Last updated: September 08, 2026
Branded merchandise is easy to forget when it has no clear purpose. Effective company swag goes beyond putting a logo on a product. It gives employees, customers, or event attendees something useful and relevant to their experience.
Companies use swag to welcome new employees, engage remote teams, support events, strengthen customer relationships, and give recipients more choice. The 10 company swag case studies below show what those strategies look like in practice across organizations of different sizes and industries. From onboarding kits and employee swag stores to fitness kits, event giveaways, and customer gifts, each case study breaks down the company’s objective, strategy, and results.
Across these examples, the common pattern isn’t bigger budgets or flashier products. It is matching the merchandise to the audience, purpose, and moment. That is often what separates company swag people quickly forget from branded merchandise they actually use.
Table of Contents
10 Company Swag Case Studies
- Case Study #1: Outlier Ventures' Thoughtful Swag for New Team Members
- Case Study #2: Arcwood's Smart Swag That Helped Insurance Customers Stay Organized
- Case Study #3: How Alabama LIC Supported Remote Employees with Fitness Swag
- Case Study #4: Veeam Spiced Up Online Events with Company Swag
- Case Study #5: Wolters Kluwer Appreciates Global Team Members with Custom Swag
- Case Study #6: Interns at Enterprise Enjoy Picking Their Favorite Swag
- Case Study #7: Copper's Strategy to Impress New Employees with Company Swag
- Case Study #8: How Shaw-Lundquist Used Custom Tumblers for Event Branding
- Case Study #9: How Octus Used Swag to Engage a Global Workforce
- Case Study #10: How Gravy Solutions Created a Thoughtful New Hire Swag Kit
FAQs
10 Company Swag Case Studies
Case Study #1: Outlier Ventures' Thoughtful Swag for New Team Members
Company Overview
Company: Outlier Ventures
Company Size: 51–200 Employees
Organizer Country: UK
Target Audience: New Employees
Primary Objective
Welcome new employees with practical, eco-friendly swag items that supported onboarding and enhanced brand identity.
Strategy & Execution
Outlier Ventures chose everyday essentials instead of novelty giveaways. The welcome kit included a reusable water bottle, notebook, mug, tote bag, pen, and key finder that employees could use at work and beyond.
Results
The welcome kits helped new hires feel prepared from day one. Because the products were intended for everyday use, they also reinforced the Outlier Ventures brand beyond the workplace.
Case Study #2: Arcwood's Smart Swag That Helped Insurance Customers Stay Organized
Company Overview
Company: Arcwood National Insurance
Company Size: 10 Employees
Industry: Insurance
Organizer Country: United States
Target Audience: New Insurance Customers
Primary Objective
Help new customers organize their insurance documents while building trust and strengthening brand identity.
Strategy & Execution
Arcwood created logo-branded document pouches and colorful mini padfolios featuring its website and customer-inspired artwork. Agents used these items to present policy documents during customer sign-up.
Results
Arcwood reported stronger customer loyalty and increased policy renewals over time.
Case Study #3: How Alabama LIC Supported Remote Employees with Fitness Swag
Company Overview
Company: Alabama LIC
Company Size: 51–200 Employees
Industry: Insurance
Organizer Country: United States
Target Audience: Employees working remotely
Primary Objective
Support employee well-being and keep remote employees engaged with practical fitness swag they could use at home.
Strategy & Execution
Alabama LIC sent each employee a fitness swag kit that included a branded yoga mat, shoulder strap, and resistance band set. The compact products were easy to ship directly to employees’ homes and useful for short exercise breaks during the workday.
Results
The kits gave remote employees a practical way to stay active while showing that the company cared about their well-being beyond work responsibilities.
Case Study #4: Veeam Spiced Up Online Events with Company Swag
Company Overview
Company: Veeam Software
Company Size: 5,001–10,000 Employees
Industry: Technology
Organizer Country: United States
Target Audience: Virtual event attendees
Primary Objective
Create a more engaging online event with practical, tech-focused swag that reflected Veeam’s brand.
Strategy & Execution
Veeam created a tech-focused swag kit with webcam covers, recycled pens, bamboo wireless chargers, power cords, wireless earbuds, and laptop stickers. The kits arrived before the event, giving attendees branded products they could use during and after the session.
Results
The tech-focused swag kit made the online event feel more personal while reinforcing Veeam’s innovative and eco-conscious brand. The useful products also extended brand visibility after the event ended.
Case Study #5: Wolters Kluwer Appreciates Global Team Members with Custom Swag
Company Overview
Company: Wolters Kluwer
Company Size: 10,000+ Employees
Industry: Information Services & Software
Organizer Country: United States
Target Audience: Employees around the world
Primary Objective
Give employees across multiple countries the freedom to choose their own swag items while simplifying global distribution.
Strategy & Execution
Wolters Kluwer launched an online company store where employees could browse and select their preferred items. This replaced one-size-fits-all gifting with a more flexible approach for teams in different locations.
Results
Employees found the platform easy to use and appreciated being able to choose the swag items they preferred. It also made sending gifts to teams in different countries much easier.
Case Study #6: Interns at Enterprise Enjoy Picking Their Favorite Swag
Company Overview
Company: Enterprise Holdings
Company Size: 10,000+ Employees
Industry: Transportation
Organizer Country: United States
Target Audience: New Interns
Primary Objective
Welcome new interns with personalized swag while staying within budget.
Strategy & Execution
Enterprise created a branded swag store where interns could redeem points for the items they preferred.
Results
All 10 interns redeemed their points and selected swag that matched their preferences
Case Study #7: Copper's Strategy to Impress New Employees with Company Swag
Company Overview
Company: Copper
Company Size: 200 Employees
Industry: Technology
Organizer Country: United States
Target Audience: New Hires and Clients
Create high-quality swag kits for new hires and clients while simplifying ordering, reordering, and delivery.
Strategy & Execution
Copper set up a streamlined system for ordering custom kits whenever needed. Each kit included branded apparel, Yeti mugs, tumblers, notebooks, caps, drawstring bags, and fanny packs.
Results
New hires and clients responded positively to the premium swag. The ordering system also made it easier for Copper to send consistent kits as new needs arose.
Case Study #8: How Shaw-Lundquist Used Custom Tumblers for Event Branding
Company Overview
Company: Shaw-Lundquist Construction
Company Size: 51–200 Employees
Industry: Construction
Organizer Country: United States
Target Audience: Event Attendees
Primary Objective
Choose an event giveaway that matched the theme, budget, and delivery deadline.
Strategy & Execution
Shaw-Lundquist selected purple tumblers and customized them with its logo and “Go Purple” message. The design matched the event theme and gave attendees a practical branded keepsake.
Results
The tumblers strengthened the event’s visual branding and created a consistent theme throughout the ceremony.
Case Study #9: How Octus Used Swag to Engage a Global Workforce
Company Overview
Company: Octus
Company Size: 501–1,000 Employees
Industry: Financial Services
Organizer Country: United States
Target Audience: Employees and New Hires
Primary Objective
Give employees across different countries more choice in their swag while simplifying onboarding and global fulfillment.
Strategy & Execution
Octus created a company swag store where employees could choose their preferred merchandise. New hires received points to redeem for swag, while the program was also used to recognize participation in training, presentations, and other employee initiatives. Global fulfillment allowed Octus to send merchandise to employees in countries including Pakistan, Romania, and Lithuania.
Results
The program reached 1,000 recipients and achieved an 87% redemption rate. Strong employee participation led Octus to expand its swag budget and use the program for additional gifting needs.
Case Study #10: How Gravy Solutions Created a Thoughtful New Hire Swag Kit
Company Overview
Company: Gravy Solutions
Company Size: 51–200 Employees
Location: United States
Target Audience: New Employees
Primary Objective
Create a positive first-day experience with a practical onboarding kit.
Strategy & Execution
Each swag kit included a branded unisex T-shirt, reusable water bottle, and personalized welcome card. Gravy Solutions combined everyday essentials with a thoughtful message to make new hires feel welcomed.
Results
New hires received branded items they could use immediately, while the welcome card added a more personal touch to the onboarding experience.
Make Your Next Swag Moment Memorable
Whether you're welcoming a new hire, celebrating your team, or thanking a client, the right swag can make the moment feel more thoughtful and personal. Create a custom swag box designed around the people receiving it.
Create a Swag Box They'll LoveWhat These Company Swag Case Studies Show
Across these ten examples, a few clear patterns emerge about how companies use swag effectively.
- Practical swag is a common theme, especially when the products fit the audience and occasion.
- Recipient choice can make swag more relevant, particularly for employees, interns, and global teams.
- Swag can support several goals, including onboarding, remote engagement, events, recognition, and customer relationships.
- Company swag stores and points-based programs can simplify fulfillment, especially for employees across multiple locations.
- The most effective swag is chosen with a clear purpose, such as welcoming new hires, engaging employees, supporting an event, or strengthening a customer experience.
Together, these examples show that successful company swag starts with the audience and the purpose, not just the product.
Turn These Lessons Into Swag They'll Be Excited to Receive
Now that you've seen what works, explore company swag ideas for onboarding, recognition, events, clients, and more. Find options that fit your audience, purpose, and occasion.
Explore Company Swag Ideas
FAQs
What makes company swag effective?
Effective company swag has a clear purpose and fits the people receiving it. The case studies above show companies using swag for onboarding, remote-team engagement, customer relationships, and events, with products selected around each audience and use case.
What swag works well for new employee onboarding?
Practical items such as water bottles, notebooks, apparel, tote bags, and mugs are common choices for onboarding. Outlier Ventures and Gravy Solutions used everyday branded products in their new-hire kits, while Gravy Solutions also included a personalized welcome card.
How can companies give employees more choice with swag?
Companies can use branded swag stores or points-based programs that let employees select from approved merchandise. Wolters Kluwer used an online company store for employees around the world, while Enterprise Holdings allowed interns to redeem points for the swag they preferred.
Can company swag support customer relationships?
Yes. Swag can be incorporated into the customer experience when the product serves a practical purpose. Arcwood National Insurance, for example, used branded document pouches and padfolios during customer sign-up and later reported stronger customer loyalty and increased policy renewals.
What kind of swag works for virtual events?
Useful products that fit the virtual experience can work well. Veeam sent attendees a tech-focused kit containing items such as webcam covers, wireless chargers, power cords, earbuds, and laptop stickers before its online event.
Is company swag worth investing in?
Company swag can be worthwhile when it supports a specific business goal and is relevant to the recipient. Across these case studies, organizations used branded merchandise for onboarding, employee engagement, customer relationships, events, and global gifting rather than treating swag as a standalone giveaway.
