By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

My love language?

Getting texts about bad merch.

And wow, do people deliver.

🖊️ Sad piles of broken conference pens
🥏 Branded frisbees melting at field day
😂 “hashtag#badmerch” pics straight from the group chat

Because let’s be honest: ugly swag is universal.

It fills tables, clutters closets, and ends up in landfills.
It doesn’t spark joy.
It doesn’t start conversations.
And worst of all—it doesn’t do anything for your brand.

Branded Swag Should Never Be an Afterthought

If you’re investing in custom merchandise, your swag should work for you. It should show off your brand personality, start meaningful conversations, and make people actually want to keep it (and use it).

But most corporate giveaways miss the mark.
They’re generic. Cheap. Forgettable.
The kind of stuff that screams “FREE” pile at a garage sale.

And if your branded merch isn’t making a strong, memorable impression—it’s not doing its job.

What Great Swag Actually Looks Like

Smart branded merch is:

✅ Useful
✅ On-brand
✅ Conversation-starting
✅ Designed for real humans (not just your marketing checklist)

Whether you’re prepping for a product launch, a trade show, or your next team retreat—your merch should represent your brand at its absolute best.

Because when swag is good, it’s not just something you hand out—it’s something people talk about.

Seen Some Cringe-Worthy Swag Lately?

I’m building a collection.

Send me your worst: the swag fails, the tragic tote bags, the “who-approved-this?” pens.
I want it all.

Because fixing bad merch?
That’s my favorite kind of love story.

Need help turning your swag from skip to standout?
Let’s talk. Because your brand deserves better.

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Let’s get one thing straight: I’m not just in the branded merch business—I’m a full-on fangirl for the brands we work with.

Not because I have to be.

But because when I believe in a client’s mission, I don’t just support it—I live it.

Not performatively. Passionately.

The Power of Branded Merch That Converts You Into a Fan

When we create custom swag and branded merchandise for our clients, it’s not just about printing logos on t-shirts or stickers. It’s about helping brands tell their story in a tangible, wearable, shippable way that people actually want to engage with.

🔥 We designed merch for a personal trainer.
Now she trains me every week—and has for two years. 💪🏻

🔥 A new tea brand is launching their shop with our merch strategy.
I tried one sample… and now I’m on a full-blown monthly subscription. 😳

The magic of effective branded swag is that it creates real connections. When it’s done right, your community doesn’t just like your brand—they live it, wear it, drink it, gift it, and become part of your movement.

Branded Swag That Builds Brand Evangelists

At Go To Market Studio, we don’t see client work as transactional. We’re here to help you build something people want to belong to. That starts with swag that’s not only on-brand—but deeply aligned with the feeling behind your business.

Whether you’re launching a Shopify storefront, rolling out custom event swag, or sending premium branded merch to your top customers—our team is obsessed with making it meaningful, strategic, and impossible to forget.

Because when I admire our clients’ brands, I become loyal, loud, and low-key obsessed. And we want your customers to feel the same way.

Ready to Make Merch That Converts?

Let’s turn your community into superfans—with branded merchandise that speaks volumes.

👉 Get in touch to build a merch line that does more than look good—it builds loyalty.

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

New York has no chill.
And neither does Playa Betty’s, in the best way possible.

I popped in for Taco Tuesday and left thinking about the merch.
Their waitstaff? Decked out in bold shirts that say:

“Don’t be a Playa hater.”

It’s cheeky. It’s confident. It’s totally on-brand.

And it reminded me of a core truth in branded merchandise:

Great Merch Doesn’t Just Advertise Your Brand—It Extends Your Vibe

Playa Betty’s isn’t just a beachy Mexican joint in NYC.
It’s a whole mood—and their restaurant swag matches it perfectly.

They’re not slapping a logo on a plain tee and calling it a day.
They’re telling a story. Starting conversations. Making people laugh.
And maybe even turning a few diners into loyal, merch-wearing fans.

Why This Works: Branded Swag as a Brand Experience

The best custom merch doesn’t feel like an afterthought. It feels like a natural extension of the brand.

Whether you’re a restaurant, startup, or global company, your swag should:
✅ Reflect your brand personality
✅ Feel wearable and fun
✅ Be something people actually want to show off

When done right, branded apparel becomes a marketing tool—one that walks around the city, posts selfies, and says, “Hey, this place was awesome.”

Merch as a Vibe-Setter

Brands that win at swag don’t wait for permission to be cool.
They just make the shirt and let the people decide.

Your branded merchandise strategy should follow the same idea:

Don’t just think about promotion.
Think about presence.
Think about personality.
Think about the feeling people have when they rep your brand.

Because whether you’re serving tacos or tech, your merch should say more than just your name—it should say something worth remembering.

Seen any restaurant merch you loved?
Drop it in the comments—I’m collecting favorites.👇

Need help creating branded merchandise with serious personality?
Let’s turn your brand into something worth wearing.

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Let’s get real:
Merch that only features your logo is boring AF. 😑

Sure, logos are practical. But they lack heart.
And your team—especially your remote team—deserves better.

Branded Merchandise Should Say More Than Just “Hey, Here’s Our Name”

Your swag is more than stuff.
It’s a message.
It tells your team (and the world):
→ What you value
→ What you stand for
→ What kind of culture you’re building

If your merch isn’t saying something about you, it’s a missed opportunity.

Your logo alone won’t spark connection.
But a phrase, inside joke, or meaningful message?
That’s where the magic happens.

Custom Swag Is a Chance to Tell Your Brand Story

Every piece of branded merchandise is a chance to reinforce your brand identity.
So why waste it?

Great company swag should feel:

• Thoughtful
• On-brand
• Personal
• Share-worthy

Especially in a remote work world, branded merch helps create a sense of belonging. It becomes a tangible way to say, “You’re part of something bigger.”

And no offense to your logo—but it’s probably not carrying that whole message on its own.

Here’s the Fix: Add Personality to Your Swag

The best employee swag and corporate merch combines:
✨ Brand values
✨ Team culture
✨ A little cleverness (or a lot, if you’re us)

Think:

“In My Growth Era”
“Building the Future, One Zoom at a Time”
“Making Moves Since Monday”

(Okay, maybe not that last one. But you get the idea.)

Make your team feel seen—not stamped.

Bottom line: Don’t let your swag be silent.
Make it speak.
Better yet, make it shout your brand story from the rooftops.

P.S. Quick pop quiz:
Were you more Dawson’s Creek or 90210?
(Me? I had a heart-shaped Dylan pillow. No regrets.)

Tell me in the comments 👇

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Let’s be honest—the bar for company swag is still way too low.

If you wouldn’t wear it outside of work, why would anyone else?

We’ve all seen it:
👕 Scratchy tees
🧥 Oversized, boring hoodies
☕ Mugs destined for the donation bin

Most corporate swag feels more like an obligation than a gift.
And that’s the problem.

The Best Branded Merchandise Doesn’t Feel Like Swag at All

If your branded merch doesn’t spark joy, it’s just stuff. And stuff doesn’t build loyalty, engagement, or brand love.

So what makes good swag actually good?

✨ It feels like a gift—not a giveaway
✨ It looks like something you’d buy from a real retail brand
✨ It reflects your company’s personality and taste—not just your logo

When done right, branded merchandise becomes a conversation starter.

It doesn’t sit in a drawer. It gets worn. Used. Talked about.
People don’t just keep it—they ask for more of it.

Don’t Think “Freebie.” Think “Retail Appeal.”

Here’s your merch gut check:

👉 Would you be proud to wear this on your day off?
👉 Would a stranger ask, “Where did you get that?”
👉 Does it reflect your actual brand vibe—not just your font and colors?

If not, it’s time to rethink your swag strategy.

Whether you’re designing employee welcome kits, event giveaways, or client gifts, your merch should feel personal, premium, and purposeful.

Raise the bar.
Don’t settle for leftovers. Aim for limited edition energy.

Need help creating branded merch that actually gets worn?
Let’s make swag that’s worth showing off.

P.S. On a totally unrelated note… I’m officially out of shows to binge.
Got any recommendations for light, fun TV this summer?
I want something good—but not Love Island level emotional chaos 😅
Drop your favorites below!

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

What does a love poem to smoked fish 🐟 have to do with branded merchandise Everything—if you’re Zabar’s.

The iconic Manhattan grocery store just dropped a limited-edition T-shirt for their 75th anniversary. It’s simple, nostalgic, and hyper-specific. And it’s paired with a delightfully oddball poem that reads:

𝘈𝘤𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘡𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘳’𝘴
𝘚𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦
𝘚-𝘔-𝘖-𝘒-𝘐-𝘕-𝘎
𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘴𝘩,
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘴,
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 75 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘕𝘠 𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴

It’s the kind of branded swag that actually sells out—not because it screams LOGO, but because it whispers legacy.

Why This Tee Works: Identity Over Advertising

This is the perfect example of what good branded merchandise should do:

✅ Celebrate your brand story
✅ Align with customer identity
✅ Create something people want to wear

This shirt says:

“I know where to get the good bagels.”
“I’m a real New Yorker.”
“I’ve been shopping here since before you were born.”

It taps into something deeper than branding—it taps into belonging.

Great Swag Is Personal, Not Promotional

The best custom merch isn’t just a walking billboard. It’s a souvenir. A status symbol. A conversation starter.

Branded merchandise strategy is about more than slapping your logo on a shirt. It’s about asking:

• What story does this tell?
• Who will this resonate with?
• Would someone wear this twice?

Zabar’s didn’t make a shirt that said “Zabar’s.”
They made a shirt that said, “You’re one of us.”

That’s the magic.

Make Merch That Makes People Feel Something

Whether you’re a startup or a legacy brand, the lesson is clear:
Your company swag should make your audience feel seen.
Custom branded merch works best when it aligns with:

• Identity
• Taste
• Nostalgia
• Shared experiences

It’s not just about what you’re selling—it’s about what it means.

Would you wear a grocery store tee?

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

What’s my love language? Getting texts about truly terrible branded merch. And let me tell you—people do not disappoint.

🖊️ Sad piles of cheap conference pens
🥏 Frisbees melting in the summer sun at field day
😂 Hashtag#badmerch snapshots straight from group chats

If you’ve ever walked a trade show or opened a swag bag, you know: Ugly swag is universal.

It clutters tables. Fills landfills. Collects dust in drawers. It doesn’t spark joy—or conversations—or anything resembling brand loyalty.

The Real Problem With Bad Branded Merchandise

Bad swag doesn’t just look bad. It hurts your brand. Here’s why:

• It creates a forgettable brand experience
• It wastes your marketing budget
• It sends the wrong message about your business
• It ends up in the “FREE” pile, or worse—the trash

You work hard to build a brand that stands for something. So why let lazy merch say otherwise?

Great Branded Swag Starts Conversations

Branded merchandise should be:

✅ Strategic
✅ On-brand
✅ Designed for real use
✅ Something people want to keep, wear, or share

The best branded merch turns passive observers into brand advocates. It sparks curiosity, makes a statement, and travels beyond the event table.

Swag That Sticks—In a Good Way

When your merchandise is thoughtful, high-quality, and aligned with your brand voice, it becomes a marketing tool—not just a giveaway.

So before you hit reorder on another stack of stress balls, ask yourself:
👉 Will this piece of swag represent my brand well?
👉 Will someone actually use or wear this?
👉 Is this something I’d be proud to see in the wild?

If not, it’s time for a brand merch upgrade.

Seen Any Cringe-Worthy Swag Lately?

We’re collecting the worst of the worst—and using them as lessons for what not to do. Drop yours below or tag us on social. Let’s all say goodbye to bad merch—and hello to swag that actually works.

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Here’s the secret to truly great branded merchandise: If your logo disappeared from your merch would anyone still know it was yours? If the answer is no… your swag isn’t working as hard as it could be.

Most Merch Leans Too Heavily on the Logo

Too many brands rely on the logo alone to carry the weight of their merch. The result?
Generic giveaways that could belong to any business at any booth.

But the most memorable, buzzworthy custom swag goes beyond just a name or symbol.
It feels unmistakably like you—even without the name tag.

That’s the branded merch gut check:
Would this still feel on-brand without my logo?

How to Design Swag That Screams “You” Without Saying Your Name

Here’s how to elevate your branded merchandise and create merch that connects:

⚡ Use Your Brand’s Voice

Go beyond your font. Use phrasing, taglines, or tone that sound like you. That playful line your team always says? Put it on a hoodie.

⚡ Lean Into Insider Language

The best swag sparks recognition within your audience. Inside jokes, team catchphrases, or mission-driven mantras make it personal—and powerful.

⚡ Design for the Vibe, Not Just Visibility

You don’t need huge logos to build brand presence. Instead, design for aesthetic, comfort, and emotional connection. Make pieces people want to wear again and again.

Swag That’s Subtle and Still On-Brand

When done right, branded merch becomes an extension of your culture.
It’s not just a shirt. It’s how you show up in the world.

Whether it’s:

• A custom sweatshirt that makes people feel like insiders
• A tote bag with a phrase only your community gets
• A hoodie that people grab every single morning

Swag should build identity, not just visibility.

Let’s Play: Pick Your Swag Poison

Time for a little merch humor. Tell us in the comments:

Which branded merch fail would you rather deal with?
→ A crewneck that makes you feel amazing but smells faintly like plastic
or
→ A buttery-soft hoodie that sheds fuzz on everything you own?

Because hey—if you’re going to invest in merch, let’s make sure it’s unforgettable… in a good way.

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Want to know if your branded merch is any good? Here’s the only question you really need to ask: Would you keep it?

Too often, brands start with good intentions when designing custom swag—but somehow end up with 500 branded flashlight keychains no one asked for. 😭

Let’s talk about why that happens—and how to fix it.

The Real Reason So Much Swag Ends Up in the Junk Drawer

Here’s the trap most companies fall into: They divide the merch budget by the number of recipients—and end up with disposable, forgettable items.

In other words: 👉 Budget ÷ Headcount = Junk

When you focus more on quantity than quality, you end up with swag no one wants to keep, let alone use or talk about. But branded merchandise doesn’t have to be pricey to be powerful.

What to Do When You Don’t Have a Big Swag Budget

If your branded merch budget is tight, don’t default to cheap giveaways. Instead, rethink the purpose of your swag:

⚡ Send a heartfelt handwritten note

It may not be wearable, but it’s personal, memorable, and meaningful.

⚡ Offer a digital freebie your audience actually wants

Think: templates, gift cards, or exclusive content that aligns with your brand.

⚡ Be selective about who gets swag

Don’t print for everyone—choose your most engaged customers, VIPs, or employees. Fewer items, better quality.

The goal is simple: Create swag that’s worth keeping.

How to Make Swag That Sticks

Great custom swag delivers more than just a logo—it carries your message, values, and vibe. And when you create merch people actually want to use, wear, or display, you’re turning every recipient into a brand ambassador.

Here’s what to prioritize:

• Functionality – Will they use it more than once?
• Quality – Does it feel good in their hands?
• Aesthetic – Would you wear it?

If it’s not a yes, it’s probably a no.

Pick Your Swag Poison: What Would You Choose?

Let’s have some fun. Tell me in the comments:

Which swag fail would you rather live with? A tote bag that looks amazing but can’t actually hold anything or a roomy tote that screams “2012 startup conference”?

Let’s raise the bar on merch—because if you wouldn’t keep it, why would they?

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Let’s get one thing straight: sustainability in branded merch isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore. It’s a must. We’re long past the days when giveaways could be wasteful and no one batted an eye. Today’s consumers—and your community—care about what your merch says and what it costs the planet.

The Problem: Swag That Ends Up in the Trash

We’ve all seen it (and probably stuffed it into a bottom drawer ourselves):

• 💥 Boxes of bulky, scratchy hoodies no one wears
• 💥 Umbrellas that fold with the first gust of wind
• 💥 Plastic packaging that fills your recycling bin in minutes

These aren’t just bad brand impressions. They’re missed opportunities—and wasteful ones at that.

Smart Merch Doesn’t Sacrifice the Planet for Style

The good news? You don’t have to choose between creating impactful branded swag and being environmentally responsible. Sustainable branded merch can still deliver your vibe—without filling up landfills.

Here’s how to get it right:

⚡ Print-on-Demand = No Waste

Only create what you need, when you need it. This eliminates bulk-order panic and minimizes leftover inventory.

♻ Recyclable, Minimal Packaging

No more overstuffed mailers and unnecessary inserts. A clean unboxing experience can be eco-conscious and on-brand.

🧠 Thoughtful Product Curation

Choose items that last and get used often. Think: premium apparel, reusable drinkware, durable tech accessories. Merch that’s high-quality and useful avoids the giveaway graveyard.

Why Sustainable Swag Builds Better Brands

Eco-friendly swag sends a message:

• You’re future-focused
• You value more than just aesthetics
• You walk your talk

And trust me—your customers notice. It’s not just about what your logo’s on. It’s about what your brand stands for. Sustainable branded merchandise proves you’re aligned with the values of the modern consumer—and that you care about making a lasting, positive impression.

Print-on-Demand Is the Future of Branded Merch

Going print-on-demand doesn’t just reduce waste—it makes your merch more flexible, intentional, and custom. It’s how we avoid landfill swag and still build stylish, powerful branded pieces that people are excited to wear and use.