The Ultimate Rainbow Umbrella in Band Merch for a Global Music Tour
When Terrible Merch, a leading provider of innovative merchandising solutions for artists, sought to elevate the product line for a high-profile musician’s global tour, they needed a statement piece that combined luxury, functionality, and striking visual design. The challenge was to create a bespoke umbrella that transcended typical band merch—a piece of desirable, collectible, high-end lifestyle music merchandise. Wurlin was engaged to manufacture this signature product.
The result was an exquisite automatic wood walker umbrella featuring a sophisticated black exterior contrasted with a vibrant umbrella printed rainbow on inside, with each inner panel showcasing different colours on inside of umbrella. This premium product immediately became a flagship item, reinforcing the artist’s brand identity, and setting a new standard for creative artist merchandise.
The Client
Terrible Merch’s Vision for Music Merchandise
Terrible Merch have built a reputation on its commitment to empowering artists through thoughtful, sustainable, and high-quality merchandising. Their core philosophy is built on three pillars: transparency, collaboration, and sustainability. They work closely with artists and their teams to ensure that every piece of merchandise not only generates revenue but also authentically reflects the artist’s brand and ethos.
For a forthcoming, highly anticipated global arena tour, Terrible Merch identified a critical gap in the existing band merch catalogue. While t-shirts, hoodies, and posters formed the foundation of the offering, the team recognised the need for a luxury, limited-edition product. This item needed to:
- Be a Collectible Statement Piece: Go beyond a simple branded item and be something fans would genuinely want to use and cherish long after the tour ended.
- Reflect the Artist’s Diverse Brand: The artist’s brand is known for bold contrasts, blending edgy sophistication with moments of vibrant, unexpected colour and optimism. The product needed to capture this duality.
- Achieve Premium Quality and Detail: To justify a higher price point, the product had to be impeccably manufactured, focusing on rich materials and detailed customisation.
- Address Practicality with Flair: The product needed to be functional and durable enough for international use, appealing to a global fanbase.
The brief culminated in the decision to create a premium umbrella. The complexity lay in executing a highly intricate design: a sleek black exterior to match the artist’s sophisticated aesthetic, with the hidden surprise of an umbrella printed rainbow on inside to capture their vibrant spirit. Finding a manufacturing partner capable of delivering this level of bespoke detail, from the print registration to the custom handle, was the primary challenge.
The Umbrella Workshop Solution
Part of the Wurlin Group: Specialists in Bespoke Merchandising
The Umbrella Workshop, specialists in bespoke umbrellas, packaging, and customised merchandise, we were uniquely positioned to meet Terrible Merch’s exacting standards. Our progressive and flexible approach allows us to diligently explore complex design concepts and develop fully custom-branded solutions, making us trusted partners for innovative manufacture and structured project coordination.
Our solution involved a multi-phased approach, focusing on material selection, precise customisation, and high-fidelity printing to bring the vision of the rainbow umbrella to life.
Phase 1: Concept Development and Material Sourcing For Rainbow Umbrella Printed Inside
The first step was to select the perfect base product. We moved away from a fold-up models and chose an automatic wood walker umbrella—a style that inherently suggests quality and permanence. Key specifications included:
- Umbrella Frame: High-quality, robust automatic open/close mechanism for ease of use.
- Umbrella Pole & Handle: Solid, polished wood handle and shaft, lending a classic, premium feel that elevates the product above standard music merchandise.
- Umbrella Canopy Fabric: High-density, water-resistant pongee fabric, chosen for its excellent colour reproduction and durability.
Phase 2: Bespoke Umbrella Customisation and Detail Engineering
This phase focused on the exquisite custom features, particularly the subtle branding and the intricate interior print.
- Engraved Handle Ring: A custom metal ring was manufactured and meticulously engraved with the artist’s subtle logo. This detail, fixed just above the wooden handle, provided the necessary branding without being ostentatious, reinforcing the luxury feel of the band merch.
- Exterior Print: The outside panels were designed to be primarily black, maintaining a sophisticated façade. A single panel featured a precisely placed white rectangle print, a specific graphic element of the artist’s tour branding, requiring expert screen-printing registration.
- The Rainbow Interior Challenge: The core of the design was the umbrella printed rainbow on inside. This was the most technically demanding element. The requirement was not a simple radial rainbow design but a dynamic pattern where each inside panel a different colour—a full spectrum from red, pink, purple, and blue through to green, yellow, and orange. This required:
- Panel-Specific Printing: The fabric needed to be printed before assembly, ensuring a flawless, edge-to-edge application of each distinct colour on the inner surface of each triangular panel.
- High-Fidelity Colour Matching: We used our global supplier network to ensure the fabric base and the dyes achieved the exact, vibrant colour palette specified by the artist’s creative team, ensuring the different colour on inside of umbrella effect was striking when opened.
Phase 3: Quality Control and Global Logistics
Following the successful production of pre-production samples, Wurlin implemented stringent quality control at the manufacturing site. Every rainbow umbrella was checked for:
- Print Accuracy: Flawless registration of the white exterior graphic and the vibrant, full-coverage rainbow interior.
- Mechanism Reliability: Smooth, reliable action of the automatic open feature.
- Detail Finish: Perfect polishing of the wood handle and the clarity of the logo engraving.
Finally, we structured the international distribution, coordinating the shipment of the bespoke music merchandise to the relevant global distribution hub.
Brand & Umbrella Quality Perception
The quality of the bespoke umbrella successfully reinforced the artist’s brand association with luxury and meticulous detail. Fans perceived it as a high-value collector’s item, rather than typical tour merchandise.
Efficiency & Partnership
The Umbrella Workshop’s structured project coordination ensured the complex, multi-component product was delivered on time and within budget, despite a tight production schedule and global shipping challenges. This robust partnership allowed Terrible Merch to focus entirely on their core business.
The success of the custom automatic wood walker rainbow umbrella demonstrates the power of innovative design and meticulous execution in the competitive world of band merch. By collaborating with Terrible Merch, The Umbrella Workshop were able to deliver a flagship piece of music merchandise that was not only commercially successful but also elevated the artist’s brand, creating a lasting, high-value connection with their fanbase. The subtle luxury of the engraved wooden handle combined with the vibrant, hidden element of the umbrella printed rainbow on inside perfectly fulfilled the client’s brief for a sophisticated yet bold statement piece.
If you are a creative agency, brand owner, or merchandising company looking to move beyond standard catalogue offerings and develop unique, high-impact customised products—from bespoke umbrellas to complex branded solutions—The Wurlin Group are your trusted partner. Our global supplier reach and expertise in innovative manufacture, structured project coordination, and international distribution are ready to bring your most ambitious concepts to life.
Ready to create the next viral piece of music merchandise for your client?
Contact us at info@wurlin.com or call +44 1255 667979 to discuss your project.
Originally published: March 2014 | Updated: April 2025
This guide covers the essentials of promotional marketing, highlighting how branded umbrellas and other promotional products can boost brand visibility. Learn how to create a strong brand identity, choose the right marketing channels, and drive engagement with effective promotional strategies.
In This Guide:
- What is Promotional Marketing?
- Create a Distinctive Brand Identity
- Get Your Message Out There
- Promote Your Business (Old & New Methods That Work)
- Plan Your Strategy
- Why Use Promotional Products?
- How Wurlin Can Help
What is promotional marketing?
Simply put, promotional marketing is a strategy that aims to influence potential customers to choose your product or brand over the competition. The core objective is to keep your business top-of-mind so that when customers are ready to purchase, they think of you.
In today’s competitive landscape, promotional marketing must go beyond traditional methods to include digital, experiential, and highly targeted campaigns.
Create a distinctive brand identity
Your logo is part of this—and you’ve probably spent time considering the design, colours, and messaging—but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. Your brand identity also includes your values, services, personality, and the way you communicate. In 2025, authenticity and consistency across digital and physical platforms are more important than ever.
“People don’t buy products, they buy brands.” – Make sure yours stands out.
Get your message out there
So you’ve got your eye-catching logo, you have thought long and hard about your brand identity… what next?
Identify your target audience. Knowing who you’re speaking to is essential for campaign success. In 2025, this might involve digging into analytics, creating audience personas, or using AI-driven insights.
Once you know who you’re targeting, you can tailor your message and the channels you use.
Promote Your Business (Old & New Methods That Work)
There are now more ways than ever to get your brand in front of the right people. Your strategy might include:
- Digital marketing: Paid search (Google Ads), SEO, content marketing, mobile-first design
- Social media marketing: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest
- Influencer partnerships and user-generated content
- Mass media advertising: Newspapers, magazines (still relevant in niche B2B or local markets)
- Public relations: Press releases, product launches, branded events
- Sales-based promotions: Competitions, discounts, coupons, gift vouchers
- Direct marketing: Emails, postcards, SMS campaigns
- Retargeting ads and personalised experiences via CRM platforms
Promotional marketing focuses on getting your brand noticed and ultimately chosen by the customer.
Promotional marketing focuses on getting your brand noticed and subsequently chosen by customers, ultimately that is what you need to succeed.
Plan Your Strategy
Spending time upfront on planning saves time and money in the long run. Ask yourself:
- Who is the target of your campaign?
- Which incentives will appeal most to them?
- What is your available budget?
- What’s your timeline?
- Who is responsible for execution and tracking?
Pro tip: Use AI or analytics platforms to test messaging, track performance, and pivot quickly.
Promotional marketing is something that we know a lot about at Wurlin and we can get your brand noticed. Promotional products are an excellent way to keep your brand visible. It is important to choose the right promotional product for your campaign.
Promotional Umbrellas
These offer a great return on investment, not only are they practical, but they also act as walking billboards—promoting your logo or brand message every time they’re opened.
As promotional umbrella manufacturers, we understand the importance of quality and customisation. From choosing canopy colours and print finishes to adding eco-friendly materials or full-panel designs, you can completely tailor the umbrella to reflect your branding.
Contact our team at info@wurlin.com or browse our umbrella range and gallery to find the perfect fit for your next campaign.
Promotional USB
A highly practical promotional item to give to clients, printed with your logo and you can have your brochure pre-loaded on to it and make it non erasable, so potential customers always know where to find it. The possibilities are endless.
We recognise that consistent branding is paramount to your business and we can help with a number or innovative and creative ways to ensure that your campaign is a success.
Tell us what you want to communicate and we will do the rest. Our design team will come up with products and designs that target your audience cost effectively.
Contact us info@wurlin.com
Content created by Wurlin LTD
Outdoor events have a unique charm that indoor gatherings simply can’t replicate. Whether it’s a music festival, a wedding, a corporate picnic, or a corporate charity event, the open-air setting can create a magical atmosphere. However, as any experienced event planner knows, outdoor events also come with their own set of challenges, the most unpredictable being the weather. This is where personalised umbrellas come to the rescue, offering both practical solutions and branding opportunities.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the essential role that custom umbrellas play in outdoor event planning. From providing shade and shelter to enhancing the overall event experience, these versatile accessories have become must-haves for any event planner’s toolkit.
1. An Umbrella For Shade and Comfort for Event Guests
One of the primary reasons to incorporate personalised umbrellas for outdoor event planning is to ensure the comfort and well-being of your attendees. While sunny weather can create a picturesque setting, it can also lead to discomfort and even health risks if proper shading isn’t provided.
Personalised umbrellas for outdoor events, strategically placed throughout the space, offer attendees a reprieve from the sun’s harsh rays. Whether it’s for outdoor seating areas, food courts, or event stages, these umbrellas provide much-needed shade, making the event more enjoyable and comfortable. Attendees will appreciate the thoughtfulness, and it can significantly impact their overall experience.
Branded event umbrella creating comfort and style under sunny skies.
2. Weather-Proofing Your Event With An Umbrella
Outdoor events are often at the mercy of unpredictable weather. Personalised umbrellas and a large round wooden parasol serve as practical solutions to mitigate these challenges. Rain, wind, or even extreme heat can disrupt the best-laid plans. Personalised umbrellas for outdoor events serve as a practical solution to mitigate these challenges.
Rain: When the forecast looks ominous, having a supply of personalised umbrellas on hand can save the day. You can provide attendees with branded and custom umbrellas to keep them dry and comfortable. This not only shows your commitment to their experience but also serves as a powerful branding opportunity. Whenever attendees use these umbrellas in the future, they’ll be reminded of your event.
Wind: Our storm-tested personalised umbrellas for outdoor events are sturdy and well-designed, and can withstand gusty winds, ensuring they don’t become hazards during your event. Ensure that the umbrellas you choose are built to handle the outdoor conditions of your event location.
Heat: In hot climates, custom umbrellas can be equipped with UV-resistant materials, creating shaded areas where attendees can cool off. This not only keeps attendees comfortable but also encourages them to stay longer at your event.
3. Branding And Personalisation Of Umbrellas For Your Events
Personalisation and sticking to a theme are key in event planning, and our umbrellas provide an excellent opportunity to reinforce your event’s theme. Here are a few ways to incorporate your event’s identity into these essential accessories:
- Logo and Brand Colours: Customise the umbrellas with your event’s logo and brand colours. This not only adds a professional touch but also enhances brand visibility throughout the event.
- Sponsorship Opportunities: If your event has sponsors, consider offering them the opportunity to brand the umbrellas. It’s a valuable sponsorship package that can help cover event costs.
- Thematic Designs: Tailor the umbrella designs to match your event’s theme or aesthetic. Whether it’s a rustic wedding, a music festival, or a corporate conference, umbrellas can be customized to complement the overall ambiance.
Curious about the return on investment? Learn how the CPM of branded umbrellas compares to digital and billboard advertising
Versatility in Design and Placement
Custom umbrellas come in a variety of designs, sizes, and styles. This versatility allows event planners to incorporate them seamlessly into different types of outdoor events:
- Branded Folding umbrellas: These are the smallest models of umbrellas. Can be folded away into a small bag and always comes with a matching sleeve.
- Personalised City umbrellas: These are perfect for, you guessed it, the city! And large crowded spaces. They’re bigger than the folding umbrellas and the handles can come in a variety of colours. Our favourites are the City Walker Umbrellas with black shafts and black silicone handles and the traditional–looking Wood Walker umbrella with a wood crook handle.
- Branded Golf umbrellas: The largest model. Perfect for sporting events.
- Printed garden parasols: The largest canopy for shade and high-visibility branding at outdoor events; stock options can be overprinted in the UK, with fully bespoke designs available on standard lead times.
Enhanced Your Guest Experience At Your Outdoor Event
Ultimately, the success of an event is measured by the experience it creates for the attendees. Personalised umbrellas for outdoor events contribute to a more positive and memorable guest experience. Attendees will appreciate the attention to detail and the convenience provided by these shaded areas and protection from unexpected rain.
Moreover, the presence of personalised umbrellas can encourage social sharing. Event attendees often take photos and share their experiences on social media. When your event branding is prominently featured on the umbrellas, it becomes a part of the attendee-generated content, extending the event’s reach and impact beyond the physical location.
In conclusion, personalised umbrellas are indispensable tools in the event planner’s arsenal for outdoor events. They offer practical benefits, such as shade and weather protection while also serving as a powerful branding opportunity. By incorporating custom umbrellas into your event planning strategy you can ensure a more comfortable and enjoyable experience for your attendees, leaving a lasting impression that extends far beyond the event itself.
Thinking about hosting an event? We also manufacture other promotional items such as custom-made bags, personalised tote bags, branded notepads, printed mugs and other bespoke merchandise.
Send us an email at info@wurlin.com for a quote or give us a call at +44 (0) 1225 66 79 79 for a chat!
Custom-made umbrellas have been gaining popularity in recent years as a unique and practical way to showcase your style, brand, or event. With endless possibilities for design, creating a custom-made umbrella has become easier than ever. In this ultimate guide to custom-made umbrellas, we’ll explore design ideas and inspiration to help you create the perfect umbrella.
Personalized Details
When it comes to designing a custom-made umbrella, personalized details can add an extra special touch. From a brand logo to a special date or quote, these details can help to make your umbrella truly unique and meaningful.
Personalized umbrellas are a popular choice for weddings, where couples can customize the umbrella with their names, wedding date, or even a special message to their guests. This creates a memorable keepsake that guests can take home and treasure for years to come.
In the corporate world, personalized umbrellas are a great way to promote your brand and create a lasting impression. By incorporating your company logo or tagline onto the umbrella, you can effectively advertise your business while also providing a useful and practical item for your customers or employees.
Personalized umbrellas can also be a great way to show your support for a cause or organization. By including a message or image related to the cause on the umbrella, you can help to raise awareness and support for the issue.
When designing a personalized umbrella, it’s important to consider the placement and size of the personalized details. You want to make sure that the details are visible and easy to read, while also maintaining the overall aesthetic and design of the umbrella.
Bright Colours
When it comes to designing a custom-made umbrella, choosing the right colors can make all the difference. Bright colors are a popular choice for those who want to create a statement piece that stands out from the crowd. With a bold and eye-catching color scheme, you can easily attract attention to your brand or event. In addition, bright colors can help to create a fun and lively atmosphere, perfect for events such as trade shows or weddings.
When choosing bright colors for your custom-made umbrella, it’s important to consider the overall theme and purpose of your umbrella. For example, if you’re designing an umbrella for a sports event, you might choose colors that match the team’s colors or the colors of the sport. Similarly, if you’re designing an umbrella for a corporate event, you might choose colors that match the company’s branding or logo.
Another advantage of choosing bright colors for your custom-made umbrella is that it can help you stand out in a crowd. Whether you’re attending a crowded outdoor event or simply walking down a busy street, a bright and bold umbrella can easily catch people’s attention and help you stand out from the crowd.
Patterened Designs
Patterns can add a unique and eye-catching touch. A patterned umbrella can help to showcase your brands’ style and add a pop of color to a rainy day.
One popular pattern choice for custom-made umbrellas is stripes. Whether you choose bold, colorful stripes or classic black and white, a striped umbrella can add a timeless and stylish touch to any outfit. Striped umbrellas are perfect for personal use or as gifts for friends and family, and they are sure to make a statement wherever you go.
In addition to this, there are many other patterns to choose from when designing a custom-made umbrella. From florals to geometric designs or even abstract art, the possibilities for patterned umbrellas are endless.
Furthermore, coporate business will often use their logo and turn this into a repeating pattern to use on the internal canopy.
When designing a custom-made patterned umbrella, it’s important to consider the size and placement of the pattern. You want to make sure that the pattern is visible and easy to see, while also maintaining the overall aesthetic and design of the umbrella. Additionally, you may want to consider the color palette of the pattern and how it will coordinate with your personal style and wardrobe.
Photography Prints
Printing high-quality photographs onto an umbrella is not only a unique and memorable way to create a custom-made umbrella for personal use but also for corporate businesses. Companies can use this technique to create custom-made umbrellas that reflect their brand and values, and also serve as effective promotional items.
A corporate custom-made umbrella with a high-quality photograph can be an excellent way to showcase the company’s products or services. For example, a restaurant could print photographs of its signature dishes onto umbrellas to promote its cuisine. A car company could feature photographs of its latest models to promote its brand and attract potential customers.
Custom-made umbrellas with photographs can also be used to commemorate special events or milestones in a company’s history. For instance, a company could print photographs of its founders or key moments in its history onto umbrellas and distribute them as gifts to employees or clients.
When designing a custom-made umbrella with a photograph for corporate businesses, it is important to ensure that the photo aligns with the company’s branding and messaging. The photograph should also be of high quality and resolution, so it appears clear and professional when printed on the umbrella.
In conclusion, custom-made umbrellas offer endless possibilities for creative design. From personalized details to bright colors, patterned designs and photography prints there is no limit to what you can create. With these design ideas and inspiration, you can create the perfect custom-made umbrella that perfectly reflects your style, brand, or event. Whether you are looking for a promotional item or a unique statement piece, custom-made umbrellas are a great way to make a lasting impression.
Experts in bespoke umbrella manufacture, we can also supply branded merchandise for your portfolio. Find out more about sustainable branded products from Wurlin or custom made bags to compliment your branded umbrellas can be manufactured by The Bag Workshop.
Find out more about us or ask us for a call back +44(0)1225 667979.
