{"id":1791,"date":"2026-01-15T15:15:52","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T20:15:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gotomarket.studio\/blog\/?p=1791"},"modified":"2026-11-04T14:54:32","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T19:54:32","slug":"most-companies-do-swag-exactly-backwards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gotomarket.studio\/blog\/most-companies-do-swag-exactly-backwards\/","title":{"rendered":"Most Companies Do Swag Exactly Backwards"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Takeaways<\/mark><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If your company swag feels like a requirement instead of a reward, the approach is backwards.  Three fixes: 
\u2022 Give people options in fits and sizes, so they actually feel good wearing it <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Let the design carry your brand\u2019s vibe, values, and culture, not just a centered logo <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Print only what people order, and skip the 300 leftover mediums<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Most companies think<\/em> they\u2019re doing swag the right way\u2026 and accidentally end up creating the exact kind of branded merch people quietly avoid wearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not because the intention is bad.
But because the approach is backwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your company swag feels like a requirement instead of a reward, it\u2019s not doing what branded merchandise<\/strong> is supposed to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s fix that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Companies Think<\/em> They Should Do Swag<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is the default formula a lot of brands follow when ordering custom company merch:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc55 Matching t-shirts for everyone<\/strong>
\ud83d\udc55 Your logo centered on everything<\/strong>
\ud83d\udc55 Ordering in large quantities for the \u201cbest\u201d price<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On paper, it sounds efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In reality, it usually creates:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • awkward fits<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • stiff designs people don\u2019t connect with<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • boxes of leftover inventory<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • and branded apparel that never leaves the office (or worse\u2026 ends up in a donation bin)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    And that\u2019s the opposite of effective branded merchandise marketing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How You Actually<\/em> Should Do Swag<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The best branded merch doesn\u2019t start with \u201cWhat\u2019s the cheapest thing we can print our logo on?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It starts with:
    \u201cWhat would people be genuinely excited to wear?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here\u2019s what that looks like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \ud83d\udc5a 1) Offer variety in styles and sizing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    If everyone gets the same shirt in the same cut, you\u2019re guaranteeing that a chunk of your team (or audience) won\u2019t feel comfortable in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Great custom branded apparel<\/strong> means giving people options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • different fits (unisex, relaxed, cropped, oversized)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • inclusive sizing<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • multiple styles (tee, crewneck, hoodie, quarter zip)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      When people feel good in what they\u2019re wearing, they\u2019ll actually wear it\u2014which is how wearable branded merch<\/strong> does its job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \ud83c\udfa8 2) Go beyond your logo in your designs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      Centered logo. Big brand name. Done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      That\u2019s not a design strategy\u2014that\u2019s a label maker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The most effective branded merchandise<\/strong> is design-forward. It reflects your brand vibe, values, and culture in a way that feels fresh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Think:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • subtle branding<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • illustrations or typography that match your tone<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • inside jokes for your community<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • color palettes people actually like wearing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Because the goal isn\u2019t to create a walking billboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The goal is to create branded merch people choose<\/em> to wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \ud83c\udf43 3) Switch to print-on-demand for flexibility and sustainability<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

        Ordering huge quantities sounds smart\u2026 until you\u2019re stuck with 300 leftover mediums and a storage closet full of regret.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Print-on-demand branded merch gives you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        • less waste<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • easier reorders<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • more flexibility for new designs<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • better long-term sustainability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          It\u2019s one of the simplest upgrades you can make to your branded merch strategy<\/strong>\u2014especially if you\u2019re building custom company merchandise for teams, trade shows, customer gifts, or community drops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Basic Swag Is Limiting. Exciting Swag Is a Marketing Tool.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          Basic swag checks a box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Exciting swag builds brand love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          When your branded merch is actually good, it becomes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          • a conversation starter<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • a community signal<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • a walking referral<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • a piece of your brand story people can wear<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            That\u2019s why high-quality branded merchandise is so powerful: it turns people into proud brand advocates without asking them to do anything extra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            What Is The Goal? : Make People Want Your Merch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            Here\u2019s the line I want every brand to remember:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Make people want your merch (not just politely accept it).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Because polite acceptance doesn\u2019t build visibility.
            Wearing it proudly does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            And that\u2019s how branded merch goes from \u201cswag\u201d to a real business asset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            FAQ <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

            What does print-on-demand branded merch give you? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Less waste, easier reorders, more flexibility for new designs, and better long-term sustainability. What does exciting swag become? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            A conversation starter, a community signal, a walking referral, and a piece of your brand story  people can wear.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert Key Takeaways If your company swag feels like a requirement instead of a reward, the approach is backwards.  Three fixes: \u2022 Give people options in fits and sizes, so they actually feel good wearing it \u2022 Let the design carry your brand\u2019s vibe, values, and culture, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"hide_page_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gotomarket.studio\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1791","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gotomarket.studio\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gotomarket.studio\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gotomarket.studio\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gotomarket.studio\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1791"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/gotomarket.studio\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1791\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4991,"href":"https:\/\/gotomarket.studio\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1791\/revisions\/4991"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gotomarket.studio\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1791"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gotomarket.studio\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1791"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gotomarket.studio\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}