By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert When people ask me about my favorite productivity tools, they expect me to name some cutting-edge app, a pricey CRM platform, or the latest AI plugin. But the best free tool I use daily?Keyboard text replacements. Not fancy. Not flashy. Just powerful. If you’ve ever […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert “Guess how much I hate this mug,” said the employee.“This much,” her coworker replied, pointing to the office sink—overflowing with sad, unused company swag. It was cheap.It was ugly.The logo was off-center. And worst of all?It was completely forgettable. Why Bad Swag Hurts Your Brand […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert I don’t believe in separating who you are from what you do—especially when it comes to building a brand. In the world of branded merch and swag, authenticity is your secret weapon. Real connection creates real results—and that starts with being honest about the human […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Just like owning a treadmill doesn’t automatically make you fit, owning a box of branded merch doesn’t magically build your brand. Yes, swag can be fun. But branded merchandise without strategy? That’s just stuff in a sad box. To actually drive ROI, grow brand awareness, […]

By: Molly Kunth In one of the most energizing and idea-packed episodes of The Found Podcast to date, I welcomed back Amanda Hofman of Go To Market Studio — and this time, we got tactical. If you remember Amanda from her first appearance back in Episode 157, we dove into her journey from her very first startup in NYC to founding […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert If you’ve ever felt like your week is just one long merch request after another—you’re not alone. Inspired by The Very Hungry Caterpillar, this is the story of every brand manager buried under endless swag demands. It starts innocently enough… but quickly turns into full-blown […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert New Yorkers aren’t rude—we’re just efficient. (If you were hoping for small talk, you should’ve flown to Ohio.) That’s the kind of unapologetic attitude that defines great branding and Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream gets it. This beloved NYC ice cream shop has never offered samples. […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Pope Leo bobbleheads. “God’s Team” tees. Sprinkle cookies with his face.No, this isn’t your Sunday school gift shop—it’s a full-on merch movement. Right now, Chicago is treating the Pope like the next great streetwear icon, and honestly? It’s working. What started as a religious visit […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert We’ve all been there. You attend a conference, onboard with a new company, or join a team retreat—and you’re handed a tote bag or t-shirt with the company logo splashed across it. You smile politely, but inside you’re thinking: “I’m never wearing this.” And that […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert In the fluorescent glow of a long-forgotten supply closet…Stacks of stiff hoodies sit untouched, tagged, and totally unloved. Welcome to the branded merch graveyard. Inspired by Goodnight Moon, this cautionary merch tale hits a little too close to home for companies still clinging to outdated […]