The Ultimate Guide to Swag That Doesn’t Suck
|
Time to read 5 min
Let’s be honest: most corporate swag is garbage. Overbranded, under-designed, and destined to die a slow death in a desk drawer.
Somewhere along the way, companies decided that giving people junk with a logo on it was better than doing nothing at all (hint: it's not). And now we’re all drowning in flimsy tote bags, stress balls, and water bottles with questionable seals.
But here’s the truth: swag doesn’t have to suck. In fact, it shouldn’t. The right piece of merch can reinforce your brand, make people feel seen, and even be something they’re excited to use.
It just takes intention, a little design sense, and a willingness to kill your darlings (read: those weird little branded keychains).
We’ve seen too many brands waste good money on bad merch, so we've put together this definitive guide on corporate swag ideas that provide maximum impact — and definitely don't suck.
When to use swag (and when to skip it)
✔ Swag is great for:
Events – Conferences, offsites, or client appreciation days. Swag adds energy and gives attendees something to remember it by.
New Employees – A welcome kit with branded gear can build excitement and connection on day one.
Client Onboarding – Thoughtful, well-designed swag is a subtle way to reinforce your brand and kick off the relationship.
Campaigns or Product Launches – Supporting a big brand moment with swag can turn it into a real-world experience.
Rebrands – New look? New merch. It's one of the best ways to roll it out internally and externally.
❌ Skip the swag for:
Appreciation Gifts – Whether it's for employees or clients, branded merch rarely feels like true gratitude.
Personal Milestones – Birthdays, weddings, and bereavement deserve something thoughtful, not promotional.
Holidays – ‘Tis the season to skip the logos. Unless it’s really good swag, go for a gift that actually feels like one.
⚠️ Exceptions:
If it’s (actually) amazing. A gorgeous piece of swag from a premium brand, tastefully branded? That’s different. (Think: a branded Ember mug, not a promo pen.)
If it’s part of a bigger gift. Branded merch can work when it’s just one piece of a thoughtful, themed package. (NFR's employee appreciation gifts are a great example).
The 7 golden rules of swag that doesn't suck
1. Ask yourself: would you use this?
You don’t need a market research team to figure out whether your corporate swag ideas are any good. Just ask yourself: Would I actually want this?
Of course, not every item is going to thrill every audience. A creative director might not get excited about a pocket-sized tool kit, but your field team probably would. Still, you can usually spot a dud from a mile away: Does it look or feel cheap? Is it overly generic? Is it destined for the back of a junk drawer?
When it comes to branded swag, this should be your mantra: “brutal honesty saves budgets”.
79% of consumers say they research a brand after receiving a promotional item.
(Source: PPAI Industry Research)
2. Good branding is more than just your logo.
Good corporate swag ideas aren't just limited to what you're branding — it's also about how you brand it. Because yes, people need to know where the gift came from. But that doesn’t mean your logo always has to be the star of the show.
There are smarter, better-looking ways to brand your swag: use your color palette, incorporate a witty on-brand phrase, or commission custom illustrations that make the piece feel designed vs. logo'd.
And if you are using just your logo, make it subtle. Emboss it. Engrave it. Keep it chic.
Good merch should feel like it came from a cool brand—not the sponsor table at a trade show in 2013.
Need some inspiration? Check out Story's merch boxes or SimX's swag kits — both take their logo'd items to another level with custom illustrations and cool finishes.
3. When it comes to good swag, always choose quality over quantity.
Please, stop trying to cram as much crap as possible into one swag bag. More items doesn't always equal more value.
We’d all rather get one killer item than a sad assortment of filler: a single sleek Bluetooth speaker instead of a box stuffed with a stress ball, generic pen, flimsy notepad, and a rubbery keychain. Less is more when it’s good.
It is ALWAYS better to give the best or most unique version of one product than the cheapest version of a bunch of products.
Remember: high-quality items speak volumes about your brand — but low-quality ones do, too. Choose accordingly.
72% of swag recpients say the quality of the item directly impacts their perception of the brand.
(Source: PPAI Industry Research)
4. Get sizing right
Want to include apparel? Amazing. But please don’t guess. One-size-fits-most can work for things like adjustable baseball hats, sunglasses or robes, but not for footwear or most apparel.
Use tools like GiftHub (it's free!) to collect sizes ahead of time and avoid the sad, saggy giveaway tee look. (If you’re gifting at an event, bake the size question into the registration form.)
Proper fit = higher wear rate = more brand exposure. Easy math.
5. Presentation matters.
You could give away the coolest item in the world and still make it look like an afterthought if the packaging is bad.
Presentation has a huge impact on perceived value. A custom-size mailer box with branded tissue and a thoughtful insert card costs less than you’d think—and makes everything feel more premium. Use packaging to tell a story, build excitement, or reinforce the theme of your event.
Remember: when dreaming up corporate swag ideas, leave some brainpower (and budget!) for what's on the outside.
Psst - good presentation doesn't have to break the bank. We have a *lot* of budget-friendly packaging tricks that will take your swag to the next level.
SimX used original artwork - an image of Florence Nightingale wearing their medical VR glasses - on their merch and packaging, with their logo playing a supporting role.
The result? Corporate swag people actually wanted to wear (even our warehouse team wanted one!)
Rare Assembly
6. Don't limit your corporate swag ideas to the promo aisle.
Some of the best swag comes from small businesses and independent makers Not only is the quality often better, but these products come with a story—which makes the gift feel more intentional and memorable.
Another way to elevate your swag? Combine your brand with theirs: Co-branded merch from a cool brand your recipients already love is a massive win.
Swag doesn’t have to come from promo catalogs. Think candles from local artisans. Leather goods from indie makers. Gourmet snacks with a cause. You’ll elevate the experience and your brand.
7. When budget and quantity allow, bespoke is best.
Think: candles in a scent made just for your brand or event. Candy in a flavor made exclusively for you. Duffel bags in a hue that’s PMS-matched to your brand’s color palette. While the minimums are often higher for these types of customizations, if you can do it, you should!
Most importantly: stop acting like merch is a throwaway.
If you’re spending money on swag, treat it like what it is: a touchpoint. A marketing moment. A physical extension of your brand.
Great merch leaves an impression. It reinforces your values. It sparks delight.
Don’t waste the opportunity.
Swag isn’t dead—it’s just been misused. Done right, it’s a brand-building moment disguised as a freebie. So next time you’re ordering merch, don’t just think about what you want to give. Think about what they actually want to keep.