Corporate Swag Employees Actually Want to Wear
Let us be honest: most corporate swag ends up in the back of a closet or donated to Goodwill. That stiff, boxy polo with the oversized logo? Nobody wears it outside the office. The scratchy event tee that shrinks two sizes? Straight to the rag pile.
But it does not have to be this way. At French Press Custom, we help companies create branded apparel that employees fight over — the kind they wear on weekends, to the gym, and out with friends.
Here is how to stop wasting money on swag nobody wants.
Why Most Corporate Swag Fails
The Three Sins of Bad Swag
- Cheap blanks — A $2 Gildan tee feels like a $2 tee. Employees notice.
- Oversized logos — A 12-inch logo across the chest turns people into walking billboards. Nobody wants that.
- Boring design — "Company Name Est. 2015" in Arial on a gray shirt is not inspiring anyone.
The Psychology of Wearability
People wear clothing that:
- Fits well — modern, flattering cuts
- Feels good — soft, comfortable fabrics
- Looks good — designs they are proud to be seen in
- Has perceived value — quality that feels like a gift, not a giveaway
The Rules of Great Corporate Swag
Rule 1: Invest in the Blank
The garment IS the product. Your logo is just the finishing touch.
Skip these:
- Gildan 5000 (boxy, rough)
- Gildan DryBlend (stiff, unflattering)
- Any unbranded generic blank
Choose these:
- Bella+Canvas 3001 — soft, modern fit, industry standard ($4-6)
- Comfort Colors 1717 — garment-dyed vintage feel, loved by everyone ($5-8)
- Next Level 3600 — fashion-forward fitted tee ($3.50-5.50)
- Nike Dri-FIT — performance polo with built-in brand cachet ($25-35)
- North Face ThermoBall — premium jacket employees will treasure ($80-120)
The extra $2-4 per blank is the difference between "obligation wear" and "favorite shirt."
Rule 2: Right-Size Your Logo
Small, subtle branding is more wearable than giant logos. Consider:
- Left chest logo — 3-4 inches wide. Clean, professional, wearable anywhere
- Back neck print — small logo or tagline below the collar. Understated
- Sleeve hit — small logo on the upper arm. Trendy, subtle
- Tone-on-tone — same-color logo on the garment (gray on gray). Elevated
Avoid:
- Full-chest logos larger than 8 inches
- Back prints with website URLs
- Logos on every available surface
Rule 3: Design It Like a Brand, Not a Company
The best corporate swag looks like something you would buy, not something you received for free.
Do this:
- Use your brand icon without the full company name
- Create seasonal or limited edition designs
- Incorporate subtle patterns or graphic elements
- Match current fashion trends (vintage, minimalist, athletic)
Not this:
- Full company name + tagline + website + phone number
- Clip art or stock imagery
- Dated design trends (tribal patterns, excessive gradients)
Rule 4: Offer Variety and Choice
One shirt for everyone is boring. Give employees options:
The Ultimate Swag Pack:
- 1 premium tee (Bella+Canvas, employee's choice of color)
- 1 hoodie or quarter-zip (Independent Trading or Champion)
- 1 hat (Richardson 112 with embroidered logo)
- 1 performance polo (Nike or Travis Mathew)
Let employees choose their sizes AND their preferred items. An online company store makes this easy.
Best Corporate Swag Items by Category
Everyday Wear
| Item | Blank | Decoration | Per Unit | |------|-------|-----------|----------| | Premium tee | Bella+Canvas 3001 | Screen print (left chest) | $12-16 | | Vintage tee | Comfort Colors 1717 | Discharge print | $16-22 | | Hoodie | Independent SS4500 | Embroidered chest | $35-45 | | Crewneck | Bella+Canvas 3945 | Screen print | $28-35 |
Professional
| Item | Blank | Decoration | Per Unit | |------|-------|-----------|----------| | Polo | Nike Dri-FIT | Embroidery | $40-55 | | Button-down | Port Authority | Embroidery | $35-50 | | Quarter-zip | Charles River | Embroidery | $35-45 | | Vest | Port Authority | Embroidery | $45-60 |
Premium Gifts
| Item | Blank | Decoration | Per Unit | |------|-------|-----------|----------| | Jacket | North Face | Embroidery | $85-130 | | Backpack | Ogio or Under Armour | Embroidery | $50-80 | | Beanie | Carhartt | Embroidery | $18-25 | | Duffle bag | Nike | Embroidery | $45-65 |
The Company Store Model
Instead of ordering 200 of the same shirt and hoping sizes work out, set up an online company store:
How It Works
- We build a branded Shopify store with your approved products
- Employees log in and select their items, sizes, and colors
- Orders are collected during a window (or ongoing)
- We print and ship — to the office or direct to employees
Benefits
- Employees get what they actually want
- No leftover inventory in wrong sizes
- Easy onboarding (new hires get store access)
- Track spending per department or team
- Refresh designs seasonally
French Press Custom builds and manages corporate stores for companies of all sizes.
Budget Planning
Per-Employee Swag Budget Guidelines
- Basic (event tee): $12-18 per person
- Standard (quality tee + hat): $25-35 per person
- Premium (hoodie + tee + hat): $55-75 per person
- Executive (jacket + polo + accessories): $100-200 per person
When to Order
- Q1: New year kick-off, onboarding stock
- Q2: Summer event tees, team building
- Q3: Fall/winter gear (hoodies, jackets, beanies)
- Q4: Holiday gifts, year-end appreciation
Get Started
Ready to upgrade your corporate swag? French Press Custom works with companies from startups to Fortune 500. We offer:
- Free consultations on blank and design selection
- Digital mockups before production
- Company store setup and management
- Dedicated account management
- Volume pricing with quarterly planning
Call (562) 407-3800 or submit a corporate apparel inquiry through our website.
