Some people believe SWAG is actually an acronym standing for "Stuff We All Get," referring to those old school promotional items thrown to the crowd at games or handed out at conferences. However, there seems to be no actual proof supporting that assertion. What we do know is that the Scandinavian word svagga, meaning ‘to rock unsteadily or lurch' was first introduced into the English language in the 13th or 14th century and by appearance seems to be the closest to our modern day word 'swag.'
As we all know, words evolve over time, and they're never set in stone. In current usage, swag has come to have a few very different meanings but we'll focus on our realm of expertise, merchandise—namely promotional items and goodies given to employees, members, teams, or customers. It is often packaged in attractive boxes or bags and comes in many different forms including shirts, hats, backpacks, joggers, ties, fanny packs, hoodies,
Companies give out swag because it helps them create positive associations with their brands, increase employee morale, provide incentives to generate more business, and encourage repeat purchases. A company swag item is an individually packaged gift, typically something you give out to your staff members or clients. These gifts could include anything from pens to t-shirts to coffee mugs to key chains.
In general, though, they're things that make your business stand out. Swag should be chosen carefully and thoughtfully. Companies must choose whether to spend money on swag that will help them achieve business goals or simply give away free stuff. Let's look at what makes a great company swag strategy.
Consider these factors:
Company swag plays many roles at work, even if you have remote employees. For example, if you're looking to create a fun office environment, consider handing out branded t-shirts or other apparel as part of your employee recognition program. Or, perhaps you want to encourage employees to get involved in volunteer activities. In either case, you'll be showing off your brand while helping to foster a sense of community among your team members. Here are a few additional benefits of company swag:
Company swag is a great way to recognize employees for their work, and show them that they are appreciated. The best way to do this is through quality products your employees will enjoy throughout the year and be able to use in their everyday life.
Good company swag is a proven method for boosting employee morale and improving the overall workplace experience. People respond positively to branded swag, especially if it’s of high quality. So order some high-end swag items for yourself and your team members, and you'll be sure to get the recognition you deserve.
Your corporate swag should be designed to make recruits feel comfortable about working there. Whether you hand them out at events or send them out via email, your company swag needs to convey a sense of warmth and friendliness.
Your employees need to feel proud of what they're doing and be excited about working there. Culture is something that should be built into every employee's DNA, and you can't force them to care about it. To get started, begin by looking at how you treat your customers. Do you give them the respect they deserve? Are you willing to go above and beyond to help them? Or do you take shortcuts and cut corners? These are questions you need to ask yourself as a leader. Once you've figured out how you want to conduct business, make sure everyone knows what those expectations are. Make sure your employees know exactly what kind of environment they'll be working in. And most importantly, make sure they actually believe in the culture you're trying to create.
In order to maintain a strong sense of community within the company, many employers give out t-shirts to employees based on their locations. These shirts serve as a visual reminder of the culture of the office and help promote camaraderie among co-workers.
In order to make sure that everyone feels included and appreciated, creating shirts on a larger scale helps create a feeling of community among employees.
Your new employee needs to know right away if you're a place he or she wants to work. A warm welcome goes a long way towards creating a positive impression. Company gear helps remind your employees that you care enough to start them off with something extra.
There should be something fun included in the gift bag as well! Maybe you want to do something different than a generic notebook? A nice bag they can use for any occasion might be a great addition. Whatever you decide, make sure there is something fun in the bag!
Now that you know the what and the why, we'll tell you the where. Truwear has been providing high-quality customized swag for years. We have everything your company needs to create a fashionable unified vibe. Our account managers will walk you through customizing our luxurious apparel so you can start handing out some swagger with your swag.
]]>Screen printing and direct-to-garment can sometimes be the more cost-effective way for placing your designs on textiles and is often the better choice for producing larger designs/logos. Embroidery is often viewed as the more long-lasting choice and can deliver professional results for corporate attire and more.
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If you want to add custom logos and designs to clothing and or other textiles, screen printing, embroidery, or direct-to-garment are your best options. Each option produces high quality work, but each have their advantages and disadvantages.
Screen printing and direct-to-garment can sometimes be the more cost-effective way for placing your designs on textiles and is often the better choice for producing larger designs/logos. Embroidery is often viewed as the more long-lasting choice and can deliver professional results for corporate attire and more.
Embroidery creates a design with a nice amount of weight that looks sophisticated and should last for a long time. The design is in 3D, as opposed to the flat design of a printed logo.
Before you decide which is the right option for, look at what each one can offer for whatever purpose you need it for. If you have any questions please reach out to us for help.
Cost is likely to be the biggest concern for anyone who wants to have garments or other textiles customized.
Some things to keep in mind when deciding which option to choose is that neither option will always be cheaper than the others. Figuring out which process is more cost-effective will depend on several factors. Those factors include the complexity and size of the design(s), along with the quality and quantity of the garments you choose.
If you choose embroidery, your price will be based on the number of stitches in the design. A typical left chest logo, 3-4 inches wide, is typically between 5,000-8,000 stitches resulting in $5-$10 for the design cost.
However, with screen printing the size of the design doesn’t matter as much as the number of colors in the design. Each new color requires a new mesh screen to be used, which raises the costs.
Direct-to-garment is a great option for smaller runs of garments or for designs that have many colors. Direct-to-garment also offers the ability to have photographs printed on textiles for a fraction of the coat it would be to have that photograph screen printed.
Each process requires a specific file for the artwork and if the artwork isn’t provided in the right file, there is typically a one-time $30-$50 artwork fee depending on the complexity of the design. However, direct-to-garment offers the easiest file type with just a PNG or JPEG which can easily be converted by anyone.
Another thing to remember when comparing costs between the different processes is the quality and quantity of the textile you choose. Printavo provides us with a great resource to refer to when deciding which garments to choose.
In terms of longevity, embroidery is the more favorable option. Stitching is embedded within the garment, while a printed logo is placed on the top of the garment. Because of this, the logo acts as if it is a part of the shirt, and it will stay as safe as the shirt does.
Screen printing and direct-to-garment designs look good — initially —but time does it no favors. After multiple wears and washes, a screen-printed and direct-to-garment designs can begin to fade; however, screen print and direct-to-garment designs tend to last anywhere from 30-50 washes which is typically the lifetime of a shirt.
Screen printed and direct-to-garment designs are fine to be washed and dried as normal. For embroidery, each textile can be washed as normal but after washed, the design should be flattened with the palm of the hand and then hung to dry. The longevity of each process will depend on how the garment or textile is washed and cared for.
Each process is suited for different types and qualities of garments. For example, embroidery is more suitable for heavier and nicer garments whereas screen printing and direct-to-garment is great for both thin and thick shirts as well as other textiles.
Thinner and lower quality garments aren’t necessarily the best choice for embroidery because thin material tends to pucker when embroidered if not cared for properly.
Screen printing can be the better option for T-shirts and other thin or stretchy garments. The screen print doesn’t create the tension that embroidery does so it doesn’t cause the material to pucker.
When considering direct-to-garment, one thing to note is that direct-to-garment is best suited for garments or textiles that the fabric content is mainly cotton based.
Screen printing, embroidery, and direct-to-garment each have their advantages, but you need to consider a few factors before deciding which one is best.
Consider the size of your logo design, complexity of the design, your budget, the items you want to customize, and the quantity of items you want to have in your order.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to us for any questions concerning each of our processes and help with your order. We are here to help and want to help you have a good and positive experience when ordering with Wasatch Threads.
Contact us now for to get started on your order.
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