The Ultimate Guide to Company Swag

Love it or hate it, there’s no denying it: company swag is one of the most effective ways to build brand awareness and show off your company culture. 

But it’s no secret that sometimes swag and promotional products can feel a little… blah. Whether it’s an outdated mousepad or a cheap, flimsy pen that barely has any ink, it’s easy to see why “swag” has sometimes gotten a bad rap in the past.

But come on folks, it's 2023! There are so many ways to take your brand to the next level. And here at Teak & Twine, we’re alllll about making brands look their best, especially with custom swag boxes! Your company swag should be as awesome as the people who work there and the amazing work they do every day.

That’s why we created The Ultimate Guide to Company Swag — get ready to say goodbye to boring and HELLO to swag of the future! In this post, we’re sharing the best company swag ideas for 2023, plus giving a full run-down on what company swag is, the benefits of giving employee swag, and our top tips for giving cool company swag your team will actually want!

What is Company Swag?

Company swag simply refers to promotional products and branded merchandise that almost always feature the company logo, symbol, or slogan. Typically, companies give swag items as employee gifts, but in some cases, companies may give swag to customers, event attendees, or even the general public. Oh, and get this — swag is actually an acronym that stands for “Stuff We All Get” — who knew!?

In terms of what products specifically constitute as company swag — the limit does not exist! But some typical types of swag include: t-shirts, hats, water bottles, pens, stickers, keychains, coffee mugs, tote bags… the list goes on! 

Company swag is often used as part of the onboarding process for new hires, but can also be given out to all employees as a reward for a job well done, and even to celebrate company milestones, employee anniversaries, and events. The idea behind employee swag is to create a sense of pride and belonging among teams and to help reinforce the company culture and values.

With companies spending thousands of dollars every year on employee swag, it's important to get it right! Put that swag budget to good use with swag your employees will want to keep. Here are our top tips for getting company swag right:

Why You Should Be Using Company Swag in 2023

The corporate swag industry generates over $25 billion in annual sales (yep, you read that right!) It's no surprise, really, when you consider all the benefits of giving company swag:

1. Enhance company culture: Swag can really set the tone for the overall vibe of the company, both in the office and for remote workers. Giving custom swag boxes and kits to employees can help promote and strengthen a distinct company culture. Never underestimate the power of a well-placed message on branded merch!
2. Increase employee engagement: Giving high-quality company swag to your team is an opportunity to express appreciation and gratitude to your employees. Did you know that 64% of employees reported they would stay at their company longer if leaders showed more appreciation? Just sayin!
3. Boost camaraderie: The relationships between coworkers are super important for building a strong company culture. Company swag can boost camaraderie by giving employees something to bond over, get excited about together, and even share on social media! This is especially true when onboarding new hires.
4. Increase brand awareness: Company swag is very effective in creating brand awareness. The more swag your team is sporting, the more likely your company logo will be seen by new eyeballs — making it much more likely to stick in their memories! 

And the list goes on!

Company swag is one of the best things you can do for your employees AND your company. So what are you waiting for?! If you like what you saw in this post, there's plenty more where that came from!