable selling point. Even just for the cause itself, the extra space can be used to provide more information about the cause.
In terms of wear-ability, a silicone wristband is likely to be worn for longer than a slapband. A silicone wristband, being smaller, is less conspicuous than a slapband and more acceptable amongst adults in day to day like.
Design wise, a slapband provide far more capabilities. Whilst a silicone wristband can be printed in various colours, this method of customisation does not last as long as debossing the wristband and then adding an ink-infill to the debossed message. A slapband on the other hand, specifically a PVC slapband, allows a full colour, digital-quality print, along the entirety of the wristband. This, again, allows for a greater scope of design, which makes thew wristband more attractive to potential wearers and better represents the brand of the cause.
Winner: Slapbands
Round 3 – Ding Ding: Memorability
This round really comes down to the factors above. If you saw someone wearing a silicone wristband on one wrist and a slapband on the other wrist, which will you remember? yes, this can come down to the design of each one (a fantastic silicone wristband design may be more noticeable and recognisable than a plain slapband design), but really, a slapband will be noticed far more easily than a silicone wristband.
The extra size, the design capabilities, the fact that PVC slapbands actually provide a type of “reflection” to light… all these factors ensure that slapbands are more memorable than silicone wristbands.
Winner: Slapbands
Round 4 – Ding Ding: The ‘Cool” Factor
Now we get to the X factor. Which of the two wristbands are the coolest? This is important. In the world of business, NFP or for-profit, the brand is crucial. The last thing a business wants to do is position itself as unfashionable amongst its target markets.
In this way it is tough to split the wristbands, so let’s get highly analytical and try to determine what makes something ‘cool’. Whilst I, as a 34 year old man, may have very different opinions to my 5 year old daughter on this matter, there are certain factors to consider.
How original is the product? Slapbands are relatively new. Silicone wristbands have been used for two decades and really don’t represent anything unique any more. What’s original about them? Not a lot.
How desirable is the product? As above, silicone wristbands are a dime a dozen in 2014, with some people proclaiming their association with several causes all at once. Slapbands are unique and have a far greater chance of becoming desirable.
Of course, the factors above are heavily influenced by the other brand awareness and marketing strategies that a cause is implementing. A brilliant social media campaign that goes viral will raise the ‘cool’ factor of a silicone wristbands associated with their cause immeasurably. And likewise, a boring, stale campaign run by a cause that then uses slapbands to raise awareness will mean the products becomes highly undesirable.
Winner: Slapbands (just)
The final word
While the choice of a wristband is important, there are far more factors at play in the world of raising awareness through promotional wristbands. When it comes to silicone wristbands vs slapbands, for a greater effect, just in terms of the product itself, go with slapbands, especially if you feel that you want to ‘mix it up’ a little. For cost effectiveness, especially for new causes, go with silicone wristbands.
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