By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert
I never set out to work in branded merchandise.
Like a lot of founders, I just wanted to fix a problem that drove me absolutely nuts.
At my first company, I wanted swag. Badly. But the process? A total nightmare.
- Minimum orders that left me with too much inventory
- Guessing sizes that nobody wanted
- Sticking to one boring style that didn’t fit our brand vibe
It was stressful, time-consuming, and honestly not worth it. So, I punted on it and never did it. 😭
The Lightbulb Moment: Print-on-Demand Swag
Years later, I stumbled into print-on-demand merch—and it changed everything.
Suddenly, creating branded merchandise didn’t mean warehouses full of leftover hoodies or late nights folding t-shirts while watching Gilmore Girls.
With on-demand swag:
- No inventory
- No waste
- No logistical headaches
Merch could finally be fun, flexible, and actually cool.
From Pain Point to Business Idea
I called up my OG designer (hi, Jessie Glass!) and together we built Go To Market – Anti-Boring Branded Merchandise.
We designed it to fix the exact pain I’d felt as a founder: helping brands turn their unique vibe into wearable, lovable merch that people are excited to show off.
Here’s what makes our approach different:
- Made on demand – no guessing sizes or bulk orders
- Shipped direct – no more storage closets full of swag
- Stress-free – you get creativity, not logistical purgatory
Why Swag Should Be Joyful
At its best, branded merchandise is a celebration of your company’s culture. It’s not just “stuff with a logo”—it’s how you turn your brand into something people want to wear, share, and remember.
Swag should be joyful, not logistical purgatory.
And sometimes, the best business ideas don’t come from a five-year plan. They start with a personal headache—one you’re determined to solve.
Final Thought
I never thought I’d end up in the branded merch industry, but here I am—helping companies create anti-boring swag that sparks joy instead of stress.
What about you? Did you always think you’d end up in the industry you’re in?
👉 Want to learn more about how on-demand branded merchandise can transform your company swag? [Let’s chat.]