Overcoming the Swag Dilemma: 3 Solutions for Busy Professionals

In the world of corporate responsibilities, there’s a line item that often gets neglected or hastily thrown together: company swag. Yes, that branded merchandise designed to promote team spirit, conferences, or act as thoughtful gifts tends to suffer from a lack of attention to detail. The primary reason? Those entrusted with the task simply lack the time, energy, or inclination to make it appealing.

Whether you’re a manager overseeing numerous responsibilities or an admin juggling a multitude of tasks, the overflow on your to-do list can be overwhelming. When the directive arrives to create merchandise, it often finds itself relegated to the bottom of the priorities list.

If you find yourself staring at the daunting “order swag” item on your agenda, fear not. Here are three viable options to consider:

  1. Outsource it: Look for companies specializing in custom print-on-demand branded merchandise. These firms, such as Go To Market, handle everything from conception to printing. The added bonus? They can set up an evergreen print-on-demand shop, alleviating the hassle for the future.
  2. Delegate it: Pass the task to someone enthusiastic about working on merch. There are individuals out there (perhaps among your team members) who relish these projects and will gladly take charge.
  3. DIY with a purpose: If handling it yourself is inevitable, use a simple yet effective metric to guide your choices. Ask yourself, “Would I genuinely appreciate receiving this item? Will it be useful and enjoyable?” If the answer is no, conduct a quick survey among your colleagues to shape the offerings.

Have you encountered this challenge in your workplace? How did you manage it? Embracing one of these strategies can transform the swag ordeal into a seamless, well-received initiative within your company. Share your experiences and let’s navigate this together!

Vacation Merch: Yay or Nay?

For me, it’s a yay, yes, absolutely, never miss. This weekend we were in Killington VT for the women’s world cup ski racing (Mikaela Shiffrin fans, where you at 📣) which was both a delight – unforgettable for me and the kids – and also frigid 🥶.

I bought this fleece-lined gorgeous hat that says Killington Cup Vermont and reminds me of this incredible weekend watching Shiffrin crush as the GOAT of women’s skiing. My daughter and her friends got hoodies and my son got a baseball hat. (My husband plans on “borrowing” my son’s hat when he’s not using it.)

Every time we touch this merch we’ll be reminded of this beautiful weekend.

That’s the point of merch: it’s a tangible connection to something intangible. It’s a memory, a feeling, a sense of belonging, and an identifier.

Did you buy any merch this holiday weekend?

One Size Fits All is a Myth

One size fits all is a lie. I mean this both for apparel AND for giving-everyone-the-same-gift.

For apparel, you and I both know those socks don’t fit all 🧦 👀 .

But more importantly, when you give everyone in your company the same thing, you must reduce-reduce-reduce until you’re buying generic garbage.

When you’re buying ONE ITEM for everyone, you:
👎 Can’t do apparel because you can’t guess sizes
👎 Can’t do food because of allergies and preferences
👎 Can’t do booze because of people who don’t drink
👎 Don’t want to pick something techie (like a charger) because not everyone has the same devices

So you’re going to end up with a tote bag (🥱) or a mug (🚮).

What’s the solution then, if you have a per-person budget? It’s simple, folks: give choice. When you have a website with your swag, apparel people can choose apparel (in the size, shape, and color they want it), mug people can choose mugs, tech people can choose the right item for their devices. It is stupidly simple.

Tell me one item a company has bought en masse that everyone likes and I’ll eat my shoes. Can you think of one?

No Promotional Products!

I cringe when people say promotional products.

Promotional products, to me, is synonymous with cheap logo’ed items that are given out — usually en masse — for free.

You know what I mean: t-shirt guns, flashlights, wireless charging pads, koozis.

So I hate when people think I’m in promotional products. I call it branded merchandise, and here’s what branded merchandise is to me:

  • high-quality items you actually want to own
  • items you CHOOSE to own (they are not thrust upon you)
  • designs that actually mean something to you and reflect the company’s values and identity

“Promo items” should make you cringe — it’s the wasteful stuff you don’t want. Branded merchandise can be fun, easy, high-quality, and can actually increase the bottom line in your business.

What’s a promo item you want to hate but actually love? I’ll go first: SHORTS. If you give me shorts I will actually keep them forever. I’ll probably wear them until they have holes in them.

Sustainability in Swag is Important

As the earth gets older, sustainability becomes more important. It’s terrible seeing companies print bulk swag that often ends up as waste that only worsens our environment around us. There are easy and effective ways to make your branded merchandise both meaningful and eco-friendly. Let’s discuss:

1️⃣ Choose Quality Over Quantity

One of the most common mistakes brands make when buying branded merchandise is opting for very cheap and low-quality items like pens. While these items may seem cost-effective and easy, most of the time the end up in the trash, contributing to landfill waste. Instead, invest in high-quality, durable swag that people will actually use and cherish.

2️⃣ Opt for Soft & Low-Packaging Items

Something you might not think about is the packaging your swag is sent in. Soft and flexible items like hats require significantly less packaging compared to bulkier items like mugs. By choosing merchandise that doesn’t need excessive packaging, you can reduce your company’s carbon footprint and minimize waste. You can also opt for eco-friendly packaging materials, such as recycled or recyclable options, which can further enhance sustainability.

3️⃣ Give Gift Cards

Gift cards offer a practical and eco-friendly alternative to physical merchandise. When you provide gift cards, recipients have the freedom to choose what they want, ensuring they get something they’ll use and enjoy. This reduces the chances of swag ending up unused or discarded. Additionally, you can partner with a print-on-demand merchandise shop that offers customization without minimum orders or inventory requirements.

We believe that it’s crucial for brands to adopt eco-friendly practices in all aspects of their operations, including branded merchandise. By following these three easy and affordable simple steps, you can create swag that not only promotes your brand but also contributes to a greener, more sustainable future 💚

How To Make Your Conference Swag Better

Love it or hate it, it’s here to stay.

Here’s how you can do yours better, guaranteed:

1️⃣ Plan far in advance so you can spend time thinking through your designs. And no, the name of your conference on different merch items is *not* a design. The better the design, the more likely your recipients are to keep your items and not trash them.

2️⃣ If it fits in the palm of your hand — unless it’s jewelry or high end tech — it’s trash. Pens, pencils, keychains, stickers: these are a skip.

3️⃣ Give people choice ahead of time for what they want. It can even be as simple as asking people if they want apparel or non-apparel. Remember, the more people love what you’re making, the more effective that swag is at building your relationship.

Do you love conference swag or hate it? Or somewhere in between? Share your thoughts!

Build Business with Branded Merchandise

We spend a lot of our time to think and talk about using branded merchandise as a strategic tool for business growth. Branded merchandise possesses a subtle yet influential power that should always be utilized.

You may be wondering, but how can branded merch play such a pivotal role in BUILDING my business? Here’s how:

Use it to Upsell and Offer as a Gift with Purchase

By offering merchandise as an upsell option or as a free gift with purchase, you can enhance sales and encourage customers to spend more. It’s kind of like when you’re shopping online and you have to spend a certain amount to get free shipping!

Incentivize Clients to Act Faster and Seize Deals

The prospect of receiving exclusive merchandise can be a powerful motivator for clients to take quick action, helping you drive sales and clear inventory. When something is limited edition or an exclusive sale, your community feels like they must hop on the offer before it’s gone for good.

Add Credibility to Your Business

Merchandise can serve as a symbol of professionalism and trustworthiness to your business. If clients see you put the time and effort into creating merchandise made just for them, they will feel especially connected and loyal to your brand.

Act as “Subtle PR” and Transform Fans into Brand Ambassadors

When customers proudly wear or use your branded merchandise, they become walking advertisements for your business. If someone sees someone else love your brand enough to wear your merchandise, they’ll be more inclined to check out what you offer.

Generate Passive Income Streams

Beyond its marketing potential, branded merchandise can also serve as a consistent source of passive income, especially when it gains popularity among your customer base.

When you think of branded merchandise, don’t limit your imagination to just a logo on a t-shirt. It’s a versatile tool that can encompass a wide range of products, from apparel to accessories, stationery, drinkware and more. By strategically incorporating merchandise into your business strategy, you can unlock its full potential to build and expand your brand.

Stop Buying Pens

Don’t get us wrong, pens can be great if they are important to your brand. However, if they aren’t, we recommend forgetting them completely. No one pays attention to the branding on pens and even if they do, the pen will soon be forgotten in a cup on someone’s desk or lost in a junk drawer.

You may be thinking, “okay so what’s a better idea for my next expo?” Don’t worry we have options that don’t include buying one item in bulk.

✅ Create a print-on-demand store where people can choose whatever they want before the conference
✅ Create a GIFT CARD to your online shop offering people a free t-shirt, mug, hat, etc.
✅ Create merch for the people in your booth to wear that is eye-catching and on-brand to draw people in to your brand

Long story short: don’t buy a bunch of the same item (especially pens!) for your next conference. It’s not sustainable, it’s not personal and it doesn’t truly reflect who you are as a brand. At the end of the conference, you’ll be stuck with a bunch of pens and nowhere to put them.

What’s a memorable piece of merch you got from the last expo you went to?