By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert
“Drop your t-shirt size.”
It’s one of the most common messages managers send when it’s time to roll out company swag.
It sounds harmless. Easy. Efficient.
But it’s not.
Why Asking for Sizes Is More Personal Than You Think
We’ve normalized it, but asking someone for their clothing size in a work setting is… personal.
(Why do we pretend it isn’t?)
Sizing can bring up all kinds of feelings—about body image, fit preferences, or even past experiences with ill-fitting corporate apparel. And when it’s framed as a group ask, it often feels less like a choice and more like an expectation.
That’s where even well-intentioned branded merchandise programs start to go sideways.
Good Branded Merch Respects the Person Wearing It
The best branded merch strategies aren’t just about logos, design, or product quality.
They’re about respecting the individual experience.
Because great swag isn’t just something people receive—it’s something they choose to wear.
And choice is everything.
The Problem With One-Size-Fits-All Swag Programs
When companies default to:
- Bulk ordering apparel
- Collecting sizes via Slack or email
- Sending the same item to everyone
They’re optimizing for logistics—not people.
The result?
- Items that don’t fit quite right
- Styles people wouldn’t pick for themselves
- Pieces that never get worn
And most importantly, a subtle shift from “this is a gift” to “this feels mandatory.”
Give People Control: The Better Way to Do Company Swag
If you want your branded merchandise to actually land, give people options.
Instead of asking for sizes, try this:
- Send employees to a curated company swag store
- Let them choose the item they actually want
- Let them pick their preferred fit and size
- Let them opt out entirely if merch isn’t their thing
A strong custom merch program gives people autonomy—because that’s what turns a branded item into something they genuinely enjoy.
Choice Turns Swag Into Something People Actually Wear
When people choose their own merch:
- They pick styles that match their taste
- They select fits they feel comfortable in
- They’re more likely to wear it outside of work
And that’s the goal of any effective branded merchandise strategy:
create swag that lives beyond the office.
Mandatory Fun Doesn’t Work (and Never Has)
The second you take choice away, you change the experience.
What could have been a thoughtful, brand-building moment starts to feel… weirdly required.
And nobody has ever felt good about mandatory fun.
The Future of Branded Merch Is Personal
If you want your company swag to resonate, it has to feel intentional—and optional.
Because the best branded merchandise programs don’t just distribute products.
They create experiences people actually want to be part of.
And it starts with something simple:
Let people choose.