By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Key Takeaways Some tourist merch is so delightfully dumb that it loops back around to being perfect,Case in point: these socks.White crew socks. Red typeAll they say is: 🍕 PIZZA ITALIANA 🇮🇹 That’s it. No clever twist. No overthinking. Tourist merch isn’t trying to be […]

By Amanda Hofman, Founder of Go To Market Key Takeaways 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. 🖤 […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert What Is the Merch-o-scope? 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 […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Key Takeaways Ads can’t reach the school pickup line, team offsites, errands and workouts, where trust is built. Branded merch lives there, giving you social proof you can wear, organic reach beyond algorithms and real-world credibility, even when you’re not in the room. Where Does […]

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 […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Key Takeaways Nobody needs a metal bag tag, but everyone loves a status symbol, which is why Delta’s personalized luggage tags for Medallion Members hit so hard. Great branded merch celebrates, validates and aligns with identity: recognize milestones, reflect achievement and tell a story of […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Key Takeaways Most branded merch feels like advertising, and no one is lining up to become a walking billboard. People want to wear something that feels like them, so design merch that says “This is me,” not “Buy from me.” Hot Take: Most Branded Merch […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Key Takeaways Merch is not passive income for most businesses, and most things in life aren’t really passive income either. It is still one of the most powerful sales and marketing tools you have, grabbing attention, building trust and keeping your brand top of mind […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Key Takeaways I normally hate branded pens because they’re forgettable and generic, until a friend in Tulsa sent me a photo of one that was cheeky, self-aware and made someone laugh. Even a pen can be memorable merch if it’s clever, relevant and worth keeping. […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Key Takeaways People lose their minds over a t-shirt launched from a cannon, even when they don’t know what’s printed on it. Branded merch is your t-shirt gun: it creates emotional connection, brand loyalty and instant excitement, no stadium cannon required. I’ve Seen Grown Adults […]