SWAG: “Stuff We All Get”
SWAG stands for “Stuff We All Get” or even “Souvenirs, Wearables, And Gifts” and can be any product that you can use to promote your company’s brand. These items, often referred to as corporate swag by businesses, are typically sent to new hires, loyal clients, potential customers, partners, and investors and given out during trade shows, events, and conferences.
Swag is synonymous with corporate swag, corporate gifts, gifts, giveaways, and corporate merchandise.
History of “swag”
Swag may have Scandinavian roots referring to a bag. In the 16th century, swag used to mean “a blustering person.” Eventually, its meaning changed into “stolen goods or goods acquired by unlawful means” during the 18th century. In the 1960s, swag became known as a “tote bag with promotional items.”
Now, in the 21st century, swag is defined as “swaggering confidence” used by African-American communities while also referring to branded corporate items given by companies to employees, clients, investors, and partners.
The first recorded use of swag, as we know it today, was way back in 1789, when merchants printed commemorative buttons to celebrate the presidency of then-newly elected George Washington.
In 1886, Jasper Meek, the so-called “father of swag,” used his press to print a local shoe store’s brand onto burlap bags for shoppers. This was considered the first wave of swag that corporate culture still embraces today.
Swag vs promotional items, corporate gifts, freebies, and merch
Swag is commonly used interchangeably with terms like promotional items, corporate gifts, freebies, and even merch. But these words actually have different meanings and uses.
Swag vs. Promotional Items
Products like keychains, stickers, pens, and magnets are typical examples of promotional items. These items are low-cost branded merchandise distributed to a broad audience to increase visibility.
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Though both swag and promotional items increase a company’s brand awareness, swag creates a stronger brand connection due to its curation and higher quality. Examples of swag include premium apparel like jackets or hats and personalized tumblers.
Swag vs. Corporate Gifts
Corporate gifts include gourmet food baskets and engraved plaques. These are higher-value merchandise given to clients, employees, or partners to show appreciation during holidays or special milestones. Corporate gifts are more personalized and unique, with a particular person or company in mind.
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Conversely, swag items or boxes, which typically include branded stickers or drinkware, are more widely distributed to connect with a target audience like employees, clients, partners, and investors.
Swag vs. Freebies
Freebies, which can range from sample products to coupons, are given at no cost without brand-specific design or intention. They are generic and offered without much thought to the recipient.
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Meanwhile, swag products such as custom-branded tote bags or mugs are intentional and tied to an event or brand experience, making them more relevant to your brand.
Swag vs. Merch
Common examples of merchandise or merch include t-shirts with a band's logo, branded movie posters, or collectible figurines. Such items are bought and sold under the official brand of a particular media, such as a movie, game, TV show, singer, etc. At the organizer’s discretion, merchandise may also be given away for free.
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On the other hand, swag items, like branded jackets, are freely given to employees, clients, partners, and even investors to boost engagement.
Swag’s importance
Swag is important in company culture and relationship management in many ways. Generally, it aims to establish a more personal connection to your target market. It also serves different purposes that can have long-term effects on your brand, company culture, and professional relationships.
Strengthen relationships
Corporate swag is a physical token used to show appreciation and recognition to employees, clients, partners, and investors. Whether you’re acknowledging an employee’s years of service, expressing gratitude to a loyal client, or commemorating a company-wide milestone, swag can be a keepsake to strengthen your professional relationships.
Enhance brand visibility
Giving away everyday swag items like T-shirts and mugs turns your recipients into walking billboards. Every time your custom swag is used by your recipient, they not only remember your brand but also advertise it to others. Using swag items ultimately boosts brand retention and creates organic brand awareness.
Boost company culture
One of swag’s many intended goals is to acknowledge employees’ contributions. Through corporate swag, you can offer a tangible token of appreciation that reinforces the value you place in your employees’ efforts. Swag also promotes a sense of appreciation among employees. When they feel valued, employees’ morale improves, resulting in a more positive company culture and environment.
Drive client retention
Gifting branded and personalized swag to your clients demonstrates that you value your relationship with them beyond just sales. Such gestures can help you keep clients engaged, motivating them to continue working with you in the future.
Sending customized and personalized swag kits can also create a sense of connection and show your target audience that you took the time to understand their preferences. Ultimately, this can keep them engaged and loyal to your brand.
Create brand connection
What’s a better way to build awareness with potential clients than through custom swag items representing your brand and company? Giving swag creates a great first impression of your brand and sparks intrigue in recipients that can convert them into loyal customers.
Using swag effectively
Swag is a versatile tool that your company can use to enhance brand awareness and strengthen relationships. Knowing how and when to use swag amplifies your brand’s impact and helps you avoid last-minute expenses while ensuring effective resources investment.
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For new hires
Onboarding kits can make a lasting impression on your new hires. Items like your company apparel or office supplies can immediately welcome them to your team and establish a sense of belonging.
Training support swag, such as notebooks, is also useful in helping your new employees adjust to their new roles. Consider adding bulk swag items like water bottles to your onboarding programs and choose customized On Demand swag options for a more personalized experience.
Related: What are the differences between bulk swag and On Demand swag?
For current employees
Swag is a great way to recognize and appreciate your employees. Personalized swag or kits can make them feel more valued, especially when celebrating professional accomplishments or work anniversaries.
During events like teambuilding activities, bulk swag, such as hats, can bring your team together. You may also opt to have swag stores, which allow your employees to choose the swag items they want, further motivating them to do well in their roles.
For clients
You can foster loyalty and long-term relationships with your clients by sending them personalized gifts such as luxury swag boxes or gift boxes. Special occasions or holidays are also a great avenue to keep your brand on top of their mind, further making your clients feel valued.
Swag kits or giveaways can also help introduce your brand to potential customers during corporate events. Employing this strategy not only raises awareness but can also help you build a lasting impression that can turn prospective clients into loyal customers.
For partners and investors
A perfect opportunity to show appreciation to your partners and investors is through business milestones and achievements. High-end branded or practical swag reinforces your relationship with them and reflects your appreciation through a physical token.
For events
There are different events where you can also give away swag to engage your target market and improve brand recall.
Conferences and trade shows
Corporate swag at conferences and trade shows can be a great way to introduce your brand to a wider audience and engage with your existing clientele.
Offering swag like pens and notebooks at event booths also gives you an opportunity to create conversations with prospective clients and partners, building connections that can last even after the event.
Team-building activities
A perfect opportunity to engage your employees through swag is during team-building events. From summer getaways to group discussions, such activities can be more unforgettable with custom swag.
T-shirts and hats can cultivate a sense of community among your employees, which ultimately creates a positive company culture.
Product launches
Sending out swag kits that include exclusive or limited-edition items can help you build anticipation for your newest products. Swag items related to your latest offering can increase your customers’ awareness and attract the attention of new clients, influencers, and media partners.
For instance, if your new product is eco-friendly, you can go for reusable water bottles.
Holiday season
In addition to holiday gift basket giveaways, sending out custom swag during the holidays can show your appreciation for your employees, clients, partners, and investors.
Personalized holiday swag items like an embroidered blanket can especially make your recipients feel more valued as they show your thoughtfulness.
Company milestones
Company milestones like work anniversaries or expansion are ideal for expressing your gratitude through swag. You can celebrate shared success through exclusive or limited-edition jackets or souvenirs, which can further reinforce your professional relationships with your employees, partners, and investors.
Different types of swag
Swag can take many forms, each designed to cater to the needs of your audience. From practical items like tumblers and mugs to useful apparel like t-shirts, a wide range of corporate swag can be used for different purposes. Depending on your goals, choosing the right type of swag can make a difference.
Water bottles
Water bottles are practical and eco-friendly swags that your employees, clients, partners, and investors can use every day. You can create custom water bottles based on your recipients’ preferences while also ensuring that your brand stands out.
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Coffee Mugs
Coffee mugs combine practicality and visibility, making them an awesome swag you can send to your target audience. Your recipient’s coffee or tea break is an opportunity for them to display your brand organically. Plus, these branded mugs can also be personalized with your brand logo or designs that match your brand identity.
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Travel Tumblers
Functional and stylish, travel tumblers are another great swag you can use. It’s especially idea for your employees or clients who are always on the go. With custom branding, your travel tumblers ensure that your brand is visible wherever your recipients go.
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Tops
A common swag type is tops. From t-shirts to polos, top swags offer your recipients comfort and promote your brand. They’re also versatile items that can be used in casual or semi-casual settings, providing you with yet another way to organically advertise your brand.
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Sweatshirts
Perfect for cooler months, sweatshirts are a cozy swag option that makes great gifts for your employees, clients, or event attendees. They can have your logo embroidered or printed, keeping your brand in your recipients’ minds whenever they wear the swag.
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Outerwear
Outerwear is another swag type that is practical. For such swag items, you can create custom designs that fit your brand’s aesthetics while also ensuring that your recipients are comfortable.
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Accessories
Swag accessories are smaller, versatile items that uniquely promote your brand. Whether it’s sunglasses or scarves, these swag accessories show your appreciation of your target audience while subtly promoting your brand.
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Backpacks
Another functional swag item is a backpack that offers ample space for you to promote your brand. From everyday use to travel, backpacks can cater to any of your recipients, making them a versatile swag option.
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Totes & Bags
Totes and bags are a popular swag option as your employees and clients can use them for groceries, work, or travel. They are also a great way to promote your brand and stance on sustainability, as they provide a reusable alternative to plastic bags.
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Headwear
Another fun, practical swag type is headwear. Since these items can be worn outdoors or during events, they can give your brand organic exposure wherever your recipients go. Caps and beanies are some great examples of this type of swag.
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Home & Living
Home and living swag items like blankets and candles not only boost your brand awareness but also help you connect with your recipients on a more personal level.
These swags can add a cozy touch to any home or office space, making them feel more appreciated.
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Baby & Youth
While not the most common type, baby and youth items, such as onesies and kids’ apparel, are a thoughtful way to engage with families. Such swag items can create a positive brand impression while also extending your brand’s reach to younger generations.
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Office Supplies
One of the most common types of swag is office supplies. From notebooks and pens to desk organizers, these functional swag items are perfect for daily work use.
They also reinforce your brand’s presence in professional settings and may enhance productivity, making it a great swag option for your employees.
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Packaging
Custom or branded packaging, such as boxes with your logo, can add a thoughtful touch to your corporate swag gifts. High-quality packaging both protects your swag and elevates your recipient’s unboxing experience, further reinforcing your brand’s image.
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Swag production processes
Now that you’re more familiar with swag’s purposes and types, it’s time to discuss the processes involved in producing, packaging, distributing, and shipping swag items. Let’s break down the step-by-step process in this section.
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Defining your goals
Understanding what you’re aiming for with your corporate swag is essential, as it will guide the swag’s entire production process.
Once you’ve outlined your goals, you must develop a strong concept and design for your swag that will transform your ideas into tangible designs.
Some factors to consider when identifying your concept and design are brand alignment, target audience, practicality and quality, customization and personalization, and sustainability.
Knowing and following your budget
The next thing you need to do is set a budget for your swag or find affordable swag items.
In this step, remember that you’re not only budgeting for the custom swag items you’ll send out—you must also consider the possible discounts you can have if you order swag items in bulk or the upfront costs required for On Demand swag.
Selecting and designing the swag
For the third step, the main thing to consider is the corporate swag item you’ll use. What swag best aligns with your company’s brand? Logos, brand colors, or even taglines can seamlessly incorporate your branding into swag items.
One way to design your swag is to opt for swag customization, which allows you to tailor your promotional swag to fit your recipient’s preferences while also adding a more personal touch.
There are different types of customization that you can choose from, such as personalized messages, tailored products, branding, and decoration methods (embroidery, DTF, DTG, engraving, and heat seal patches).
Choosing the suppliers
Finding the supplier that can deliver all your swag needs will ensure that your swag items are high-quality, align with your goals, and delivered on time. When choosing, consider the potential swag vendors who specialize in sourcing, customizing, and distributing swag items.
Choose vendors with a proven track record and the capability to handle your swag needs from conception to completion. Some vendors you can look into are PerkUp, Sendoso, Snappy, Giftpack, and Snacknation.
You should also consider whether you’d prefer to work with local or global suppliers, as they both have their unique pros and cons. Local suppliers often have faster turnaround times. Global suppliers, on the other hand, have longer production times but may offer more cost-effective bulk pricing.
Overseeing the production and packaging
The next step is to supervise the actual manufacturing and packaging of your corporate swag items. Swag production requires careful planning, and its timeline may vary depending on the vendor, supplier, or the type of swag used.
For On Demand swag, production can take 3 to 5 days, while bulk swag generally requires 2 to 3 weeks. Keep in mind that these timelines can and will differ by supplier. They may also involve additional steps like proofing or swag mockup approval, which can extend the process.
Various factors, such as the complexity of your swag design, your order volume, and the supplier location, also determine how quickly your corporate swag can be produced.
Managing the distribution and shipping
Distribution can significantly affect your swag timeline. To manage distribution, you can: assign a person or team to oversee it, use a swag platform that simplifies the process, keep your swag in a warehouse that can handle the packaging and direct shipping of your swag items, and allow enough lead time for production, packaging, and shipping.
With a typical timeline, shipping times can vary from 2 to 5 days for domestic orders, while international shipments may take 1 to 2 weeks due to customs and import regulations.
Swag challenges
Producing and distributing swag can come with challenges but efficiently addressing them can turn such obstacles into success. Some challenges may include:
Budget constraints: Limited budgets may limit your choices but it’s a chance for you to be more creative with your custom swag ideas. Focus on items that will resonate with both your brand and recipients and emphasize quality over quantity.
Quality control: Maintaining quality across all your corporate swag items can be difficult. The easiest solution is to work with trusted vendors or swag platforms and evaluate the swag samples to avoid any mishaps.
Logistics: Handling distribution, warehousing, and shipping can be complicated, especially for global swag campaigns. To overcome this issue, make sure that you team up with experienced logistics providers that can streamline operations.
By focusing on creative solutions, you can transform these setbacks into opportunities that strengthen your brand engagement.
Swag success measurement
Measuring the success of your swag initiative is crucial to understanding whether you achieved your set objectives. You can evaluate your success through value methods such as collecting surveys or feedback from your recipients to gauge their satisfaction with the swags they received.
Social media interactions, like mentions of your swag campaigns, are also helpful in assessing your reach and engagement. Increased sales, retention rates, and referrals may also indicate the effectiveness of your swag distribution.
Analyzing these elements will enable you to determine not only your swag initiative’s success but also refine your next swag strategies for maximum impact.
Swag is more than just branded items—it's a way to connect with and leave a meaningful impression on your employees, clients, partners, and investors. Through thoughtfully designed and custom swag, you can demonstrate your company values and organically amplify your brand’s presence.
See how PerkUp can help you create the best swag for your business needs.
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