Analysis exhibits that firm swag could be a extremely efficient instrument for enhancing engagement. In reality, in a single latest examine, 61% of survey respondents agreed that promotional merchandise assist construct model consciousness, and 58% reported that they beloved getting swag.
That being stated, via my expertise as the top of selling at two completely different tech firms, I’ve discovered that not all swag is equally well-received. What does it take to just remember to put money into creating swag that folks will really like?
On this article, I’ll begin by explaining what firm swag is and find out how to order it, after which I’ll dive into a few of my favourite concepts for firm swag.
What’s Firm Swag?
Broadly talking, “swag” refers to any type of reward or product that firms give away totally free with a purpose to drive engagement and model consciousness.
In lots of instances, swag is used as a gross sales instrument. For instance, giving presents to purchasers could be an effective way to ensure present prospects really feel valued — and to maintain your model top-of-mind. Equally, many firms give out small, branded objects such, as pens or pencils, to potential prospects at conferences or different occasions.
Nevertheless, swag isn’t only a gross sales instrument. One other essential utility of firm swag is as a instrument for retention and worker engagement.
Whether or not as a welcome reward for brand new staff, a vacation reward for a complete group, or a congratulations reward for group members who’ve reached an anniversary milestone, giving staff swag helps them really feel appreciated.
Plus, if the swag is one thing they’ll use or put on of their day-to-day lives — like a water bottle or hoodie together with your firm’s brand — it permits them to function ambassadors of the corporate wherever they go.
The way to Order Swag
Clearly, firm swag could be vastly useful — nevertheless it’s additionally simple to get it fallacious. Particularly, in terms of ordering swag, it’s important to ensure to contemplate the price range you possibly can afford to speculate, the amount of swag objects you’ll want, the most effective distributors to work with, and the lead time it’ll take.
Finances
The primary essential consideration to bear in mind is price range. When you could also be tempted to launch straight into designing and ordering your swag, I’ve discovered firsthand that it’s important to start out by ensuring you know the way a lot you possibly can spend on the challenge.
In some organizations, there may be already a longtime price range for swag, whether or not on a month-to-month or annual foundation. That stated, even when the price range is about, it’s nonetheless important to keep away from making assumptions: I like to recommend getting express approval for the precise quantity you intend to spend to keep away from working into issues or misaligned expectations down the road.
In different instances, there will not be a predefined price range. For instance, I labored with a startup that had by no means ordered swag earlier than, so my boss wasn’t positive how a lot we must be spending on it.
If you happen to don’t have a price range, you possibly can benchmark in opposition to different main line objects in your group’s price range, do some on-line analysis, and ask for enter from colleagues to get a way of what can be affordable.
Then, you possibly can share that estimate with the related decision-makers — and once more, make sure you get express approval earlier than clicking “purchase.”
Amount
The following query you’ll want to consider is amount. What number of shirts, hats, or pens do you want? Answering this query will rely upon how you propose to make use of the swag.
If you wish to get one thing for each worker in your group or in your division, begin by counting the variety of anticipated recipients. Keep in mind to account for potential new additions to the group, in addition to some extras, in case you’ve forgotten anybody.
Alongside the variety of recipients, there’s additionally the query of timing. After I’ve ordered swag up to now, it’s typically for a single, one-off occasion, however extra usually, I’ve deliberate to make use of a single order of swag for a number of occasions.
For instance, if you happen to’re shopping for branded water bottles for brand new staff, it most likely doesn’t make sense to simply purchase sufficient to your present cohort of recent hires. As a substitute, it could be price estimating what number of new hires you anticipate to have over the subsequent six months and even the subsequent yr, and getting sufficient swag to final you thru a number of cohorts.
Distributors
When you’ve decided how a lot you possibly can spend and the tough quantity of swag you’ll want, it’s time to start out excited about distributors. There are numerous choices for swag distributors, all of whom provide various kinds of merchandise at completely different value factors and high quality ranges.
If you happen to’re undecided the place to start out, a fast Google search can get you some preliminary choices. As well as, I at all times advocate asking buddies or coworkers for his or her recommendation. They can inform you a few vendor that you just wouldn’t have discovered by yourself, and enter from somebody you belief may help enhance your confidence that the seller will ship as promised.
Plus, some distributors provide referral offers and reductions, doubtlessly saving each you and your colleague some money.
Lead Time
Lastly, don’t neglect about lead time, or the time it’s going to take for a vendor to make and ship your swag to you. That is particularly essential if you happen to’ve acquired a tough deadline, like a convention or vacation social gathering the place you intend to provide out the swag.
In my expertise, you’re unlikely to discover a vendor who can provide a lead time of lower than 5-10 enterprise days — so make certain to plan forward, and construct some additional buffer time into your schedule in case of delays.
Greatest Firm Swag Concepts
All proper, so that you’ve set a price range, selected amount, chosen a vendor, and accounted for lead time. However what precisely do you have to order? Under, I’ve shared a few of my favourite firm swag concepts, from attire to wellness and past.
Attire
One of many largest advantages of attire is that if staff just like the swag, they’ll put on it for years, spreading consciousness of your model all over the place they go. Listed here are a few of my favourite choices for attire swag.
Hats
Who doesn’t want a hat? One of many lower-cost sorts of attire, hats are at all times a preferred swag possibility. If you happen to’re in a hotter local weather, attempt baseball caps, and if you happen to’re someplace with colder climate, beanies could also be extra appreciated.
T-Shirts
Branded T-shirts are one other nice giveaway. They’re additionally possibility if you happen to’re trying to get a bit extra inventive together with your design, since there’s loads of room to incorporate not simply your brand, however a {custom} slogan or different design parts.
Hoodies
If you happen to’ve acquired a bit extra price range, everybody loves a pleasant, cozy hoodie. These are an particularly good thought in case your group relies someplace with colder climate, or in case your workplace tends to have the air con cranked up.
Socks
Socks are a enjoyable swag concept that additionally provide a great deal of customization choices. Past simply including your brand or different designs, you too can take into consideration completely different kinds. Would your staff respect fuzzy socks? Further-long socks? The chances are limitless.
Jackets
A high-quality jacket is one other swag merchandise I’ve discovered is usually a giant hit. In reality, I do know individuals who have stored carrying their company-branded jackets years after leaving the job! Particularly for folks in colder-weather places, jackets or coats are sometimes very a lot appreciated.
Sun shades
In distinction, if you happen to’re primarily based someplace with loads of solar, think about wanting into {custom} sun shades. You may get glasses in your model colours, and you too can have your brand or slogan printed on the edges.
Sun shades could also be particularly widespread in case your staff spend time exterior whereas on the job, or in case your group enjoys outside actions of their time without work.
Productiveness
The following class of swag concepts is expounded to productiveness. These are objects that staff may select to take house, however they’ll additionally use them whereas within the workplace.
Sticky Notes
A basic swag merchandise, sticky notes are one thing all of us want — simply be sure you select ones which can be sufficiently big that they are going to really be helpful.
Pens
You’ll be able to by no means have sufficient pens! Pens are an awesome choice to preserve your organization top-of-mind each time an worker writes one thing down.
Pencils
For workers preferring one thing erasable, branded pencils are one other low-cost swag possibility which can be at all times appreciated.
Erasers
Whereas rather less widespread than pens and pencils, erasers are certainly one of my favourite swag concepts. They’ll are available virtually any measurement, form, or colour, providing you with numerous customization choices, they usually’re each inexpensive and universally helpful.
Mouse Pads
Whereas plenty of productiveness objects are pretty small, mouse pads offer you a good quantity of actual property to work with, providing you with much more flexibility and house to incorporate {custom} designs.
Journey
One other certainly one of my favourite classes of swag is journey objects. In spite of everything, whether or not I’m simply taking the prepare into the workplace or embarking on a global flight, I at all times want journey objects to assist with the journey.
Tote Bag
Tote luggage could be a versatile possibility for coming to work, heading to the gymnasium, or happening an extended journey. Plus, they’re sufficiently big to incorporate some bigger paintings, past only a firm brand or slogan.
Journey Mug
Are your staff massive espresso or tea drinkers? In that case, a journey mug is bound to be a success. Be sure to get one with good evaluations, although, since the very last thing you need is folks associating your organization with spilling scorching espresso throughout themselves on the drive to work.
Water Bottle
Give your folks the reward of hydration! Whether or not they preserve it on their desk, take it to the gymnasium, or carry it of their bag, everybody wants a water bottle to assist them keep hydrated all through the day.
Lunch Field
When you won’t have used a lunch field since grade faculty, this can be a distinctive swag possibility that may make a big effect. A lunch field can also be extra versatile than you may suppose. Some staff may simply use it to hold their lunch to work, however others may take it to the park for a picnic, and even use it as a mini cooler for a seaside day.
Seashore Towel
If you happen to’re in search of a swag possibility with most actual property to your inventive designs and imagery, look no additional — not solely is a seaside towel enjoyable and helpful, nevertheless it offers you all of the house you would need for a big, {custom} design.
Wellness
Swag isn’t nearly free stuff. It’s about displaying folks they matter. And the way higher to ship that message than with swag that’s centered on supporting their well being and wellness? Listed here are a few of my favourite wellness-related swag concepts.
Lip Balm
Assist your staff stave off chapped lips with a branded lip balm. You’ll be able to add a {custom} brand or slogan on the aspect of the tube, reminding folks of your model each time they take it out.
Tissue Packs
Many individuals carry round a pack of tissues of their bag or purse. So why not substitute it with a custom-designed bundle? This can be a helpful reward that’s sufficiently small to journey simply, however slightly extra substantial and weird than a lip balm.
Fidget Spinners
Lately, fidget spinners have develop into massively widespread. That stated, they’re nonetheless a comparatively unusual swag reward, so providing a branded fidget spinner could be an effective way to face out from the group.
Stress Balls
A basic swag reward, stress balls are a low-cost but extremely versatile possibility. They’ll are available just about any colour, measurement, or form, and a few firms even develop {custom} stress balls in a singular form that’s related to their enterprise.
Hand Sanitizer
Particularly within the post-Covid period, hand sanitizer has develop into an more and more appreciated reward. Encourage your folks to remain wholesome whereas additionally maintaining one another protected with a {custom} bottle of hand sanitizer.
Tech
Lastly, in case your group enjoys tech and devices, it could be price wanting into tech swag choices. A few of these can get slightly expensive, however there are additionally loads of low-cost choices to contemplate.
Energy Financial institution
We’ve all been there: You pull out your telephone to examine a message or make an essential name whereas on the go, solely to find that the battery’s lifeless. A conveyable energy financial institution could be a actual lifesaver, and there are many low-cost ones in the marketplace if price range is a priority.
Mini Speaker
If you happen to’re open to spending a bit more cash, a custom-branded mini speaker is one other nice, techy swag reward. This may be an particularly becoming reward for a corporation within the audio business, or for an worker who’s a giant music buff.
Charging Cable
A lower-cost possibility, telephone charging cables are at all times helpful. They don’t provide an excessive amount of room for personalisation, however you possibly can embody a brand or small picture, in addition to exploring choices for colours aligned together with your branding.
Headphones
From low cost, wired headphones to superior, noise-canceling headphones or earbuds, headphones provide a variety of value factors and high quality ranges to select from. They’re additionally helpful in a variety of settings, from enjoying music that can assist you focus at work to listening to an audiobook in your commute house.
USB Drive
Lastly, USB drives are one other low-cost swag thought that may simply be personalized together with your brand and model colours. USB drives are additionally helpful in a variety of contexts, and if an worker makes use of it to retailer essential recordsdata, they’ll seemingly be taking a look at it day by day!
Align Your Firm Swag with Your Firm Tradition
On the finish of the day, an important issue to contemplate when ordering firm swag is your organization’s tradition. One of the best swag aligns not simply together with your model colours and magnificence information, however with the tradition of your group.
For instance, if you happen to’re a wellness-focused group, wellness-related swag presents could also be applicable. In distinction, in case your group is very technical, techy swag could also be extra appreciated. It’s all about understanding the tradition of your group, after which figuring out the most effective sorts of swag to your distinctive group.
Editor’s be aware: This put up was initially revealed in November 2013 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.
