Corporate Swag Employees Actually Want to Wear: A Buying Guide

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

1. Cheap blanks — A $2 Gildan tee feels like a $2 tee. Employees notice.
2. Oversized logos — A 12-inch logo across the chest turns people into walking billboards. Nobody wants that.
3. 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

1. We build a branded Shopify store with your approved products
2. Employees log in and select their items, sizes, and colors
3. Orders are collected during a window (or ongoing)
4. 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) 758-5110 or submit a corporate apparel inquiry through our website.