By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Based on The Little Engine That Could—
This is the glow-up story of forgotten merch. 🚂

“I think I can… I think I can…”

Once upon a time, there was a lonely piece of branded merch.

It was… an ugly logo mousepad from 2014.

It tried its best.
It wanted to be loved.
But the truth was, no one wanted it.

• It sat in the trade show booth.
• It sat in the office swag shelf.
• It sat in the back of the merch closet, untouched.

It dreamed of being useful.
Of delighting someone.
Of making an impression.

But alas—it was just another piece of forgotten, outdated swag.

Then One Day… A Glow-Up Arrived

It started with a shift.

✨ A print-on-demand swag shop opened its virtual doors.
✨ The company said goodbye to bulk orders and outdated giveaways.
✨ Suddenly, swag got a whole lot sexier.

• Sleek, branded water bottles
• Comfy, wearable hoodies
• Trendy tech gear that people actually wanted to use
• All personalized, easy to ship, and on-brand every time

Employees rejoiced.
Recipients raved.
The brand finally looked and felt like them.

RIP to every lonely mousepad and stress ball that never had a chance.
But for the new swag era? Oh, it was on.

Your Branded Merch Deserves Better

Here’s the truth: Swag can dream bigger.
It can be the spark that excites your team.
It can be the thing that makes someone go,

“Wait, how do I get one?”

When your branded merchandise strategy evolves from basic giveaways to intentional, quality pieces, everything changes:

• Employee swag becomes part of team culture
• Event swag drives demand instead of collecting dust
• Your brand travels into the world—in a way that actually gets noticed

All Aboard the Swag Upgrade Train 🚂

If your branded merch isn’t creating buzz or love, it’s time to reimagine what’s possible. And yes—that old mousepad can finally retire.

We’re here to help you:

• Build your own on-demand swag shop
• Curate premium custom swag that excites and engages
• Transform forgotten freebies into beloved brand moments

Because great merch doesn’t just sit. It moves.

One Last Thing…

What’s one tiny work win that made you feel like a powerhouse this week?
💬 Bonus if you whispered “I think I can” first.

Let’s celebrate the small wins—and the merch glow-ups—together. 🚂💥

Want to give your swag the glow-up it deserves?
Let’s make your merch unforgettable.