By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert I finally put words to something I’ve felt for years about tourist merch. On my trip to Sicily last week, it clicked: Tourist merch follows the opposite rules of everything I teach brands about corporate swag. When I work with companies on branded merch, I […]
Author: Amanda Hofman
Why Tourist Merch Breaks Every Rule—And Still Works
By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Tourist merch breaks every merch rule I give brands and it works. When we design corporate swag, I preach:📣 Subtle logo📣 Lead with values📣 Create something people want to wear, not something they feel obligated to But travel merch?Big. Bold. Zero chill. City names in […]
When Tourist Merch Is So Bad, It’s Brilliant
By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Some tourist merch is so delightfully dumb, it loops back around to being perfect. Case in point: these socks. White crew. Red type. All they say is: 🍕 PIZZA ITALIANA 🇮🇹 That’s it. No clever twist. No overthinking. Tourist merch isn’t trying to be cool. […]
Tourist Merch That Missed the Mark (And What Brands Can Learn)
By Amanda Hofman, Founder of Go To Market On my recent trip to Sicily, I saw the same tourist merch again and again—pieces that could have been memorable but instead felt tired. When it comes to branded merch, originality matters. Here are three examples that were everywhere… and totally missed the mark. 🖤 I ❤️ […]
🔮 The Merch-o-scope: What Your Star Sign Is Wearing This Month (In Branded Merch, Of Course)
By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert The stars have aligned, and your branded merch horoscope is here! ✨ Welcome to this month’s Merch-o-scope—your celestial guide to what swag the cosmos says you’re destined to rock. Whether you’re a fire sign with flair or an earth sign who values function, there’s a […]
The Swag Truth I’ll Die on a Hill For: Branded Merch Lives Where Ads Can’t Go
By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert In the world of digital saturation and fleeting attention spans, one form of marketing continues to thrive quietly—but powerfully—in everyday life: branded merchandise. Here’s the hill I’ll die on: Merch lives where ads can’t go. We’re talking about: These aren’t just passive moments—they’re golden moments […]
Swag Court Is in Session: The Case Against Branded Mouse Pads
By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert 👩🏻⚖️ Amanda’s Swag Court is now in session.Today’s case? A serious offense against modern merch. 🚨 Crime: Branded Mouse Pads in 2025 🔪 Evidence:895 flat rectangles of foam with a logo nobody asked for. ⚖️ Verdict:Absolutely nobody is clicking for joy here. 💰 Sentence:You must […]
What Delta’s Luggage Tags Teach Us About Elite Branded Merch
By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Delta Just Dropped the Most Elite Swag in the Sky And no, it’s not another toiletry kit or sleep mask. We’re talking personalized metal luggage tags —Chic, free, and absolutely dripping with status. ✨ Exclusively for Medallion Members, these tags come with: 🛫 Your name🛫 […]
Your Logo Isn’t the Star — Your People Are
By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Hot Take: Most Branded Merch Feels Like Advertising And let’s be honest — no one’s lining up to become a walking billboard. That crewneck with your oversized logo splashed across the chest?It might mean something to you, but to your customers, it’s just… noise. Because […]
No, Merch Isn’t “Passive Income.” But It Is a Power Tool.
By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Let’s Clear Something Up About Branded Merch There’s a common misconception I hear all the time: I’ll sell merch for passive income. Hard truth?Merch is not passive income for most businesses. 🙅🏻♀️ And honestly? Most things in life aren’t really passive income.(That Etsy shop, that […]