It's all about the 'wow' moment.
We get it; finding the right swag or corporate gift can be a tricky thing to do. You not only want to make sure that you get something that will be appreciated by the recipient, but you've also got to make sure you find something that is a good reflection of undeniable awesomeness of your brand.
With all that being said, it's not simply a case of grabbing the first thing that fits your budget. It's always obvious when someone has put a lot of thought into a gift, and it's just as true for branded swag and corporate gifts.
You want to find something that has that little bit of extra 'oomph', something that gives the recipient a 'wow' moment, that shows how your brand has the edge over your competitors and they're in right job. You want your swag to have that extra something, for the recipient's eyes to light up, you want to ensure that they'll show it off, that they'll brag about the swag they love.
Think outside the box
Even if you have found the most perfect thing to get, it isn't all about what is inside the box. Try to consider what materials were used in the process, from the swag itself right down to the type of packaging it was delivered in.
Not only does this have an impact on the quality of product you can expect to find, it also gives you an idea whether or not sustainability was part of the manufacturing equation. Be sure to check whether or not a real effort is being made by your swag providers to put sustainability to the forefront, including being on the lookout for any mention of eco-friendly shipping options.
We plant one tree for every item of swag we sell, and always do our best to find sustainable materials for our products. To find out more about our sustainability efforts, including a plan to have planted 1,000,000 trees by 2023, head to our website here.
Make sure it's on trend
Branded rubber wristbands might have been all the rage back in 2005, but there's a good chance they would go down like a lead balloon in 2022.
One of the easiest pitfalls when it comes to swag is having a 'go-to' option that you have been faithfully sticking with for a number of years. There is no such thing as one item of swag that will always be the right option (although custom Hawaiian shirts rarely miss a beat), so it would be a good idea to avoid pushing yourself into a corner.
We've already mentioned Hawaiian shirts, but other options for this year would be custom bucket hats, beanies and socks. Try to work out what swag will be on trend this year, and the right option will present itself once you're willing to explore something new.
Ask your team
It can never be said too often that opening up the floor for other people to share ideas is so often the best way to figure out next steps. This is no different when it comes to making your swag more impactful, especially when it comes to figuring out little touches and tweaks that sometimes put the icing on the cake for whoever receives the gift.
There are a lot of great ideas out there waiting to be explored, and they aren't always exactly where you might expect them. John from accounts might have once received a really cool corporate gift that you might try to emulate, or Suzanne in sales could have a great idea for a Hawaiian shirt design that would blow everyone's minds.
Remember, here in Roody we will work you to create a kickass design template. Give us your ideas and we can help bring them to life for you.
Get creative
Even if your logo is a work of art, it doesn't have to be the only thing featured on your branded swag. If you're willing to push the envelope a little bit and come up with something original, you can bet your bottom dollar it won't escape the notice of people who receive it.
A recent example we saw is Appwrite. We love how they've cheekily incorporated messaging and fun comments into their merch. It really helps to bring through the vibrancy and fun that underpins their brand.
Even if you've no experience with design, you would be surprised how easily the ideas start flowing once you start to get the creative juices flowing. We love nothing more than helping people come up with wicked designs, so if you want to make something happen and come up with ways to maximise the impact of your swag, contact us.
Put a theme on things
One way to make it all naturally fall into place is to come up with a good theme for the overall package. If you need help with this, our Swag Boxes come in a variety of themes: summer, Christmas, on-boarding/new starter, tech, conference, or, a personal favorite... chocolate! Because, let's be honest, who doesn't like some kind of chocolate, and if you find that joyless soul, do you really want them working in your company?
There's nothing wrong with DIY either: start with one piece of swag (e.g. custom Hawaiian shirt) and then add a few related items to throw in alongside it like summer shorts, bucket hats, water bottles and a tote bag. Suddenly you got yourself a Beach Swag Box! Great call.
We might specialise in making swag, but all of our best creations come from people like you. If you want to talk to our team about creating some tailor made custom swag boxes, check out some of our offering here.