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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Want to know if your branded merch is any good? Here’s the only question you really need to ask: Would you keep it? Too often, brands start with good intentions when designing custom swag—but somehow end up with 500 branded flashlight keychains no one asked […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Let’s get one thing straight: sustainability in branded merch isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore. It’s a must. We’re long past the days when giveaways could be wasteful and no one batted an eye. Today’s consumers—and your community—care about what your merch says and what it […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert People DM me all the time asking what sparks all the connection, energy, and curiosity I get at events or online. It’s not my skincare routine (but thanks 😜). It’s the merch. Your Merch Is Talking—What’s It Saying? Everywhere I go, I wear my brand. […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert 𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘯 – the power of merch imaginationHarold had a crayon. It was branded.It had the logo. It had the tagline.𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭. So he drew a better idea:🖍️ Stylish merch that matched their […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Are your 2025 trade show goals locked in? Great. But beware—poorly planned merch might just sink your strategy ☠️🏴‍☠️. Smart, stylish swag isn’t fluff—it acts like a second sales team. With the right branded merch, your brand becomes omnipresent—in hallway chats, coffee breaks, and even […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert When most people think of branded merch, they think of freebies at events or employee welcome kits. But one of the most unexpected and powerful things swag can do? 👉 Start conversations you’re not even in the room for. Branded Merch Is More Than a […]