By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert
Key Takeaways
Traditional company swag is a founder’s nightmare, plagued by forced bulk minimums, guessed sizes, and boring styles. By pivoting to a premium print-on-demand model, brands can eliminate inventory waste entirely and turn logistical headaches into a fun, flexible cultural win.
How Did I End Up in the Branded Merchandise Business?
I never set out to work in branded merchandise.
Like a lot of founders, I just wanted to fix a problem that drove me absolutely nuts.
At my first company, I wanted swag. Badly. But the process? A total nightmare.
- Minimum orders that left me with too much inventory
- Guessing sizes that nobody wanted
- Sticking to one boring style that didn’t fit our brand vibe
It was stressful, time-consuming, and honestly not worth it. So, I punted on it and never did it. 😭
The Lightbulb Moment: Print-on-Demand Swag
Years later, I stumbled into print-on-demand merch—and it changed everything.
Suddenly, creating branded merchandise didn’t mean warehouses full of leftover hoodies or late nights folding t-shirts while watching Gilmore Girls.
With on-demand swag:
- No inventory
- No waste
- No logistical headaches
Merch could finally be fun, flexible, and actually cool.
From Pain Point to Business Idea
I called up my OG designer (hi, Jessie Glass!) and together we built Go To Market – Anti-Boring Branded Merchandise.
We designed it to fix the exact pain I’d felt as a founder: helping brands turn their unique vibe into wearable, lovable merch that people are excited to show off.
Here’s what makes our approach different:
- Made on demand – no guessing sizes or bulk orders
- Shipped direct – no more storage closets full of swag
- Stress-free – you get creativity, not logistical purgatory
Why Should Swag Be Joyful?
At its best, branded merchandise is a celebration of your company’s culture. It’s not just “stuff with a logo”—it’s how you turn your brand into something people want to wear, share, and remember.
Swag should be joyful, not logistical purgatory.
And sometimes, the best business ideas don’t come from a five-year plan. They start with a personal headache—one you’re determined to solve.
Final Thought
I never thought I’d end up in the branded merch industry, but here I am—helping companies create anti-boring swag that sparks joy instead of stress.
What about you? Did you always think you’d end up in the industry you’re in?
👉 Want to learn more about how on-demand branded merchandise can transform your company swag? [Let’s chat.]
FAQ
What makes Go To Market’s approach different?
It’s made on demand, so there’s no guessing sizes or bulk orders. It’s shipped direct, so there are no more storage closets full of swag. And it’s stress-free: you get creativity, not logistical purgatory.
What does on-demand swag take away?
No inventory, no waste, and no logistical headaches.