By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Why Zabar’s Merch Works (Without Even Trying)

Zabar’s merch isn’t trying hard.
And in this case, that’s exactly why it works.

(For my non-NYC friends: Zabar’s is a legendary Upper West Side grocery store where the grannies are fierce, the vibes are intense, and the smoked fish is basically a religion.)

In a world where branded merchandise is often overdesigned, overthought, and chasing the latest trend cycle, Zabar’s does the opposite—and wins.

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Zabar’s Branded Merchandise Isn’t Gimmicky

Zabar’s merch isn’t gimmicky.
It’s not trend-driven.
It’s not reinventing itself every season.

The iconic orange tote is still the orange tote. Same look. Same logo. Same energy.

So why does it resonate so deeply with New Yorkers and tourists?

Because the branded merchandise isn’t trying to manufacture meaning. It’s simply preserving and highlighting something people already feel connected to.

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When the Brand Relationship Does the Heavy Lifting

This is the part many brands miss when they think about promotional products.

At Zabar’s, the merch isn’t doing the heavy lifting—the brand relationship is.

The tote doesn’t exist to convince you to care about Zabar’s. You already care. The branded merchandise simply gives you a way to celebrate that connection and carry it with you.

That’s the difference between forgettable swag and meaningful branded merchandise.

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The Real Goal of Branded Merch Isn’t Always Sales

The goal isn’t always to sell merch.

Sometimes, the goal of branded merchandise is to honor a bond that already exists—to create a signal of belonging.

When merch becomes a marker of identity, people wear it to say:
“This is part of who I am.”

Not:
“This is something I bought.”

That shift—from transaction to identity—is what makes certain promotional products iconic.

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What Brands Can Learn From Zabar’s Tote

Zabar’s proves that effective branded merchandise doesn’t always need:

• Constant redesigns
• Trend hopping
• Clever gimmicks

What it does need is authenticity, consistency, and a real emotional connection to the brand.

When your merch reflects something people already love, it stops feeling like marketing and starts feeling like culture.

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

It’s 2026, and yet somehow a lot of branded merchandise still feels like it was designed, ordered, and distributed in 1994.

That’s a problem—because merch hasn’t meaningfully evolved in decades, but the rest of us absolutely have.

Today, we can order almost anything we want online and have it delivered to our door in two days. We expect choice, personalization, and flexibility in nearly every buying experience. And yet, when it comes to promotional products and custom swag, many brands are still operating on outdated systems built for a totally different era.

Your team, your customers, and your community deserve better than 1994-era swag.

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The Disconnect Between Modern Life and Outdated Swag

Most traditional branded merchandise still relies on:

• Bulk orders
• One-size-fits-all thinking
• Guessing quantities and sizes
• Hoping people actually want what you picked

That approach made sense decades ago, when options were limited and logistics were slow. But today, it feels wildly out of step with how people actually live, shop, and express themselves.

Modern audiences expect branded apparel and merch to feel intentional—not obligatory.

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How Print-on-Demand Changed Branded Merchandise

With print-on-demand merch, branded merchandise has finally caught up to reality.

Instead of forcing people into a single option, brands can now design swag programs that reflect how people want to choose things for themselves.

Print-on-demand allows brands to:

• Offer real options instead of one default item
• Reduce waste from unused promotional products
• Update designs anytime without reordering inventory
• Launch merch drops without bulk panic or crossed fingers

This isn’t just more efficient—it’s more human.

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What Modern Branded Merchandise Actually Looks Like

Modern branded merchandise prioritizes choice.

People want swag that fits:

• Their personal style
• Their body
• Their identity

They don’t want to be assigned a hoodie they’ll never wear. They want to opt into branded merch that feels like something they’d buy for themselves—even without a logo attached.

Print-on-demand makes that possible, without the leftover boxes, storage issues, or landfill-bound extras.

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The Future of Promotional Products Is Flexible

This is what modern merch looks like:

• Fewer assumptions
• More flexibility
• Better experiences
• Smarter branded merchandise strategies

When brands stop treating swag like a bulk transaction and start treating it like a curated experience, everything changes—from engagement to brand perception to long-term value.

It’s 2026.
Your branded merchandise should finally look like it.

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Here’s a rule we stand by when it comes to branded merchandise:

If it feels like a uniform, it’s wrong.

Great branded merch should feel chosen, not assigned.

The moment your swag starts looking like a required outfit instead of a personal favorite, engagement drops. People will accept it. They might even say thank you. And then it will quietly live at the bottom of a drawer—never worn, never used, never loved.

The Problem With “Uniform Energy” in Branded Merchandise

Uniform energy is about control.
It says: This is what you will wear to represent us.

That mindset is one of the fastest ways to turn branded apparel into wasted budget.

When companies treat branded merchandise like a uniform, they remove the most important ingredient: choice. And without choice, there’s no emotional buy-in.

Why Choice Matters in Promotional Products

Great branded merchandise is about choice, not compliance.

When someone chooses a piece for themselves—because it fits their style, comfort level, and lifestyle—they’re opting in. That opt-in moment is what transforms a standard hoodie into a favorite hoodie, and branded apparel into something people actually want to wear in public.

Choice is what creates:

• Authentic brand advocacy
• Longer product lifespan
• Stronger emotional connection

And that’s the real goal of effective promotional products.

Branded Apparel Should Fit People, Not Override Them

Your swag should leave room for personal style and preference. That might look like:

• Multiple colorways
• Different fits or silhouettes
• A mix of subtle and bold branding options

Branded merchandise works best when it complements someone’s identity—not when it tries to replace it.

If your merch requires a mental negotiation (“When would I ever wear this?”), it’s already lost.

The Takeaway

Merch should feel like a yes, not an obligation.

The best branded merchandise doesn’t demand representation—it earns it. When people choose your swag willingly, they carry your brand further, longer, and more authentically than any forced uniform ever could.

If it feels assigned, rethink it.
If it feels chosen, you’re doing it right.

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

There’s a question I hear all the time when teams are choosing branded merchandise:

“Is it useful?”

It’s a fair question.
But it’s not the right one.

When usefulness becomes the main (or only) metric for evaluating branded merch, brands end up playing it safe—and safe is exactly how you end up with forgettable promotional products.

The Better Question to Ask About Branded Merch

Instead of asking whether an item is useful, ask this:

Does this branded merchandise strengthen the relationship between my brand and my people?

That shift changes everything.

Because here’s where things get muddy:
Pens are useful.
Notepads are useful.
Flashlights are useful.

And yes, no one wants their branded merchandise to go straight into the trash. So “useful” starts to feel like the obvious answer.

Why “Useful” Isn’t Enough for Promotional Products

To be clear, useful items do tend to stick around longer than novelty swag. That part is true. But longevity alone isn’t the goal of effective branded merchandise.

If usefulness were enough, every brand would win just by ordering the same pens, totes, and mugs as everyone else.

But branded merch isn’t just about staying on a desk—it’s about staying relevant.

What Great Branded Merchandise Actually Does

Strong branded merchandise creates connection.

• Useful keeps an item nearby
• Meaningful makes people choose it, value it, and keep it close over time

The best promotional products reflect your brand’s values, personality, and intention. They feel considered. They make people think, “This brand gets me.”

And when that happens, your merch stops being a giveaway and starts being a relationship builder.

The Takeaway

If your only goal is usefulness, you’ll blend in.
If your goal is connection, you’ll stand out.

When you’re evaluating branded merchandise ideas, don’t stop at “Will this be used?”
Ask whether it actually deepens the relationship between your brand and the people who matter most.

Because in the long run, meaningful branded merch always outperforms merely useful swag.

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Order in the court. Today’s case is one we’ve all seen before—lurking in desk drawers, trade show totes, and onboarding kits everywhere.

🚨 The Crime

Branded stress balls.
Yes. Still.

And let’s be precise here. The classic foam stress balls? Absolute trash. The squishy gel ones? Marginally more satisfying, but still… trash. Neither deserves a place in a modern branded merchandise strategy.

🔎 The Evidence

Exhibit A: a logo-stamped orb that lives exactly one of three very predictable lives:

• It explodes inside a desk drawer
• It becomes mysteriously sticky (no one knows how or why)
• It’s thrown away within 48 hours

This is not brand longevity. This is a speed run to the landfill.

➕ Bonus Offense

Branded stress balls have zero meaningful connection to your brand story, your values, or the actual lived experience of the people you’re trying to impress. Calling them “wellness swag” doesn’t magically make them thoughtful, useful, or memorable.

⚖️ The Verdict

Guilty.
Of pretending to be wellness, wasting branded merchandise budgets, and contributing to unnecessary promo waste.

🔥 The Sentence

You must personally explain to every single recipient why this was the best possible use of budget, creativity, and resources. (Good luck.)

The Bigger Problem with Cheap Promotional Products

Here’s the hard truth: stress balls don’t reduce stress.
They just remind people you didn’t try.

In a world where branded merchandise is supposed to build brand affinity, create emotional connection, and extend your brand beyond the moment—stress balls fail on every count. They’re forgettable, disposable, and completely interchangeable with every other company that ordered promo products in a rush.

And if your branded swag doesn’t reflect intention, quality, or relevance, it’s not marketing—it’s clutter.

The Appeal: Better Branded Merchandise Choices Exist

Thoughtful branded merchandise should:

• Be useful or delightful (ideally both)
• Reflect your brand values
• Last longer than a couple of days
• Make people think, “Oh, this is actually good”

If your swag can’t do that, it’s time to rethink the item—not slap a logo on something cheaper

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Yes, this is real.

People are wearing a Lowe’s bucket… as jewelry.

A chunky silver chain with an enormous acrylic bucket pendant sold out. And honestly, of all the things to sell out, this was the thing.

Not because it’s objectively beautiful.
Not because it matches anyone’s outfit (unless your outfit is “weekend chaos”).
But because that blue bucket already means something.

And that’s the entire point of great branded merchandise.

The Bucket Isn’t the Product. It’s the Feeling.

If you’ve ever walked into Lowe’s for “just one thing” and left two hours later with:

• a cart full of supplies
• a head full of confidence
• and a brand-new identity as a DIY expert

…you already understand the bucket.

That blue Lowe’s bucket represents possibility.
It represents ambition.
It represents overconfidence.
It represents the inevitable moment you text someone, “So… do you know a good contractor?”

People aren’t wearing this necklace because it’s pretty.

They’re wearing it because it’s instantly relatable.

Why This Necklace Sold Out So Fast

This is a masterclass in branded merch strategy—because it taps into something bigger than the item itself.

The Lowe’s bucket necklace signals:

→ I’ve started ambitious home and art projects.
→ I’ve abandoned said projects.
→ And I’ve hired a pro after confidently saying, “I’ve got this.”

That’s not just a necklace.
That’s a personality trait.

And that’s why it moved.

When branded merch becomes a symbol of a shared experience, it creates instant community. You don’t even need to say anything. The merch says it for you.

This Is What Great Branded Merch Actually Does

Here’s what most brands get wrong about custom company merch:

They think the goal is visibility.
More logos. More placement. More volume. More giveaways.

But the real goal is connection.

Great branded merchandise elevates the shared experience around your brand.

It turns something ordinary into something people want to wear, collect, joke about, and talk about.

That bucket necklace works because it’s:

• specific
• iconic
• emotionally loaded (in a funny way)
• and instantly recognizable to the right audience

This is what wearable branded merch looks like when it’s done right. It doesn’t feel like advertising—it feels like belonging.

The “Inside Joke” Effect: The Secret to Merch People Actually Want

The best branded merchandise marketing isn’t trying to convince strangers to care.

It’s giving the people who already care a way to show it.

That’s why iconic items (like the Lowe’s bucket) turn into powerful merch moments:

• They’re already baked into the customer experience
• They’re tied to stories people have lived
• They create “if you know, you know” energy

And that kind of merch? It doesn’t sit in a drawer.

It gets worn. Repeatedly. Loudly. Proudly.

What’s the “Bucket” in Your Brand?

Every brand has one.

That one item, phrase, moment, or experience customers instantly associate with you.

Maybe it’s not a literal bucket.
Maybe it’s:

• a signature product
• a packaging detail
• a customer ritual
• a catchphrase
• an inside joke your community shares

If you can identify that thing, you can build custom branded apparel and branded merch that people actually want to own.

Because the best merch doesn’t come from a catalog.
It comes from culture.

Mine? Obviously a Jumbo Stress Ball on a Chain.

I said what I said. 😌

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Most companies think they’re doing swag the right way… and accidentally end up creating the exact kind of branded merch people quietly avoid wearing.

Not because the intention is bad.
But because the approach is backwards.

If your company swag feels like a requirement instead of a reward, it’s not doing what branded merchandise is supposed to do.

Let’s fix that.

How Companies Think They Should Do Swag

This is the default formula a lot of brands follow when ordering custom company merch:

👕 Matching t-shirts for everyone
👕 Your logo centered on everything
👕 Ordering in large quantities for the “best” price

On paper, it sounds efficient.

In reality, it usually creates:

• awkward fits
• stiff designs people don’t connect with
• boxes of leftover inventory
• and branded apparel that never leaves the office (or worse… ends up in a donation bin)

And that’s the opposite of effective branded merchandise marketing.

How You Actually Should Do Swag

The best branded merch doesn’t start with “What’s the cheapest thing we can print our logo on?”

It starts with:
“What would people be genuinely excited to wear?”

Here’s what that looks like.

👚 1) Offer variety in styles and sizing

If everyone gets the same shirt in the same cut, you’re guaranteeing that a chunk of your team (or audience) won’t feel comfortable in it.

Great custom branded apparel means giving people options:

• different fits (unisex, relaxed, cropped, oversized)
• inclusive sizing
• multiple styles (tee, crewneck, hoodie, quarter zip)

When people feel good in what they’re wearing, they’ll actually wear it—which is how wearable branded merch does its job.

🎨 2) Go beyond your logo in your designs

Centered logo. Big brand name. Done.

That’s not a design strategy—that’s a label maker.

The most effective branded merchandise is design-forward. It reflects your brand vibe, values, and culture in a way that feels fresh.

Think:

• subtle branding
• illustrations or typography that match your tone
• inside jokes for your community
• color palettes people actually like wearing

Because the goal isn’t to create a walking billboard.

The goal is to create branded merch people choose to wear.

🍃 3) Switch to print-on-demand for flexibility and sustainability

Ordering huge quantities sounds smart… until you’re stuck with 300 leftover mediums and a storage closet full of regret.

Print-on-demand branded merch gives you:

• less waste
• easier reorders
• more flexibility for new designs
• better long-term sustainability

It’s one of the simplest upgrades you can make to your branded merch strategy—especially if you’re building custom company merchandise for teams, trade shows, customer gifts, or community drops.

Basic Swag Is Limiting. Exciting Swag Is a Marketing Tool.

Basic swag checks a box.

Exciting swag builds brand love.

When your branded merch is actually good, it becomes:

• a conversation starter
• a community signal
• a walking referral
• a piece of your brand story people can wear

That’s why high-quality branded merchandise is so powerful: it turns people into proud brand advocates without asking them to do anything extra.

The Goal: Make People Want Your Merch

Here’s the line I want every brand to remember:

Make people want your merch (not just politely accept it).

Because polite acceptance doesn’t build visibility.
Wearing it proudly does.

And that’s how branded merch goes from “swag” to a real business asset.

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Yes. Syrup shoes exist.

Denny’s leaned all the way in with Sticky Kicks—limited-edition sneakers with real maple syrup sealed inside them. Not syrup-inspired. Not syrup-colored. Actual syrup. In the shoe.

The drop was tied to National Maple Syrup Day, sold exclusively online, and disappeared fast enough to start popping up on resale sites almost immediately.

And no, this didn’t happen because people suddenly realized they needed syrup sneakers.

It happened because people already love Denny’s.

The Merch Mania Isn’t About the Product

Let’s be honest: nobody wakes up thinking, “I need breakfast-brand footwear today.”

But what people do wake up thinking is:
“I love this brand.”
“I grew up with this place.”
“This is hilarious.”
“I want to be in on it.”

That’s the real power behind collectible drops and viral moments in branded merchandise marketing.

When you take an audience that already has emotional connection to your brand and offer them something fun, wearable, and unexpected, it creates instant momentum.

Not because it’s practical…
but because it’s identity.

Why Sticky Kicks Worked So Well

Denny’s didn’t treat this like generic “promo swag.”
They treated it like brand-building merchandise.

Sticky Kicks worked because it checked all the boxes of great branded merch strategy:

It was limited

Limited-edition merch creates urgency. When something feels scarce, people move faster—and talk louder.

That “get it before it’s gone” energy is a cheat code for custom brand merch drops.

It was timely

Tying the drop to a real moment (National Maple Syrup Day) gave it a built-in reason to exist.

The best event merchandise doesn’t just show up randomly.
It shows up with a story.

It was exclusive

Online-only. One moment. One channel. One shot.

That kind of intentional distribution makes branded merchandise feel like a collectible, not a giveaway.

It was ridiculous in the best way

This is the part people miss.

Sticky Kicks didn’t go viral because it was subtle.
It went viral because it was bold.

The humor made it shareable, the concept made it unforgettable, and the wearability made it true fashion-forward branded merch.

Great Merch Makes Customers Your Loudest Marketers

Here’s the key: when you give fans something they actually want to wear, they’ll do the representing for you.

Not because they were told to.
Not because it’s required.
Because they’re excited.

That’s the difference between branded merch that works and branded merch that gets left behind in a hotel room.

People don’t want “stuff.”
They want a tangible way to express what they already love.

This is why custom branded apparel, limited edition drops, and creative branded items create real visibility—without feeling like advertising.

Because it’s fun, not forced.

The Lesson: Great Branded Merchandise Turns Brand Love Into Visibility

This is the part every brand should tattoo somewhere (metaphorically):

Great merch turns brand love into visibility.

You don’t need the scale of Denny’s to pull this off.
You don’t need millions of followers, or a massive budget, or a national footprint.

You just need:

• real brand love
• a clear point of view
• and high-quality branded merchandise that gives people a reason to show up and show it off

That’s how wearable branded merch becomes a growth engine.

Not louder marketing.
Better belonging.

So… Syrup Sneakers: Brilliant or Bonkers? 🥞👟

Personally? I think they’re both—and that’s what makes them brilliant.

Now I want to hear from you:
Are syrup sneakers a genius branded merch moment… or completely unhinged?

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Happie makes plant-based wellness products designed to help people feel genuinely good in real life—no pressure, no perfection, no weird vibes.

So when it came time to create branded merchandise for trade shows and team events, we knew the merch had to feel exactly like the brand: warm, welcoming, and effortless to wear.

That’s how the “this is my happie face” tee was born.

Not a loud promo shirt. Not a forced logo moment.
Real custom branded apparel that feels like something you’d choose to put on—even outside of an event.

The Goal: Branded Merch That Feels Like the Brand

When we design branded merch for brands like Happie, we’re not thinking about “swag.”

We’re thinking about brand experience.

Because the best branded merchandise does more than get your logo seen—it makes people feel something.

For Happie, that meant designing a tee that matched their mission: accessible wellness that fits into everyday life.

The “this is my happie face” tee was made for:

• trade shows (where you want to stand out without screaming)
• community events (where connection matters more than conversion)
• team days (where comfort and confidence are everything)

In other words: event merchandise that actually works in the real world.

Why This Tee Works “In the Wild”

There are three reasons this design hits exactly the way it should.

😊 Friendly without being loud

This tee doesn’t shout. It smiles.

It’s approachable, easy, and creates instant warmth—without looking like a walking advertisement. It’s the kind of wearable branded merch that draws people in naturally.

🌿 It reflects Happie’s focus on accessible wellness

Everything Happie does is about feeling good in real life, in a way that’s doable and human.

This tee carries that same energy—simple, inviting, and grounded. It’s brand-aligned merchandise that supports their vibe instead of distracting from it.

🤝 It feels like a brand handshake, not a sales pitch

The best trade show merch doesn’t feel transactional.

This tee says: “Hey, welcome. You’re in the right place.”
It creates connection before any conversation even starts—which is exactly what strong branded merch strategy is supposed to do.

Merch That Works Immediately… and Keeps Working

Here’s the standard we design for:

This is branded merch that works the moment it’s handed out—whether that’s at a booth, a community gathering, or a team day—and keeps working long after.

Because high-quality branded merchandise isn’t about the two-second moment someone receives it.

It’s about:

• being worn again next week
• showing up in selfies and grocery store runs
• becoming someone’s default “comfy tee”
• quietly building brand awareness over time

That’s how custom company merch becomes a true brand asset.

So… Is Your Merch Doing Its Job?

If your current branded merch is getting left behind on tables, shoved in tote bags, or “accidentally” forgotten in hotel rooms…

It’s not working.

But when your merch is wearable, aligned with your brand values, and designed with intention?
It becomes something people want to keep—and that’s when branded merchandise marketing actually delivers.

So I’ll ask you the question we ask ourselves every time we design a piece:

Is your merch doing its job?

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

And yes… I said what I said.

When someone tells me they’re “in promotional products,” I instantly picture the stuff that ends up in the bottom of a junk drawer two days later.

You know exactly what I mean:

• t-shirt guns
• flashlights
• wireless charging pads
• koozies
• random swag that’s ordered by the thousands and handed out like candy

That’s why I hate when people assume I work in “promotional products.” 🙈😭👎

Because I don’t.

I work in branded merchandise—and that is a completely different game.

“Promotional Products” Feels Like Cheap Giveaways

To me, promotional products is synonymous with low-cost, logo’d items that are given out en masse for free—whether people actually want them or not.

It’s the stuff that gets tossed, donated, or re-gifted almost immediately.
And honestly? It’s wasteful.

It’s also the fastest way for a brand to accidentally say:
“We care more about slapping our logo on something than creating something people genuinely want.”

Branded Merchandise Is What People Choose to Own

Here’s what branded merch is to me:

✅ High-quality items you actually want to own
✅ Items you choose to own (not thrust upon you)
✅ Designs that reflect a brand’s values
✅ Trendy, fashion-forward pieces that feel exciting and cool

Branded merchandise should feel like something you’d buy even if the logo wasn’t there—because the design is that good.

It’s not “free stuff.”
It’s brand identity you can wear, use, and flex.

Promo Items vs. Branded Merch (And Why It Matters)

Let’s call it what it is:

Promo items are the things people don’t want.
They’re the cheap branded giveaways that end up as clutter.

Branded merchandise is the stuff people are banging down your door to own.

It’s the difference between:

• “Here’s something free”
  and
• “Where can I buy that?!”

And if you’re a brand trying to build loyalty, community, culture, or even just real awareness… you want the second one.

Because good branded merchandise doesn’t just advertise your brand—
it creates belonging.

The Best Branded Merch Doesn’t Feel Like Marketing

Here’s the secret: when your branded merch is done right, it doesn’t feel like a walking billboard.

It feels like:

• a favorite hoodie
• your go-to hat
• the tote you carry everywhere
• the crewneck someone compliments every time you wear it

The kind of custom branded merchandise people wear because it’s cute and comfortable, not because they were guilted into it at an event.

That’s the standard. That’s the goal.

Confession Time: What’s a “Promo Item” You Want to Hate… But Actually Love?

I’ll go first:

SHORTS. 🩳

If you give me shorts? I will keep them forever.
I will wear them until they have holes in them.
I will become emotionally attached.

Do I want to admit it? No.
Will I still do it? Absolutely.

Your Turn 👇

What’s a promo item you want to hate… but actually love?

Drop your answer—and if it’s koozies, I won’t judge you (out loud). 😅