Businesses have long understood the benefits of awarding branded gifts to their partners, clients, and employees to raise brand awareness. People are attracted to quality and its oxymoron, anything of significance, especially in business where such qualities don’t easily come along.
Effective branding is not just about recognition but also about making an impression on your audience and standing out from your competitors. The one of a corporate swag is one that makes people feel comfortable using. We all love souvenirs and relish the reasons we got them; however, who's to say that you can't be carrying a heftier bag than usual with some specially manufactured corporate swag items that you're proud to show off? One way or another, you ought to be prepared for rewards.
Intending to increase employee satisfaction, retention, and productivity, as well as promoting brands, businesses are investing a lot in corporate swag, a report shows that organizations spend an average of $226K annually on gifting. However, not all of that investment is considered worthwhile.
Even worse, many marketers aren't swag experts. In fact, some of them are not aware of the value of corporate swag in regards to company marketing. But if you're not using swag for your business then you're missing out on a great opportunity. For small businesses, swag is a great way to boost your brand and stay relevant. In this article, Giftpack will go over why corporate swag gifts are important and how to prepare your gifting campaign from start to finish!
Why are corporate swag gifts important?
In order to know how you are going to prepare for your corporate swags, you must first understand why it is important. Corporate swag gifts are promotional products for businesses to raise their brand awareness. These gifts are normally free giveaways, and it can be gifted on many occasions to different people such as your employees, clients, and prospective customers.
The goal is not only to build brand recognition, but also to make people remember you. Thus positively affect your corporate engagement and sales.
People who are not familiar with the gifting industry may think that these swags are for someone who recently joined the company, or for occasions such as hitting a company milestone or signing a big client. Of course, it’s not just about keeping your employees happy (and attracting top talent). Corporate swag merchandise is magical when it comes to external branding.
There are already many facts and statistics that prove the benefits of corporate gifting including:
- 63% of companies credited gift-giving as a factor in their improved customer relationships with their clients.
- 94% of top business executives believe that gifting can impact a business relationship.
- 53% of employees stayed at their company due to the recognition and reward.
- 27% of organizations say that external gift-giving resulted in their clients referring business to new customers.
Not to mention, corporate swag gifts are relatively cost-effective, compared to other marketing techniques.
4 things that corporate swag gifts could benefit
Brand Awareness
When creating brand awareness for your business, you should focus on corporate swag where the overall design invokes a sense of familiarity with the company. There’s an important factor to take into account when considering how much you want people to notice your business.
That is why you should pick industry-specific gifts. For example, if your product or service is in the finance industry, you can think about a branded wallet. Or if you run a gaming company, a gift such as a mouse featuring your brand logo would be a good selling point.
Lead Generation
Lead generation is one of the key components for growing your business. You can't start to drive and obtain customers unless you hold enough leads. If you want to make sure customers or potential new qualified leads on your horizon take notice of your brand, sending corporate swag gifts would be the best way to achieve your goal.
You can come up with some useful items like keychain gadgets or promotional USB drives. This will help expand the reach of your business because they are practical tech accessories that are quite popular right now at trade shows and events.
New Product or Service Release
Although It's easier to promote a product when you have a solid wrapped up package to be sent to your recipients, there are still ways for you to promote your product or service with corporate swags even if they don’t physically exist or if they simply cannot be the gift itself.
The main goal for your swag gifts is to allow your recipients to understand what your products are all about, better yet, let them know why you work so hard to deliver them and how the products can help them.
A number of things that you can do with your corporate swag gifts are customized swags, host or join an event (online/offline) for your product launch, and give your recipients some incentives. For example, your team developed a training app. You can host an online product launch seminar. While you explain how your app works, ask your visitors to download your app. If they follow,your company can send them branded towels directly to their houses as a reward.
Customer Retention
Customer retention is just as important as attracting new leads. If you have a subscription-based business model, then you know how true this is. So to ensure your customers are always satisfied, you can give them personalized gifts or loyalty rewards for special occasions. You can plan celebrations around customer anniversaries or any other milestone and surprise them with something only they will be able to wear/use in the long run.
You can think about hosting a customer appreciation giveaway event and send your customers company swags that can make them feel like VIPs. Corporate swags are also often used as promotion to ask your customers to order again.
When is the right time to start ordering your swag gifts?
Getting your swag gifts ordered in time for an event or a promotional campaign can be a tricky situation. If you order too early, you might have to find a place to put them before you actually give them out. And ordering too late is self-explanatory.
Although finding the timing to start preparing for the swag gifts isn’t rocket science, it could still be very frustrating when things don't go as planned, or if there are delays here and there.
You may think starting and ordering the gifts as soon as possible would avoid all the drama, but imagine the gifts come too early and you have to store more than 100 gift boxes at your workplace. Below are things that you will need to pay attention to when you are trying to start your corporate swag gifting campaign, regardless of the purpose, you must know:
- Who you are sending to.
- How many people you are sending gifts to.
- When you want them to receive the gifts.
- How long it will take for the vendors to complete your order.
- How long it will take for delivery.
If you have the information mentioned above, you will have a clear picture of the timeline for the whole process. Hence picking the right time to start ordering your swag gifts will be a lot easier.
Rule of Thumbs: confirm the important date and then order the gifts 1-2 months in advance.
How to pick the right swag?
When trying to select company swag items, most companies either pick something like a branded mug or T-shirts, or they spend tons of time to do research, but still come out short. Not knowing what your recipients like is the biggest mistake you can make.
Here are the steps you can follow to pick the right corporate swag gifts, you will need to make sure:
- You know what your goal is for the gifting campaign.
- You select the right prospects or clients that fit your goal setting description.
- You do your homework about each company’s policy to receive gifts.
- You pick a gift or a set of gifts that are effective.
What makes a swag gift effective?
Here is a checklist for you to ensure the effectiveness of your corporate swag gifts.
- Offer an incentive so your recipient will feel the need to reciprocate.
- Are useful so your recipient will keep using and remember your brand.
- Have good quality so your recipient will feel your effort.
Giftpack offers a variety of corporate swag gifts. If you are interested, learn more by scheduling a demo to talk to our gift expert, or sign up for free and explore it!
From start to finish: corporate swag gifting workflow example
Let’s begin with a scenario: A 10-year anniversary is coming up for a big client, and you are thinking about sending them gifts. What is to be done?
1. Build and the gifting campaign First thing you have to do is set up a campaign, using any measures. This step is where you define your goal for sending the gifts and who you are sending to. In this case, you know the company you are sending the gifts to, but you may only want to send gifts to people at a certain managerial level. Come up with some gift samples first and go into details later.
With Giftpack, you can ignore coming up with any gift samples and simply create an order. Then pick your recipients or group of recipients, meaning you will be able to conduct list segmentation.
2. Getting your gifts ready The second step is to start looking for gifts. You will have to do a vendor comparison which includes finding out how fast they can prepare the gifts, how much they cost, what are their security measures, when will they be able to deliver the gifts, etc.
In Giftpack, not only will you have a ton of choices of swag gifts, you will also have to option to set a budget for your gifting campaign, down to individual level. The cost, security, as well as delivery is accounted for.
3. Create and send a custom email Once everything is ready or in the process, you will need to create an email template to notify your client about this campaign. In this email template you should include a paragraph of appreciation and some directions to help the recipients understand what they will need to do on their end.
Using Giftpack, you will be able to conduct your CRM on the platform. All the back and forth can be done through Giftpack’s relationship management system.
4. Ship the gifts Before you ship your gifts, there is still one important thing you must do – get the correct addresses of your recipients. You might already have the addresses for these recipients, but you never know if you have the wrong addresses or if they have moved away. So you will have to double check, otherwise your gifts will never reach them. Only then you will be able to redirect the information to your vendor for shipping the gifts (which addresses can often be communicated incorrectly again).
Giftpack sends an email to your recipients to help you gather all information needed for you to ship the gifts, and then send the gifts to their front door right at your requested delivery time. In fact, everything from the beginning to the end requires very little human resources.
5. Track Campaign Success via Reporting Last but not least, you will have to track your ROIs after you deliver your gifts. Some of your recipients might not have actually gotten your gifts due to various reasons. You have to see how many people got them, liked them, used them. You can even ask for feedback from them.
With Giftpack’s data-driven approach, a complete dashboard is set up on the website. You will be able to see all your gifting campaigns, who are the recipients, what type of gifts you sent, the status of the campaigns, as well as how much money you spent. And after a campaign is deployed, you can see how many gifts are delivered, how many are received, how many people love, like, or feel neutral about your gifts, and the completion rate of your campaign.
77 Corporate Swag Gift Ideas for Your Next Campaign
1. Branded Water Bottles:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: High
- Offering reusable water bottles with your logo is practical and aligns with the growing emphasis on sustainability, making it a highly popular and appreciated swag item.
2. Custom Branded Apparel:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: High
- Apparel with your company's branding is a classic and sought-after swag choice, providing attendees with wearable items that promote your brand wherever they go.
3. Logo-Printed Tote Bags:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: High
- Tote bags are versatile, functional, and eco-friendly, making them a popular choice for event swag. Attendees can use them during the event and beyond.
4. Corporate Pens:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: High
- Despite being a common item, quality pens with your logo remain a staple at events. They are practical, frequently used, and appreciated by attendees.
5. Custom Notebooks:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: High
- Notebooks are timeless and practical swag items. Attendees often find them useful for jotting down notes during the event, making them a popular choice.
6. Custom Socks:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: High
- Unique and comfortable, branded socks add a fun element to swag. Attendees appreciate items that stand out, and custom socks fit the bill.
7. Branded Power Banks:
- Cost: Moderate to High
- Popularity: High
- With the increasing reliance on electronic devices, power banks are valued swag items. Providing a solution to low battery issues enhances their popularity.
8. Logo-Printed Mugs:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: High
- Coffee mugs are both practical and customizable. Attendees often use them daily, making them a popular choice for event swag.
9. Custom PopSockets:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: High
- PopSockets offer a functional and trendy way for attendees to handle their phones. Their popularity stems from their usefulness and style.
10. Branded Mouse Pads:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Mouse pads, while slightly traditional, remain popular, especially for events with a professional or tech-focused audience. They provide a practical workspace accessory.
11. Customized Playing Cards:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Playing cards are a unique and entertaining swag item. They are well-received, providing attendees with a source of amusement.
12. Promotional T-Shirts:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- T-shirts are a classic and comfortable choice. While common, they are still popular due to their wearability and potential for creative designs.
13. Customizable Travel Mugs:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Travel mugs are appreciated by attendees who are on the go. Their practicality and the potential for customization make them a popular choice.
14. Corporate Stickers:
- Cost: Low
- Popularity: Moderate
- Stickers, though simple, are versatile and can be applied to various surfaces. They are popular, especially among younger audiences.
15. Logo-Printed Headphones:
- Cost: Moderate to High
- Popularity: Moderate
- High-quality headphones are a premium swag item. While not as common, they stand out and are valued by attendees who appreciate quality audio.
16. Logo-Printed Lanyards:
- Cost: Low
- Popularity: Moderate
- Lanyards are a practical choice for events, providing attendees with a convenient way to carry identification. While common, they remain popular.
17. Phone Wallets:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Phone wallets are a functional accessory. Attendees appreciate items that simplify their daily routines, contributing to their popularity.
18. Charging Cables:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Charging cables, especially with multiple device compatibility, address a common need. Attendees value practical and useful items, making these popular.
19. Logo-Printed Keychains:
- Cost: Low
- Popularity: Moderate
- Keychains are simple yet effective. Their practicality and customization options make them a popular choice for event swag.
20. Custom Drawstring Bags:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Drawstring bags are lightweight and versatile, making them a practical choice for events. Attendees often find them useful for carrying essentials.
21. Custom Metal Key Holders:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Metal key holders add a touch of sophistication. Their durability and potential for engraving make them a popular choice.
22. Corporate Umbrellas:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Umbrellas provide practicality, especially for outdoor events. Branded umbrellas are appreciated during unexpected weather changes.
23. Customized Wine Openers:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Wine openers, especially those with unique designs, are popular among attendees who enjoy wine-related events or celebrations.
24. Promotional Sunglasses:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Sunglasses with your logo are both practical and stylish. They are especially popular at outdoor events or in sunny locations.
25. Branded Tech Gloves:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Tech gloves are a thoughtful swag item, especially in colder climates. Attendees appreciate items that cater to their comfort.
26. Logo-Printed Cooling Towels:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Cooling towels are practical for events held in warm climates or during physical activities. They provide instant refreshment.
27. Customized Portable Phone Fans:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Portable phone fans are a fun and functional swag item, especially in hot weather. They can be easily connected to smartphones.
28. Corporate Backpacks:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Backpacks are versatile and appreciated, providing attendees with a useful item for carrying belongings during and after the event.
29. Logo-Printed Travel Pillows:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Travel pillows enhance comfort during travel. They are popular, especially for events with attendees who may be traveling from afar.
30. Branded Webcam Covers:
- Cost: Low
- Popularity: Moderate
- Webcam covers address privacy concerns and are practical for attendees who use laptops or desktop computers.
31. Customizable Aprons:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Aprons are a unique and appreciated swag item, especially for events related to cooking, food, or culinary experiences.
32. Corporate Sticky Notes:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: High
- Sticky notes are practical and widely used. They are popular, especially for events with a focus on productivity or office-related themes.
33. Logo-Printed Coasters:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Coasters are functional and can be customized with creative designs. They are appreciated as practical items for home or office use.
34. Customized Insulated Water Bottles:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: High
- Insulated water bottles keep beverages at the desired temperature, making them popular among attendees who prioritize hydration.
35. Branded Tech Pouches:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Tech pouches provide a stylish and organized way to carry cables and small electronic accessories, catering to the needs of tech-savvy attendees.
36. Logo-Printed Desk Plants:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: High
- Desk plants add a touch of greenery to workspaces. They are popular among attendees who appreciate items that enhance their office environment.
37. Custom Fitness Towels:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Fitness towels are practical for attendees who enjoy physical activities. They are compact and easily carried to the gym or outdoor workouts.
38. Corporate Bluetooth Speakers:
- Cost: Moderate to High
- Popularity: High
- Bluetooth speakers are a premium swag item, appreciated for their versatility and quality sound. They are popular among music enthusiasts.
39. Promotional Flashlights:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Flashlights are practical swag items, especially for outdoor events or activities held in the evening. They provide a sense of safety and convenience.
40. Custom USB Flash Drives:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- USB flash drives are useful for storing and transferring data. They are popular, especially for events related to technology or business.
41. Branded Beach Towels:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Beach towels are appreciated, especially for events held in beach destinations or during the summer. They provide a practical and stylish gift.
42. Logo-Printed Bottle Openers:
- Cost: Low
- Popularity: Moderate
- Bottle openers with your logo are practical, especially for events where beverages are served. They are compact and easy to carry.
43. Customizable Blankets:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: High
- Blankets provide warmth and comfort. They are highly popular, especially for events held in colder seasons or outdoor settings.
44. Corporate Portable Chargers:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: High
- Portable chargers are essential for attendees on the go. They are popular, ensuring that smartphones and devices stay powered throughout the event.
45. Promotional Desk Organizers:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Desk organizers help keep workspaces tidy and organized. They are appreciated by attendees who value efficiency and productivity.
46. Branded Travel Adapters:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: High
- Travel adapters are practical for attendees who may be traveling internationally. They ensure compatibility with various electrical outlets.
47. Logo-Printed Travel Tags:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Travel tags are a thoughtful swag item, especially for events with attendees who frequently travel. They add a personal touch to luggage.
48. Custom Fitness Resistance Bands:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Fitness resistance bands are popular among health-conscious attendees. They are compact and can be used for workouts anywhere.
49. Corporate Insulated Lunch Bags:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Insulated lunch bags keep food fresh on the go. They are practical and appreciated by attendees who prioritize healthy eating.
50. Logo-Printed Golf Balls:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Golf balls are popular among attendees who enjoy golf or outdoor activities. They are a unique and sporty swag item.
51. Customized Sunglasses Cases:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Sunglasses cases provide protection and are appreciated by attendees who received sunglasses as swag. They add value to the eyewear.
52. Branded Phone Grips:
- Cost: Low
- Popularity: High
- Phone grips enhance the handling of smartphones. They are trendy and appreciated by attendees who prioritize convenience.
53. Logo-Printed Power Strips:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Power strips are practical swag items for events where attendees use multiple electronic devices. They ensure easy access to power.
54. Customizable Mason Jars:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Mason jars are versatile and can be used for various beverages. They are popular, especially for events with a rustic or casual theme.
55. Corporate Wine Tumblers:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Wine tumblers are stylish and practical, catering to attendees who enjoy wine-related events or outdoor gatherings.
56. Logo-Printed Wristbands:
- Cost: Low
- Popularity: Moderate
- Wristbands are versatile and can be used for access control or as fashion accessories. They are popular, especially among younger audiences.
57. Customized Bamboo Cutlery Sets:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: High
- Bamboo cutlery sets are eco-friendly and appreciated by environmentally conscious attendees. They add a sustainable touch to the event.
58. Branded Chip Clips:
- Cost: Low
- Popularity: Moderate
- Chip clips are practical for securing snacks and are popular, especially for events where refreshments are served.
59. Logo-Printed Puzzles:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Puzzles provide entertainment and relaxation. They are appreciated as unique and engaging swag items.
60. Customized Apron and Oven Mitt Sets:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Apron and oven mitt sets are ideal for events related to cooking or culinary experiences. They add a touch of creativity and practicality.
61. Corporate Fitness Resistance Bands:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Fitness resistance bands are popular among health-conscious attendees. They are compact and can be used for workouts anywhere.
62. Branded Reusable Straws:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: High
- Reusable straws are eco-friendly and appreciated by attendees who are mindful of sustainability. They contribute to reducing single-use plastic.
63. Logo-Printed Pocket Notebooks:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Pocket notebooks are convenient for quick notes. They are popular, especially among attendees who value organization and productivity.
64. Customizable Wine Gift Sets:
- Cost: Moderate to High
- Popularity: High
- Wine gift sets are a premium swag item, appreciated by attendees who enjoy wine. They add a touch of sophistication and make for memorable gifts.
65. Corporate Compact Umbrellas:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Compact umbrellas are practical, especially for events held in locations with unpredictable weather. They provide a useful solution during unexpected rain.
66. Promotional Wine Bags:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Wine bags add a stylish touch to wine gifts. They are appreciated as practical items for carrying and presenting wine bottles.
67. Branded Desk Calendars:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: High
- Desk calendars are practical for keeping track of dates. They are popular, especially for events held at the beginning of the year.
68. Custom Bluetooth Earbuds:
- Cost: Moderate to High
- Popularity: High
- Bluetooth earbuds are a premium and appreciated swag item. They provide a high-quality audio experience and cater to tech-savvy attendees.
69. Logo-Printed Golf Balls:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Golf balls are popular among attendees who enjoy golf or outdoor activities. They are a unique and sporty swag item.
70. Corporate Ice Cream Scoops:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Ice cream scoops are a unique and fun swag item, especially for events with a culinary theme. They add a touch of creativity to the swag selection.
71. Customized Foldable Chairs:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Foldable chairs provide comfort during outdoor events or activities. They are appreciated as practical items for relaxation.
72. Branded Tumbler and Snack Sets:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: High
- Tumbler and snack sets are versatile and appreciated by attendees who enjoy both beverages and snacks. They offer a combination of practical items.
73. Promotional Tech Cable Organizers:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Cable organizers help keep electronic accessories tidy. They are popular, especially for events with a tech-focused audience.
74. Logo-Printed Dog Accessories:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Dog accessories, such as collars or bowls, are appreciated by attendees who are pet owners. They add a personal touch to the swag selection.
75. Customized Scented Candles:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: High
- Scented candles add a touch of relaxation and ambiance. They are popular, especially for events with a focus on well-being and comfort.
76. Corporate Wine Glass Charms:
- Cost: Low to Moderate
- Popularity: Moderate
- Wine glass charms are unique and add a decorative element to wine glasses. They are appreciated as creative and functional swag items.
77. Branded Outdoor Blankets:
- Cost: Moderate
- Popularity: High
- Outdoor blankets provide warmth and comfort during outdoor events. They are popular, ensuring that attendees can relax and enjoy the surroundings.
These swag ideas cover a range of costs and popularity levels, offering a diverse selection for different budgets and event preferences.
If you want to boost your business, corporate swag can be a great way to do that. However, if you don’t do it the ‘right’ way, it can backfire. Follow our guide and tips above and make the most of it.