By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Some holiday swag is… well… trying too hard.

You’ve seen it:
Santa puns. Glitter overload. Generic “Season’s Greetings” that feels like it came from a catalog in 2007.

But every once in a while, a piece of branded merchandise shows up that feels fresh, funny, and actually usable.

That’s exactly why Mary Mackinson Faber’s “Festive AF” sticker has been living rent-free in our brains. It’s the perfect mix of snark, sparkle, and seasonal cheer — without tipping into corny.

Welcome to our Merch Lab, where we break down what makes company swag people want to keep, use, and show off.

Meet the Star: The “Festive AF” Sticker

Mary Mackinson Faber’s “Festive AF” sticker is one of those rare pieces of holiday merch that feels:

• Festive without being cheesy
• Modern instead of corny
• Giftable without being generic
• Fun enough to stick everywhere

And that’s the whole point of great promotional products:
They don’t just “have your logo.”
They create a vibe people want to be part of.

Why We Made This (and Why Holiday Branded Merch Usually Misses)

Holiday branded swag can get corny fast.

A lot of corporate holiday gifts fall into the same traps:

❌ Too predictable

If it looks like every other holiday giveaway, it becomes forgettable.

❌ Too “forced fun”

You can’t manufacture cheer. People can smell fake festive energy from a mile away.

❌ Too generic

If anyone could give it to anyone, it doesn’t feel like your brand.

That’s why we made “Festive AF.”

It captures what people actually say during the season — and it does it with style.

The Secret Sauce: Make Merch Sound Like Your People

Here’s the Merch Lab lesson you can steal immediately:

✅ Build swag around a phrase people already want to say.

If it sounds like them, they’ll use it.
If it feels like a real expression they already have in their vocabulary… they’ll stick it everywhere:

• laptops
• water bottles
• notebooks
• phone cases
• packaging
• gifts
• office doors
• even the occasional mini fridge (yes, we’ve seen it)

That’s how merch becomes marketing without feeling like marketing.

Steal This Move: The “Say-It-Out-Loud” Test

Before you print your next batch of custom branded merchandise, try this:

The Say-It-Out-Loud Test

Ask: Would someone say this phrase in real life?
If the answer is yes, you’re golden.
If it sounds like a corporate slogan, you’re headed toward the “swag drawer of doom.”

Good branded merch doesn’t sound like a brand talking.
It sounds like a person.

Why This Matters for Your Brand (Especially During the Holidays)

The holidays are a huge moment for:

• corporate gifts
• employee appreciation gifts
• client holiday gifts
• end-of-year team swag
• holiday promotional products

But the brands that win don’t just give “stuff.”

They give merch people want to use — because it feels current, personal, and shareable.

And when your swag gets used in public?
Your brand gets seen in public.
That’s the whole point.

Bonus: What Makes a Sticker an Elite Promotional Product?

Stickers are one of the most underrated promotional giveaways because they’re:

• low-cost but high-impact
• easy to distribute
• super shareable
• long-lasting
• instantly visible

But the key is design. A sticker needs:

✅ a phrase people relate to
✅ a style people want to rep
✅ a vibe that matches the brand
✅ just enough edge to feel fun

“Festive AF” checks every box.

Now for the Important Question 👀🐄✨

This sticker’s cow already has a name.

What do you think it is?

Drop your best guess below — and yes, we’re judging (lovingly).