By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Let’s Get One Thing Straight: I Normally Hate Branded Pens.

They’re forgettable.
They’re generic.
And nine times out of ten, they do absolutely nothing for your brand.

But last week?
A single photo in my inbox made me pause and — dare I say — smile.

“Saw This and Thought of You!”

A friend was at a conference in Tulsa and sent me a pic of a pen.

That’s right. A pen.
But this one broke all my rules:

🖊️ It was cheeky.
🖊️ It was self-aware.
🖊️ It made someone laugh.
🖊️ And it made them think of me — enough to snap a pic and send it.

That’s memorable branded merch.
And that’s exactly what your giveaways should do.

When Merch Sparks Emotion, It Sticks

This wasn’t just a pen — it was a conversation starter.

It had a personality.
It earned its place in someone’s bag — and probably their desk drawer too.

It gave someone a reason to smile, and that’s the kind of brand interaction that lasts.

This pen didn’t try to be everything.
It just tried to be clever, relevant, and worth keeping.

And that’s what makes it great.

If You Must Make a Pen… Make One Like This

Don’t waste money on forgettable freebies.

If you’re creating branded swag — even something as small as a promotional pen — make sure it aligns with your brand voice, your sense of humor, and the emotional experience you want people to have.

At Go To Market Studio, we help businesses create small but mighty branded giveaways that stick. From witty copy to thoughtful packaging, we design merch that makes your brand impossible to ignore.

Even when it’s a pen.
(Especially when it’s a pen.)

So Tell Me…

🖊️ What’s one freebie you’ll always take home from an event?

Whether it’s a quirky pin, a tiny notebook, or yes — a clever pen — I want to hear what stands out to you.