By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Key Takeaways

In Swag Court, the plastic drawstring backpack is found guilty: crinkly, creaky, covered in giant logos and abandoned in hotel closets. Swag chosen on cost and volume becomes the punchline, while functional, on-brand and delightful swag carries your brand story.

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👩🏻‍⚖️ Swag Court is now in session. Today’s case: the infamous drawstring backpack.

🚨 The Crime:

Plastic drawstring backpacks featuring logos the size of Nebraska.

They crinkle. They creak. They dig into your shoulders like you’ve done something to deserve it. And worst of all? They haunt hotel room closets long after the conference ends—unclaimed and unloved.

🔎 The Evidence:

• Material: Flimsy plastic. Loud enough to be heard across the convention floor.
• Design: Overwhelming logos and little consideration for actual usability.
• Fate: Forgotten. Abandoned. Destined for donation piles and dust bunnies.

Let’s be honest: these aren’t brand-building promotional products. They’re clutter with a drawstring.

⚖️ The Verdict: Guilty

Criminally loud. Questionably useful. And 100% not the impression you want your branded merch to leave.

🔥 The Sentence:

The offender must pace the silent aisles of a library wearing a plastic drawstring backpack over a full nylon sweatsuit. The swish will be deafening. The wrath of cardigan-clad patrons? Swift and severe.

What Does This Says About Swag That Misses?

When branded merchandise doesn’t consider comfort, quality, or audience, it becomes the punchline—not the promotion. Drawstring backpacks are the ultimate example of what happens when you choose swag based on cost and volume, not brand alignment and user experience.

What Should You Do Instead: Choose Useful, Thoughtful Swag

Great custom swag doesn’t just carry things—it carries your brand story. You want people to actually use the merch, not laugh at it or leave it behind.

What makes swag actually work?

• 🎒 Functional – Is it useful in real life? Will they reach for it again?
• 🎯 On-brand – Does it reflect your aesthetic, values, and voice?
• 💡 Delightful – Is it a pleasant surprise, or just another forgettable freebie?

How Do You Build a Swag Strategy That Wins Every Case?

If your promotional products are guilty of being forgettable, it’s time to upgrade your approach. Choose items that spark conversation, enhance experience, and make people feel connected to your brand.

Because when swag is done right, it doesn’t just carry your logo—it carries meaning.

What’s your ruling?
Is the drawstring backpack innocent or guilty in your book?
And what’s the worst swag item you’ve ever received? (Bonus points for photos.)

FAQ

What happens when swag is chosen on cost and volume?

When branded merchandise doesn’t consider comfort, quality, or audience, it becomes the punchline, not the promotion.

What makes swag actually work?

It’s functional, on-brand, and delightful.

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Key Takeaways

We’ve all seen it and maybe even done it. The bulk keychains. The stress balls. The pens that never write. This is the world of spray-and-pray swag: handing out a bunch of random branded merch and hoping something, anything, resonates. Spoiler alert: clutter isn’t strategy.ntentional, personal, repeat-worthy swag built around a clear goal sticks, performs better and wastes less.

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What Is “Spray and Pray” Swag?

“Spray and pray” refers to giving out promotional items in large quantities without a clear audience or purpose—just hoping that the logo gets noticed. It’s like tossing flyers in the wind and praying someone reads one before it hits the trash. (If you’re in NYC, you’ve definitely seen these—think “Dan teaches you guitar” flyers on every light pole. Sound familiar?) But here’s the thing: if your custom swag makes people confused—or worse, indifferent—it’s not helping your brand. It’s hurting it.

Why Intentional Swag Builds Brand Love

The best branded merchandise is:

• 🎯 Intentional – Thoughtfully chosen to reflect your brand values
• 👤 Personal – Makes the recipient feel seen, understood, and part of something
• 🔁 Repeat-worthy – So good they want to wear or use it again and again

Every 👏 single 👏 item 👏 you 👏 print 👏 should say something about your brand—and even more about the person using it. That’s the difference between merch that sticks and swag that disappears into a junk drawer.

How to Create Swag with Purpose

Ready to ditch the spray-and-pray mindset? Here’s how to build an intentional swag strategy:

✅ Start with Your Brand Voice

Your swag should feel like your brand. Quirky? Classic? Bold? Reflect that in your product choices and messaging.

✅ Think About the End User

Design for the person receiving it—not just the person approving it. What will they wear? What will they use?

✅ Align with Your Goals

Whether it’s event giveaways, employee appreciation, or client gifting, your merch should be built around a specific goal.

Better Swag = Better ROI

Intentional swag doesn’t just look better—it performs better.

• Higher retention
• More social shares
• Stronger brand affinity
• Less waste (and lower long-term costs)

It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing it smarter.

So, What Kind of “Flyers” Do You See Where You Live?

Shout out to Natasha Walstra for inspiring this topic with the iconic “spray and pray” phrase. And just for fun: are you in a city full of flyers too? NYC is covered in them. Let’s make sure your branded merch stands out for the right reasons.

FAQ

What does intentional branded merchandise look like?

It is intentional, personal, and repeat-worthy: thoughtfully chosen to reflect your brand values, and so good people want to use it again and again.

How do you create swag with purpose?

Start with your brand voice, think about the end user, and align with your goals.

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Key Takeaways

Bulk-ordering branded merch “just in case” leaves you with 200 unworn tees in a dusty box: the wrong sizes disappear first, the wrong colors stick around forever, and the marketing budget is gone. Print-on-demand means no wasted inventory, no risky bulk orders and no budget fires, and it lets attendees choose merch they’ll actually keep.

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What Happens When You Bulk-Order Swag for Events?

Your booth is buzzing.
The energy is high.
The conversations? 🔥

But behind the scenes—literally, behind your booth—sit 200 unworn branded T-shirts in a sad, dusty box. You smile through the sting of a burning budget.
“This is fine,” you say, channeling the meme… while internally panicking.

Let’s Call It What It Is: A Swag Fail

You meant well. But bulk-ordering branded merch “just in case” leads to the same outcome every time:

• The wrong sizes disappear first
• The wrong colors stick around forever
• You’re left with a pile of unclaimed, unwanted swag—and an empty marketing budget

What Is The Fix? Print-on-Demand Swag That Actually Works

Let’s move away from waste and toward swag that sticks.
Print-on-demand is the modern marketer’s secret weapon—and here’s why:

💥 No Wasted Inventory

Order only what people actually want. No more storing stacks of shirts no one picked.

💥 No Risky Bulk Orders

Gone are the days of crossing your fingers and guessing sizes or styles. Print-on-demand lets you stay flexible and reactive.

💥 No Budget Fires

You’re investing in custom merch people choose—reducing waste and maximizing ROI.

Swag Should Spark Joy, Not Fires 🔥

If your event swag strategy still relies on bulk ordering and one-size-fits-all designs, you’re not just wasting money—you’re wasting opportunities.

Great branded merchandise isn’t just something to give away. It’s a tangible expression of your brand. And it should:

• Be memorable
• Be wearable
• Be wanted
• Skip the Guesswork. Give People What They’ll Actually Keep.

Whether it’s an online company swag store or an on-site redemption experience, giving attendees the power to choose their merch results in:

• Better brand impressions
• Higher retention
• And zero “why did we order 300 beige mediums?” moments

What Trend Did You Ride All the Way Into Regret?

We’ve all been there—whether it was platform flip-flops, frosted tips, or bangs (my personal pick). Don’t let bulk swag be your next regret. Choose smarter. Choose print-on-demand branded swag. Because your merch should be working for you—not collecting dust behind your booth.

FAQ

Why is bulk-ordering event swag a mistake?

The wrong sizes disappear first, the wrong colors stick around forever, and you’re left with unclaimed, unwanted swag and an empty marketing budget.

What does print-on-demand fix?

No wasted inventory, no risky bulk orders, and no budget fires. You invest in custom merch people choose, reducing waste and maximizing ROI.

What does letting attendees choose their merch lead to?

Better brand impressions, higher retention, and zero “why did we order 300 beige mediums?” moments.

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Key Takeaways

Confusing branded merch doesn’t just fall flat, it works against your brand, and when swag sparks more confusion than joy it builds clutter instead of recognition. Great swag is instantly clear, with clear messaging, purposeful design, emotional connection and longevity, so your brand marketing money is well spent.

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Why Is Confusing Branded Merch Worse Than Boring Merch?

Let’s face it: confusing branded merch doesn’t just fall flat—it actively works against your brand. You know the kind. Someone pulls a freebie out of a tote and immediately thinks:

👉 What even is this?
👉 Where did I get it?
👉 Why did I keep it?

When your swag sparks more confusion than joy, it’s not building brand recognition—it’s building clutter.

What Is The Problem With Unclear Swag?

In the world of promotional products, there’s a fine line between being creative and being confusing. Clever only works when people get it. If they don’t understand your message or can’t tell who the swag came from, they’re not going to keep it—or talk about it. That’s a missed opportunity for:

• Brand awareness
• Word-of-mouth marketing
• Repeat engagement

And ultimately? It’s wasted budget.

Great Branded Merch Is Instantly Clear

The best custom swag tells a story—without needing an explanation. It should feel intuitive, relevant, and aligned with your brand identity. The moment someone sees it, they should get it, like it, and want to keep it.

What Does Great Swag Have In Common?

• Clear messaging – Your brand voice shines through.
• Purposeful design – The item fits the context and the audience.
• Emotional connection – It brings a smile, a nod, or a “that’s so me” moment.
• Longevity – It gets used again and again (not tossed after one glance).

How Do You Design Swag That Makes Sense at First Glance and Lasts for Years?

Your branded merch should:

• Make people feel something
• Look good enough to wear or display
• Remind people of why they love your brand

Whether you’re designing employee swag, event giveaways, or corporate gifts, your goal should be to create something that lands instantly and keeps delivering value over time. Because when someone loves their swag, they keep it. They use it. They show it off.
That’s brand marketing money well spent.

So, What’s the “Charles in Charge” of Your Swag Bag?

We all have something that lives rent-free in our heads. For me? It’s the Charles in Charge theme song—I could sing it to you right now.

Your merch should have the same effect.

What’s the promotional item that’s stuck with you?
What’s something you got that made you say, “I love this”?

Let’s make more of that.

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Key Takeaways

When you call it merch but it’s really just an excuse to make yourself cool athleisure wear, that’s the best kind of branded merchandise: the kind you love enough to wear on repeat. If you wouldn’t wear it, no one else will, and Go To Market builds merch you’d fight your coworkers for.

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What Is the Best Kind of Branded Merchandise?

When you call it merch but it’s really just an excuse to make yourself cool athleisure wear. 🤣

That’s the best kind of branded merchandise anyway.

The kind you love enough to wear on repeat.
The kind your team posts about unprompted.
The kind your customers ask how to get.

The real truth about branded swag:

If you wouldn’t wear it, no one else will.
If you do wear it—love it, flaunt it, live in it—
That’s when the magic kicks in.

Branded merchandise is word-of-mouth you can wear.
It’s storytelling in sweatshirt form.
It’s walking, sipping, tote-carrying proof that your brand means something.

What Kind of Merch Does Go To Market Build?

At Go To Market, we don’t design “promotional products.”
We build merch you’d fight your coworkers for.
Think minimalist fleece pullovers. Roomy canvas totes. Soft-wash tees with your inside jokes printed loud and proud.

Call it branded merchandise. Call it swag.
Call it what it really is: the coolest marketing strategy you’ve ever worn.

Want to build a merch line that people actually want?
Let’s talk about what your brand looks like in hoodie form.

FAQ

What is the truth about branded swag?

If you wouldn’t wear it, no one else will. If you do wear it, that’s when the magic kicks in.

What does Go To Market build?

Merch you’d fight your coworkers for: minimalist fleece pullovers, roomy canvas totes, and soft-wash tees with your inside jokes printed loud and proud.

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Key Takeaways

Great swag doesn’t just promote your brand. It reminds people why they loved it in the first place.That’s the power of nostalgia marketing done right.When your custom company apparel tells a story—one people already feel in their bones—it doesn’t need to shout. It connects instantly. Kodak Print just showed every brand how it’s done: Make history feel alive, wearable, and wildly relevant.

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What Does Kodak’s Merch Drop Get Right About Branded Merch?

Kodak just dropped some of the best branded merch we’ve seen this year—and it’s got everything going for it.

Let’s break it down 👇

This isn’t your average retro reprint.
It’s nostalgia, refined.

The vintage logos? On point.
The film-inspired color palette? Delicious.
The Super 8 energy? So real, you can practically hear the whirr of the projector.

But the real magic is in the balance.
The cuts are clean. The lines feel modern.
It doesn’t scream vintage—it whispers it.

What Should Smart Branded Merch Do?

This is what smart branded merch should do:
🔥 Tap into memory
🔥 Feel emotionally true
🔥 Stay visually fresh

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

I will not print 150 tees that say “Suck it, Steve from Ops.”
I will not print 150 tees that say “Suck it, Steve from Ops.”
I will not print 150 tees that say…

(Okay, I might make three—for my BFFs. On-demand, sustainably, and without Principal Skinner-level oversight.)

This is your reminder: branded merch should be fun and smart.

What Does Print-on-Demand Swag Fix?

When you plan intentionally and use print-on-demand swag, you skip the stress and unlock the style:
🔥 No leftovers stacked in a supply closet
🔥 No bulk guessing on sizes or styles
🔥 No sweaty all-nighter inventory counts before launch

Just custom company apparel that feels cool enough for Tuesday meetings and Simpsons trivia night.

Want your merch to spark smiles instead of side-eyes?

Start with the right system. One that lets you make three inside-joke tees for your team without committing to 150 units and a shipping label printer.

Bonus: it’s better for the planet too.

Because the only thing worse than cringe swag is landfill swag.

And yes, I did own a Marge nightshirt with a beehive that stretched from collar to hem. Iconic.

FAQ

What does print-on-demand swag take away?

No leftovers stacked in a supply closet, no bulk guessing on sizes or styles, and no sweaty all-nighter inventory counts before launch.

Is print-on-demand better for the planet?

Yes. The only thing worse than cringe swag is landfill swag.

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

What Could Be Your Brand’s Air Dancer Moment?

When your 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘸 shows up in branded gear that actually looks cool, people stop and notice.

Picture this: six teammates in matching crewnecks, gliding through the convention floor like a wave of good taste. Not a stuffy uniform. Not a last-minute promo tee. This is branded merch that makes a statement—and turns heads.

It’s your brand’s Air Dancer moment 💨

Unmissable.
Undeniable.
A little chaotic—in the best way.

We’ve all seen it: the sad pile of leftover tees, too scratchy or off-brand to actually wear. Let’s retire that energy 🗑️

Instead, imagine merch that works harder:
– On the conference floor, where you’re one of hundreds
– At team offsites, where energy sets the tone
– Even on Tuesday coffee runs, where your brand gets seen in the wild

How Do You Make Merch People Want to Wear?

Branded merch is marketing you can wear.
But it only works when people actually want to wear it.

That means skipping the logo-on-a-shirt default and going deeper:
→ What’s your brand’s vibe in fabric form?
→ What inside joke or mission statement belongs on a sweatshirt?
→ What would make someone stop and ask about what you’re wearing?

Because if you could have an inflatable tube man for your brand… wouldn’t you?

Now’s the time to make swag that speaks.

Let’s build something your team’s proud to put on.

FAQ

Where can branded merch work harder?

On the conference floor, at team offsites, and even on Tuesday coffee runs, where your brand gets seen in the wild.

What should you ask before designing merch?

What’s your brand’s vibe in fabric form? What inside joke or mission statement belongs on a sweatshirt? What would make someone stop and ask about what you’re wearing?

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

I finally put words to something I’ve felt for years about tourist merch.

On my trip to Sicily last week, it clicked: Tourist merch follows the opposite rules of everything I teach brands about corporate swag.

When I work with companies on branded merch, I preach:
→ Keep the logo subtle
→ Lead with vibe, not vanity
→ Make it feel like something you’d actually wear—not a billboard

But in Sicily, my favorite pieces were the total reverse—and somehow, I loved them.

What Makes the Best Travel Merch Work?

The best travel merch is obvious.

It’s about recognition, memory, and claiming the moment.
It says: I went here and it was cool.

What made it click for me was spotting the difference between the good stuff and the junk.

The winners had personality:
🧢 The brown hat — a trendy play on Supreme, equal parts clever and wearable
🌞 The yellow cap — so obvious and joyful it made me laugh
👟 The sneaker tee — creative and artsy, perfectly matched to the city’s vibe

This isn’t just design. It’s the city’s identity.

And just like with corporate merch, the worst offenders were the generic ones—copy-paste slogans, tired clip-art logos, and zero sense of place.

What Is the Takeaway for Brands?

The takeaway? Whether it’s tourist merch or branded corporate swag, the best pieces aren’t just about where they’re from. They show you what it feels like to be there.

I didn’t end up buying any of these—would you have snagged one? Which is your favorite?

FAQ

What makes tourist merch bad?

The generic stuff: copy-paste slogans, tired clip-art logos, and zero sense of place.

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Tourist merch breaks every merch rule I give brands and it works.

When we design corporate swag, I preach:

📣 Subtle logo
📣 Lead with values
📣 Create something people want to wear, not something they feel obligated to

But travel merch?
Big. Bold. Zero chill.

City names in giant letters. Fonts screaming for attention.
No subtlety. No mystery. Just full-volume:
📣 LOOK WHERE I WENT. 📣

In tourist merch, the name is the brand.

That hat that just says “SICILY” in a varsity font? It’s doing its job.

Rules shift with context.
And that’s the secret to great branded merch, knowing when to follow the guidelines, and when to blow them up for maximum impact.

If your brand wants merch that stands out, think about the environment it will live in. In corporate settings, subtlety often wins. On vacation? Loud and proud might be the move.

So tell me if you had to choose one every day of your trip: cannoli (fresh, obvs) or gelato?

For me, it’s cannoli. Every time.

FAQ

Why does loud tourist merch work?

In tourist merch, the name is the brand. A hat that just says “SICILY” in a varsity font is doing its job.

How should a brand decide how bold its merch should be?

Think about the environment the merch will live in. In corporate settings, subtlety often wins. On vacation, loud and proud might be the move.