By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

New York has no chill.
And neither does Playa Betty’s, in the best way possible.

I popped in for Taco Tuesday and left thinking about the merch.
Their waitstaff? Decked out in bold shirts that say:

“Don’t be a Playa hater.”

It’s cheeky. It’s confident. It’s totally on-brand.

And it reminded me of a core truth in branded merchandise:

Great Merch Doesn’t Just Advertise Your Brand—It Extends Your Vibe

Playa Betty’s isn’t just a beachy Mexican joint in NYC.
It’s a whole mood—and their restaurant swag matches it perfectly.

They’re not slapping a logo on a plain tee and calling it a day.
They’re telling a story. Starting conversations. Making people laugh.
And maybe even turning a few diners into loyal, merch-wearing fans.

Why This Works: Branded Swag as a Brand Experience

The best custom merch doesn’t feel like an afterthought. It feels like a natural extension of the brand.

Whether you’re a restaurant, startup, or global company, your swag should:
✅ Reflect your brand personality
✅ Feel wearable and fun
✅ Be something people actually want to show off

When done right, branded apparel becomes a marketing tool—one that walks around the city, posts selfies, and says, “Hey, this place was awesome.”

Merch as a Vibe-Setter

Brands that win at swag don’t wait for permission to be cool.
They just make the shirt and let the people decide.

Your branded merchandise strategy should follow the same idea:

Don’t just think about promotion.
Think about presence.
Think about personality.
Think about the feeling people have when they rep your brand.

Because whether you’re serving tacos or tech, your merch should say more than just your name—it should say something worth remembering.

Seen any restaurant merch you loved?
Drop it in the comments—I’m collecting favorites.👇

Need help creating branded merchandise with serious personality?
Let’s turn your brand into something worth wearing.