8 Unusual Promotional Products People Actually Want to Keep
There’s a particular look people give you when you hand them something unexpected. A quick inspection. A small grin. Then: “Hang on, what does this do?”
That’s a decent start for a promotional product. But the next question matters more: will they want it once they get home?
If you’re looking for unusual promotional products in Australia, these eight are worth a look. There’s a mining truck you build yourself, a notebook you can wipe clean, and a tracker for the wallet that’s apparently grown legs again. Each has a different job, so we’ve included who we’d choose it for and what to check before putting your logo on it.
No need to order the weirdest thing in the catalogue. Just something that makes sense for the person receiving it.
🔎 Which unusual promotional product suits your audience?
| Product | Our suggested audience | Check before ordering |
|---|---|---|
| BRANDCRAFT Mining Truck | Mining and machinery clients | Artwork placement on the model template |
| Desk Whiteboard Notebook | Office teams and training groups | Cover printing versus writable pages |
| NATURA Puzzle Coasters | Client and settlement gifts | Logo legibility on bamboo |
| Carbon Bluetooth Tracker | Travellers and mobile teams | Phone compatibility and setup |
| Custom Puzzle Cube | Creative campaigns and launches | Artwork across panels and production time |
| Spinner Fidget Pen | Conference and training attendees | Small barrel print area |
| NATURA Bamboo Lap Desk | Remote staff | Laptop size and delivery arrangements |
| Bamboo Retractable Charging Cable | Delegates and travelling staff | Connectors and device charging needs |
🚚 1. BRANDCRAFT Mining Truck: some machinery for the desk
Finally, a mining truck you can park without a spotter.
The BRANDCRAFT Mining Truck Wooden Model arrives as a laser-cut sheet of basswood. The pieces slot together without tools, turning a flat pack into a small model for a desk or shelf.
We’d put this in front of a mining supplier, equipment hire business or machinery dealer. The connection is obvious before anyone reads the logo. It also gives the recipient something to do with the gift, which is a much better opening than asking them to read another brochure.
Branding options include one-colour screen printing, laser engraving and direct digital printing on the model. Choose artwork using the actual template: a logo needs to make sense once the pieces are assembled, not just look good on the flat sheet.
It’s a considered client gift or targeted event item. For a broad audience with no connection to mining, choose a model that fits their world. The BRANDCRAFT Wheel Loader is another option for construction and earthmoving businesses.
📝 2. Desk Whiteboard Notebook: for plans that change before lunch
The Desk Whiteboard Notebook has eight leaves, giving you 16 pages of dotted whiteboard card. Write something down, wipe it off and have another crack. Handy when Monday’s tidy plan has become Tuesday’s problem.
The cover folds into a desk stand, so it can sit beside a keyboard as a planner. There’s also a whiteboard pen with an eraser in the lid, held in an elastic loop.
This would be our office-team pick. Trainers could use it for short exercises, while new starters get something useful for reminders and working notes.
Pad printing and screen printing are available on specified cover areas. The listed screen-print area is 236 × 130mm, giving a simple design room to breathe. Don’t assume the internal writable pages can be custom printed; we’d confirm any request beyond the listed cover options.
Choose it for temporary notes. Someone who needs a permanent record of every meeting will be happier with a conventional notebook.
🧩 3. NATURA Puzzle Coasters: a small gift with somewhere to live
The NATURA Puzzle Coaster set contains four bamboo coasters that interconnect. They come in a natural kraft gift box, so there’s already a tidy way to hand them over.
We’d shortlist these for a real estate settlement gift or a client thank-you. They have a straightforward use at home or in the office, and the joining shapes make them a little more interesting than a standard square coaster.
The catalogue lists pad printing, laser engraving and direct digital printing in a 25 × 65mm area. A clear logo is enough here. Squeezing in the website, phone number and entire service list will make a small gift look very busy.
Bamboo grain varies, so engraved marks won’t look identical across every piece. If colour consistency is central to your brand, talk through the printed options before settling on engraving.
📍 4. Carbon Bluetooth Tracker: for the missing-wallet routine
Pockets. Kitchen bench. Car. Other pockets. You know the drill.
The Carbon Bluetooth Tracker is a slim, credit-card-shaped item finder with a wirelessly rechargeable battery. Its format makes it an interesting choice for wallets, rather than another gadget that needs its own space in a bag.
The supplier lists support for Apple Find My or Google Find My Device networks. This is crowdsourced Bluetooth tracking, not a GPS unit: location updates depend on the relevant network and nearby participating devices. Confirm the recipient’s phone compatibility and setup requirements before ordering for a team.
There’s a 40 × 40mm area for pad printing or direct digital branding. We’d consider it for travel businesses, frequent travellers or selected client gifts where the function will be appreciated.
Include clear setup instructions when handing it over. A useful tracker still needs someone to pair it with their phone.
Want to see which one suits your logo?
Send us the shortlist and your artwork. We’ll prepare a free visual proof so you can check the placement before committing. Request a quote and visual proof, no obligation.
🎲 5. Custom Puzzle Cube: let the artwork do something
The Custom Puzzle Cube uses full-colour digital labels across its panels. That gives you an opportunity to build a design around the puzzle itself.
A product launch could use different images across the faces. A training company could create a visual challenge. We’d keep any important wording within individual panels so it stays readable when the cube is mixed up.
Give the artwork some thought. Six versions of a tiny logo probably won’t make the most of it. Strong colours and recognisable images will be easier to work with than dense text.
The listed lead time is 25 working days by air freight; larger orders can be sea freighted on request. Get a confirmed delivery date for your quantity and destination before promising these for an event. This is one to plan ahead for.
🖊️ 6. Spinner Fidget Pen: something to do during the long meeting
The Spinner Fidget Pen P730 combines a twist-action pen, touchscreen stylus and wave-shaped spinner. It still earns its spot in a conference bag as a writing tool; the spinner adds a bit of fun.
We’d choose it for training days or delegate packs where a regular pen feels a little predictable. It’s also a simple product to demonstrate. Give the top a flick and the explanation is mostly done.
Pad printing on the barrel is the standard option. Keep the artwork clean because the available space is narrow. A short business name or compact logo will be easier to read than several lines of contact details.
We’ve covered it in more detail in our Spinner Fidget Pen guide. Here, we’d pick it for the combination of everyday writing and a small distraction, without making promises about concentration or stress relief.
💻 7. NATURA Bamboo Lap Desk: a proper work-from-home gift
The NATURA Bamboo Lap Desk has a cushioned base, a built-in mouse mat and slots for a phone and tablet. It accommodates laptops up to 16 inches, with a silicone strip to help keep the laptop in position.
We’d consider this for remote staff who regularly work away from a conventional desk. Check how they actually work first. Someone with a permanent dual-monitor setup may have very little use for it.
The listed decoration is a one-colour pad print in a 65 × 35mm area. The desk’s large surface doesn’t mean the whole top is available for printing.
It’s supplied in a kraft gift box, but its size also makes delivery worth discussing. If gifts are going to separate home addresses, include that detail when requesting pricing.
🔌 8. Bamboo Retractable Charging Cable: less spaghetti in the bag
The Bamboo Retractable Charging Cable packs several connectors into a compact retractable format. It has USB-A and USB-C inputs, with USB-C, Micro-B USB and Lightning outputs.
We’d put this on the shortlist for travelling staff and conference delegates. It addresses a familiar annoyance without taking up much space.
The bamboo hub offers a 37mm circular area for pad printing or laser engraving. Use a logo that reads well within the circle, especially if your normal artwork is long and narrow.
Check the required charging performance for the devices involved. Having the right plug doesn’t automatically mean a cable supports a particular fast-charging mode or laptop power requirement. We’d confirm those details rather than promise one cable will do everything.
💬 How to choose without getting carried away
Start with the recipient. A wooden mining truck has an obvious connection for an equipment supplier. A whiteboard notebook suits someone who spends their day juggling tasks. That connection is what makes the choice feel thoughtful.
Then compare the complete order cost: product, decoration, any applicable setup, GST and delivery. Don’t compare a blank-item price with a finished branded gift. Our budget versus premium promotional products guide goes into how to decide where the extra spend makes sense.
Finally, work backwards from the date you need the goods in hand. Allow for artwork approval as well as production and freight. Give us the quantity, delivery location and deadline at the start and we can narrow the options down quickly.
Still working from a half-formed brief? Our three-question guide to choosing promotional products starts with who is receiving it, where it will be used and what absolutely has to work. It is a quick way to turn “something different” into a shortlist.
📋 Before you order: five things worth checking
- Where will it go? A desk gift, a pocket giveaway and a parcel sent to someone’s home need different choices. Include packaging and delivery in the budget.
- Will the logo read at actual size? Check the proof at the stated print dimensions. Zooming in on a screen can make tiny lettering look perfectly legible.
- Does the recipient need to do anything first? A tracker needs pairing, a model needs assembling and a rechargeable item needs charging. Make the instructions part of the handover.
- Would a sample settle the decision? Ask about sample availability and any charges before a larger order. A visual proof shows artwork placement; it won’t tell you how a product feels in your hand.
- What is the confirmed arrival date? Give us your delivery postcode and the date you need the goods, not just the event date. Leave time to pack delegate bags or distribute staff gifts.
How will you know it worked?
For an event, decide what you want next: a conversation, a follow-up enquiry or a sample request. A campaign link on an accompanying card can help track responses without cramming a QR code onto a tiny print area. For staff gifts, ask people a few weeks later whether they’re using them. Use that feedback when choosing the next order.
Product information checked against the supplier catalogue in September 2026. Selection advice from the PromoMate Australia team.
❓ Questions about unusual branded merchandise
1. What makes a good unusual promotional product?
A clear connection to the recipient and a reason to use or display it. Start with their work, interests or daily routine, then choose something with a useful feature or an engaging design.
2. Can all eight products carry our logo?
Yes. Each has listed branding options, but the methods and print areas differ. We’ll check your artwork against the chosen product and supply a visual proof before production.
3. What is the minimum order quantity?
It depends on the product and decoration. Send us the quantity you need and we’ll confirm the available options. There isn’t one minimum that applies across this shortlist.
4. How long does branded merchandise take?
Timing depends on stock, artwork approval, decoration and delivery. The Custom Puzzle Cube lists a 25-working-day lead time by air freight. Ask for a confirmed schedule for your order, especially for an event.
5. Are these suitable for children?
Check the age guidance and small-parts information for the individual item. A model or puzzle being fun does not make it suitable for every age. Tell us the intended age group when enquiring.
6. Can you help us choose within a budget?
Absolutely. Send your total budget, quantity, audience and delivery location. We’ll help compare suitable products and branding options, with a free visual proof and no obligation.
Got a few favourites? We’ll sort the next bit.
Send us your logo and the products you like. Tell us who they’re for and when you need them. We’ll come back with confirmed pricing and help you get the artwork right.
Request your quote and free visual proof →
Or email [email protected]. We actually answer our emails.
📚 More help choosing your merch
- Budget vs premium promotional products: decide where extra spend earns its place.
- Choosing promotional product colours: get the stock colour and logo working together.
- Promotional products for trade shows: plan the wider event giveaway.
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