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 […]
Author: Amanda Hofman
What a Love Poem to Smoked Fish Teaches Us About Great Branded Merch
By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert What does a love poem to smoked fish 🐟 have to do with swag? Everything – if you’re Zabar’s. To celebrate their 75th anniversary, the iconic Manhattan grocery store dropped a limited-edition branded tee. And it didn’t just feature a logo—it came with a perfect […]
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 […]
Why I’m Loud, Loyal, and a Little Obsessed With Our Clients’ Swag
By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Let’s get one thing straight: I’m not just in the branded merch business—I’m a full-on fangirl for the brands we work with. Not because I have to be. But because when I believe in a client’s mission, I don’t just support it—I live it. Not […]
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 […]
Why the Bar for Branded Merchandise Is Still Too Low
By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Let’s be honest—the bar for company swag is still way too low. If you wouldn’t wear it outside of work, why would anyone else? We’ve all seen it:👕 Scratchy tees🧥 Oversized, boring hoodies☕ Mugs destined for the donation bin Most corporate swag feels more like […]
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 […]
Does Your Merch Still Feel Like You Without a Logo?
By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Here’s the secret to truly great branded merchandise: If your logo disappeared from your merch would anyone still know it was yours? If the answer is no… your swag isn’t working as hard as it could be. Most Merch Leans Too Heavily on the Logo […]