Author: Amanda Hofman

From Merch Maker to Superfan: Why Branded Swag Starts with Belief

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert I’m not just in the business of designing custom swag.I’m in the business of becoming a full-blown fangirl for my clients. Not out of obligation.Out of obsession.Because when I believe in a founder’s mission, I really believe. Not performatively — passionately. When Branded Merch Sparks […]

Why Bad Swag Hurts Your Brand and How to Get It Right

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert My love language? Getting texts about bad merch. And wow, do people deliver. 🖊️ Sad piles of broken conference pens🥏 Branded frisbees melting at field day😂 “hashtag#badmerch” pics straight from the group chat Because let’s be honest: ugly swag is universal. It fills tables, clutters […]

What Playa Betty’s Taco Tees Can Teach Us About Branded Merchandise

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 […]

If Your Branded Merch Is Just a Logo, You’re Doing It Wrong

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Let’s get real:Merch that only features your logo is boring AF. 😑 Sure, logos are practical. But they lack heart.And your team—especially your remote team—deserves better. Branded Merchandise Should Say More Than Just “Hey, Here’s Our Name” Your swag is more than stuff.It’s a message.It […]

What Smoked Fish Can Teach You About Branded Merchandise

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert What does a love poem to smoked fish 🐟 have to do with branded merchandise Everything—if you’re Zabar’s. The iconic Manhattan grocery store just dropped a limited-edition T-shirt for their 75th anniversary. It’s simple, nostalgic, and hyper-specific. And it’s paired with a delightfully oddball poem […]

Bad Swag is Bad Business: Why Your Branded Merchandise Deserves Better

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert What’s my love language? Getting texts about truly terrible branded merch. And let me tell you—people do not disappoint. 🖊️ Sad piles of cheap conference pens🥏 Frisbees melting in the summer sun at field day😂 Hashtag#badmerch snapshots straight from group chats If you’ve ever walked […]