2023 Holiday Swag Guide: Innovative Ideas to Elevate Your Brand & Delight Your Team

The holiday season is here, so it’s time to get in the gift-giving spirit. Need some holiday swag ideas? Channel your inner child and imagine the excitement of opening the biggest present under the tree. If you can create that same feeling when your team or clients open their holiday swag, you’ve won! Start the holiday season by gifting your team and clients some cool swag that would make even Santa jealous.

Creating and gifting great holiday swag is essential. It’s your chance to entice new customers with your exclusive holiday offerings, remind clients why they love you, and reward your team for their hard work. Showing your appreciation through holiday swag helps strengthen your relationships and boost morale.

Why Make Swag Part of Your Holiday Marketing? 

There are hundreds of avenues for holiday marketing, and swag is an essential piece of the puzzle. The holidays are an opportunity to improve your brand visibility with eye-catching products. After all, gifts are great for brand recognition! Curate snazzy swag with your logo on it to get your brand visible and in style. By gifting branded swag, recipients become a walking billboard for your business. Useful, attractive gifts are a great conversation starter about your company. When your clients wear or use your company merch on the daily, you’ve tapped into a new audience. Your clients’ social circle could become clients by the new year! 

Sending swag to a client shows you care and highlights why you’re a great company to work with. Swag strengthens your relationship with your customers and rewards them for engaging with your brand. It helps to build brand loyalty. Are your competitors giving holiday gifts to their customers? Set yourself apart from other brands this holiday season with high-quality swag. Nothing says “thank you” like free stuff! 

Holiday swag is also a great opportunity to generate revenue. Creating products only available for a limited time will build excitement and anticipation for your swag. Emphasize the exclusivity of your products to keep people wanting more. You can run contests or giveaways or offer freebies to incentivize engagement and increase positive sentiments surrounding your brand. It’s a great way to help your clients feel like they’re part of your community. Holiday swag is an investment, but it will pay off in increased brand awareness and a positive brand image. 

The holiday season is all about giving. Be generous! Show your team you appreciate the year’s performance and diligent work. Sending thoughtful gifts to your team boosts morale. It makes people happy and actually improves productivity. Your team can enjoy their eggnog from a beautiful mug or cozy up by the fire with a company blanket.

How to Get Started 

The key to creating excellent holiday swag is to start planning early. Don’t be bamboozled at the last minute. Lessen your stress by getting ahead of the holiday buzz. Holiday shipping can take longer, so ensure you design early enough for Santa’s rounds. 

Here’s the goal: Curate some killer swag that will make your team proud to represent your company and keep your clients coming back for more! 

So, where do you start? Begin by designing custom holiday versions of your brand. These are your typical brand swag but holiday-ified! You can also choose common holiday gifts like ornaments or mugs and add your business logo to them. Make sure you cover all your basics, such as T-shirts, hats, and mugs.

Not sure what to gift? Check out the top trending holiday swag ideas for 2023 to incorporate innovative ideas for this year’s gifting. By gifting neat, trending products, you’ll impress recipients and set yourself apart from competitors.

Presentation is key. Let the festive spirit guide you in boxing, bagging, and bows. Throw on a Santa hat or cosplay as an elf if necessary (We won’t tell!). If you’re overwhelmed by all your options, consider picking a theme for your holiday swag kit. Colors, fonts, and style are important factors in top-tier swag.

Holiday Swag Ideas 

Curating holiday gift ideas doesn’t have to be overwhelming. What would you like to receive? Consider what products would excite your team, clients, and potential new customers.

Creative Customization

Cater your gifts to individual tastes and preferences to show your appreciation. These gifts outshine generic gifts any day. For example:

• Personalized office stationery
• Favorite snacks
• Custom apparel
• Personalized toiletry bags
• Custom-printed recipe books
• Personalized laptop cases

Practical Yet Fun

When in doubt, the best gifts are the kind the recipient can use again and again. Carry on the reusable theme by gifting products that are eco-friendly. You can give a little love to the planet while giving back to your clients. Check out:

• Recycled grocery bags
• Water bottles
• Tumblers
• Reusable pouches
• Lunch boxes
• Bamboo cutting boards
• Bamboo coaster sets
• Reusable straws

Holiday-Themed Apparel: From Comfy to Classy

From cozying up by the fire to holiday galas, offer all-occasion options for your holiday apparel. Whether you prefer embroidery or screen printing, you can customize your holiday apparel to fit your brand’s vibe. The key to apparel your team will want to wear is making sure it’s high-quality, attractive, and comfortable. Consider:

• T-Shirts 
• Sweatshirts
• Pullovers
• Sweatpants
• Polos
• Dress Shirts
• Blazers
• Pocket squares
• Scarves
• Hats
• Beanies
• Face masks
• Robes

Tech for the Modern Workplace

Everyone loves a cool gadget. Tech products are a great option to include in a holiday swag kit because almost anyone can use them. Your tech swag should be up-to-date and high-quality to last through those long holiday flights and shopping sprees. Think about:

• Power banks
• Phone chargers
• Phone cases
• Bluetooth headphones/speakers
• Instax printers
• Mousepads
• Stickers
• Cable organizers

Kitchenware

Most people spend a lot of time in the kitchen during the holidays. There are seemingly endless meals to make, cookies to bake, and hot cocoa to prepare. Help out your home chefs with some cool kitchenware, like:

• Aprons
• Cutting boards
• Potholders
• Tongs
• Spatulas
• Coasters

Drinkware

The winter weather can be harsh, so staying hydrated is essential. You can put a variety of drinkware in your holiday swag kit to keep the hot cocoa coming! Consider:

• Mugs
• Water bottles
• Cups
• Tumblers
• Cocktail glasses

Stationary

Whether they’re taking meeting notes or building their Christmas list, your team can do it in style with custom holiday stationery. Send things like:

• Notebooks
• Pens
• Pencils
• Sticky notes
• Journals

Winter-Themed Boxes

A great way to build a holiday swag kit is with a theme. Include products that can help you unwind after being out in the cold. These boxes are perfect for your remote and hybrid team members. This themed swag encapsulates cozy in a box. Your creativity is the only limit. Here are some ideas:

• Ornaments
• Socks
• Scarves
• Candles
• Blankets
• Diffusers
• Seat cushions
• Sticky notes
• Bath bombs
• Face masks
• Hot cocoa
• Candy canes
• Peppermint bark

How to Choose Holiday Swag

Your holiday swag should be fun but practical. Keep your swag from going in the bin on January 1 by curating useful, high-quality, practical, and memorable products. It should also align with your company brand and values. The transition from traditional swag to holiday swag should feel seamless and natural. 

What’s your goal with your holiday swag launch? Do you want to increase brand awareness, promote a recent product launch, or improve brand loyalty? The answer will help you determine the target audience for your holiday swag. Your products will differ depending on the recipient. 

Don’t forget the final touch: packing and presentation. Attractive packaging impresses, but it doesn’t have to be expensive or over the top. Add a little holiday flair with cute gift bags or a nice ribbon. Or, for a more eco-friendly look, try recycled paper-based packaging. It won’t go unnoticed. In fact, 53% of people said they would appreciate packaging that makes a positive social impact. Finally, you can always adorn your holiday swag with a heartfelt note. Sometimes, the best part of a holiday gift is knowing you’re appreciated.

Share the Holiday Spirit

If you want your holiday swag to live past New Year’s, be thoughtful in choosing the products, quality, and style you give. Whether you’re curating custom care packages for your team or something special to impress your clients, high-quality holiday swag ends the year on a high note. 

It feels great to see people enjoying your swag. Encourage your customers to share photos with their branded apparel or new tech. This social sharing will build customer retention and create a memory with your brand. 

Sending out holiday swag shows your team and clients that you care. Spread a little cheer this year with some great gifts sure to spark the holiday spirit. Lettering Express offers all the high-quality products for your custom holiday swag needs. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact us today to curate your perfect holiday swag!