Corporate merchandising ideas that go beyond pens and mugs

Pens, mugs and keyrings with a logo are still the most common company merchandise, but they are rarely remembered. If you want people to actually use what you give them, and for it to say something good about your brand, these ideas work much better.

1. Quality apparel people want to wear

A well-made sweatshirt or T-shirt gets worn for years. The key is to treat it as a fashion product rather than a promotional item: heavyweight fabrics, such as organic cotton over 350 g/m², special washes, dense embroidery and custom details.

2. A branded collection

More and more brands outside fashion, such as restaurants, tech companies or drinks brands, are launching small clothing collections with their own identity. With their own labels, hangtags and packaging, merchandise stops being a giveaway and becomes an extension of the brand.

3. A welcome pack people want to open

Welcoming a new employee is a great moment to make an impression. A quality notebook, an insulated bottle, an organic cotton garment and careful packaging say far more than a bag full of brochures.

4. Pieces designed for an event or a campaign

Merchandise has more impact when it is tied to a specific moment. Two projects we have worked on:

• Samsung at the Mutua Madrid Open: we designed the ball kids' uniforms inspired by two features of the Samsung Galaxy S22, the S Pen and night photography, with colour gradients that seemed to emerge from the darkness. The goal was maximum visibility during the tournament and a newsworthy concept.
• Paddy Power at Brighton Pride 2019: together with the agency Officer & Gentleman, we produced more than 2,000 full football kit garments (shirts, shorts and socks) in under two weeks, in workshops across Spain, and delivered them to Brighton for the parade.

5. Welcome boxes for guests and speakers

At conferences, launches or events with VIP guests, a custom box for speakers and key attendees is remembered far more than a generic gift.

How to tell if a merchandising idea will work

• Will it be used? If it isn't part of the recipient's daily life, it won't work.
• Will it last? The quality of the product is the image of your brand.
• Does it say something about the brand? The design should come from your identity, not from a catalogue.

See the full projects for Samsung Mutua Madrid Open and Paddy Power. To learn how we approach custom merchandise and branded collections, visit our corporate merchandising and branded collection pages, or read why a uniform is part of your brand.