Company Swag Ideas Your Employees Actually Want
Introduction
Let’s be honest. Most company swag ends up in a drawer, a donation bin, or the backseat of someone’s car. If you have ever handed out T-shirts no one wore or ordered branded items that felt more like clutter than culture, you are not alone. The good news is that swag does not have to be boring or disposable.
If you are searching for company swag ideas your employees will actually be excited to receive, you are in the right place. The secret is simple: choose swag that feels personal, useful, and high quality. When you do that, you turn a giveaway into something employees are proud to wear, use, and share.
At The Awesome Company, we help teams create thoughtful, custom swag that people truly love. From soft tees and embroidered hoodies to tote bags and welcome kits for new hires, we design and print everything in-house with purpose and care.
Why Good Swag Matters
Great swag is more than branded stuff. It builds culture. It tells a story. It makes people feel like they belong. Whether you are welcoming a new hire, celebrating a milestone, or bringing a remote team together, the right swag reinforces what your company stands for.
Good swag can:
Strengthen team identity and belonging
Turn employees into natural brand ambassadors
Make onboarding feel warm and intentional
Show appreciation in a way people can actually use
Connect remote and hybrid teams through shared identity
And when your employees actually want to wear the merch, your brand travels further, and your message feels real.
The best part: when you work with us, your swag does even more. Every order supports meaningful employment for autistic adults.
Company Swag Ideas Employees Actually Want
If you want your swag to be a hit, think less about “free stuff” and more about “things people would actually buy for themselves.”
1. Apparel People Will Actually Wear
Soft fabrics, flattering fits, and subtle branding make all the difference.
Ideas that work:
Premium tees in neutral or on-trend colors
Embroidered hoodies or crewnecks
Minimalist logo baseball caps or beanies
Lightweight zip-ups for hybrid teams
What we offer: Screen printing, DTF full color, and embroidery so your merch looks professional and feels great.
2. Useful Everyday Gear
Practical > novelty. If it solves a real problem, employees will use it.
Examples:
Outerwear like a jacket or vest
Tote bags with pockets
Tech sleeves, or custom catch all pouches
3. New Hire Welcome Kits
A curated kit turns a first day into a moment.
What to include:
Branded shirt or hoodie
Stickers or buttons
Notebook and pen
Welcome card with company values
We can fold, kit, and ship to home or office.
4. Seasonal or Event-Based Swag
Swag tied to something meaningful feels intentional.
Ideas:
Summer swag: tote, water bottle
Retreat swag: custom offsite shirts
Holiday swag: embroidered sweaters, socks, blankets
Milestones: “Year 1” / “Year 5” celebration shirts
5. Mission-Driven or Culture-Based Swag
Employees love when swag reflects something bigger than the brand.
Ideas:
Inclusion or mental-health awareness designs
Eco-friendly merch made from recycled materials
Culture slogan shirts (“Be Kind. Stay Curious.”)
Swag tied to company values instead of the logo
Every order at The Awesome Company has impact built in: it creates jobs for autistic adults.
How to Design Swag Employees Love
Here are a few design rules that make all the difference:
Keep branding subtle
Choose quality over quantity
Let employees help choose designs
Use inside jokes, slogans, or illustrations
Make it feel like a gift, not a giveaway
If you do not have a designer, we have you covered. Our team creates designs your employees are proud to wear.
The Awesome Company Swag Process
Share your idea or assets
Send a logo, sketch, or reference — we start where you are.Work with our design team
We turn your idea into a polished mockup and help with colors, placement, and product selection.Approve your proof
Nothing goes to print until you confirm every detail.We print, fold, pack, and deliver
Order swag for one office or ship to 500 home addresses. We handle it.
Optional services:
Personalization (names, roles, departments)
Custom boxes and inserts
No minimums and small batch runs
Why Companies Choose The Awesome Company
✔ High-quality printing and products
✔ In-house design support
✔ No minimum order requirement
✔ Fast, friendly, real-human communication
✔ Every order supports employment for autistic adults
Your swag shows what your brand believes in. Ours does too.
To Wrap it Up
The best company swag ideas are the ones people actually use, wear, and feel proud to own. When swag is high quality, well designed, and aligned with your culture, it becomes something much bigger than merch, it becomes a connection point.
If you are ready to create swag your employees will actually love, we would be honored to help.
👉 Start your custom order at theawesomecompany.com
Make something awesome. Make something meaningful.
