By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Yes. Syrup shoes exist. Denny’s leaned all the way in with Sticky Kicks—limited-edition sneakers with real maple syrup sealed inside them. Not syrup-inspired. Not syrup-colored. Actual syrup. In the shoe. The drop was tied to National Maple Syrup Day, sold exclusively online, and disappeared fast […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Happie makes plant-based wellness products designed to help people feel genuinely good in real life—no pressure, no perfection, no weird vibes. So when it came time to create branded merchandise for trade shows and team events, we knew the merch had to feel exactly like […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert And yes… I said what I said. When someone tells me they’re “in promotional products,” I instantly picture the stuff that ends up in the bottom of a junk drawer two days later. You know exactly what I mean: That’s why I hate when people […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Some branded merchandise is made to promote a company.But the best custom branded merchandise is made to promote a person — or more specifically, the version of themselves they’re becoming. That’s exactly what Allegra Cohen’s new merch drop does. It treats joy like the leadership […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Apparently, one in four Gen Z and Millennials carry their own condiments.Condiments. In their bags. I had to read that twice.Then three times. 🤔🤔🤔 But once the shock wore off, I realized… it actually makes perfect sense. Some people mainline lattes. (👀 Lorelai Gilmore)Some people […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert I say this with love: Your logo might be good… but it’s not that good. A logo is a symbol.It’s important — but it doesn’t carry your entire story on its own. And when it comes to branded merchandise, this is where a lot of […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise ExpertWe’re officially in the “always eating” season — you know, the time of year when every meeting has cookies, every inbox has a “holiday treats” email, and every doorstep is one delivery away from becoming a snack warehouse. So let me rant 🤬 for a second […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Some merch choices deserve to get banished to the Upside Down. You know the ones:bulk orders, size guessing, and the eternal pile of XXL sad boys haunting your storage closet like a cursed artifact. And yet… brands keep doing it. So today, we’re talking about […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Some holiday swag is… well… trying too hard. You’ve seen it:Santa puns. Glitter overload. Generic “Season’s Greetings” that feels like it came from a catalog in 2007. But every once in a while, a piece of branded merchandise shows up that feels fresh, funny, and […]

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert You get one second to say something with your merch. That’s not dramatic — it’s reality. Social feeds are a highway Everything flies by at 60 miles an hour.If your message doesn’t read at a glance, it’s gone. 💨 And here’s the thing: branded merchandise […]