Corporate gifting in Canada is changing. No longer is it enough to send out generic mugs or keychains and hope they make an impression. Today’s clients and employees expect sustainable corporate gifts that reflect a brand’s values, offer real usefulness, and most importantly feel personal.
CarGurus, a global leader in online automotive marketplaces, faced this challenge head-on. Their mission is simple: empower people to feel confident and in control when buying or selling a car. So when it came to corporate gifting in Canada, they wanted the same philosophy to shine through empowering their clients with the gift of choice.
With Ethical Swag as their partner, CarGurus transformed corporate gifting into an experience that was meaningful, sustainable, and unforgettable.
Why CarGurus Needed a Better Way to Gift in Canada
CarGurus helps people navigate one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives buying or selling a car with tools, data, and confidence. But when it came to client appreciation gifts, their previous gifting programs fell short.
Chris Ramey, Manager of Client Partnerships at CarGurus, knew they needed a Canadian partner who could deliver something different:
“Initially, I was searching for a Canadian gifting company that had the capabilities to let each of my clients choose their own gift and then ship the gift to them. Ethical Swag checked both boxes plus they provided high-quality products which are ethically sourced. All of those reasons made Ethical Swag an easy choice for my gifting needs”.
CarGurus wanted to:
Eliminate one-size-fits-all swag.
Offer gifts people would genuinely use.
Reflect their values through sustainable corporate gifts.
Create a seamless experience for Canadian clients.
This meant moving beyond generic branded items and toward choice-based corporate gifting that could scale across Canada.
Ethical Swag’s Choice-Based Corporate Gifting Model
The solution was simple but powerful. Ethical Swag curated a collection of high-quality, eco-friendly branded merchandise and built a digital pop-up shop where CarGurus clients could browse and select their preferred gift.
The process included:
Curated selection of swag packs – Each item was ethically sourced, sustainable, and aligned with CarGurus’ brand values.
Personalized experience – Clients received a branded digital storefront where they could choose their gift.
Seamless fulfillment – Ethical Swag handled storage, packaging, and shipping across Canada, eliminating logistical headaches.
This approach turned corporate gifting into more than a gesture. It became a personalized client experience that mirrored CarGurus’ philosophy of putting people in the driver’s seat.
The Results: Clients Loved Their Sustainable Gifts
The program quickly outperformed CarGurus’ past gifting efforts. Clients consistently shared how much they appreciated both the choice and the quality of the merchandise.
Chris recalls one standout moment:
“One client sent me a photo of him sitting on his couch wearing a CarGurus hat and zip up, with a CarGurus mug in hand and a CarGurus blanket on his lap. It’s a good example of how Ethical Swag has quality gifts my clients actually use”.
This feedback highlights a key advantage of sustainable corporate gifts: they’re useful, durable, and part of everyday life. According to the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), useful branded merchandise generates over 3,400 impressions during its lifetime, making it one of the most cost-effective marketing strategies available.
For CarGurus, every mug, blanket, and hoodie wasn’t just swag; it was a long-term brand touchpoint.
Lessons for Other Companies Using Branded Merchandise in Canada
CarGurus’ story offers valuable takeaways for any company considering a more intentional approach to corporate gifting:
1. Put Recipients in the Driver’s Seat
Allowing choice creates stronger emotional connections and ensures recipients only receive personalized corporate gifts they’ll use.
2. Make the Process Seamless
A digital pop-up store plus managed fulfillment keeps the focus on building relationships, not managing logistics.
3. Prioritize Quality and Sustainability
Choose branded merchandise in Canada that is durable, ethically sourced, and designed for repeated use keeping your brand visible while reducing waste.
4. Work With the Right Partner
The right gifting partner will align with your values, simplify your process, and help you scale across Canada while staying true to ESG goals.
Why Sustainability Matters in Corporate Gifting
Corporate gifting is no longer just about branding, it’s about alignment with values. Research shows that 87% of consumers are more likely to support a brand whose values align with their own.
That’s why ESG-aligned corporate gifts matter. By choosing eco-friendly branded merchandise from recycled apparel to plantable stationery companies can reduce waste, amplify their ESG reporting, and demonstrate their commitment to people and planet.
At Ethical Swag, we map every product against the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), giving our clients transparency and impact data they can use for sustainability reporting.
This was especially important for CarGurus, whose clients increasingly expect brands to show purpose and responsibility in every interaction.
Internal Links for Deeper Insights
Explore Ethical Swag’s corporate gifting solutions.
Read our blog: What Your Corporate Gifting Strategy Says About Your Brand
Discover the Top 10 Products for Gen Z in 2025 to future-proof your gifting strategy.
Want to see how CarGurus redefined corporate gifting in Canada? Download the full CarGurus Case Study here
FAQs: Corporate Gifting in Canada
Q: Why is choice important in corporate gifting?
A: Choice ensures recipients feel valued and receive gifts they’ll actually use. Choice-based corporate gifting also reduces waste and enhances brand perception.
Q: How do sustainable corporate gifts compare to traditional swag?
A: Traditional swag often ends up in storage or landfills. Sustainable corporate gifts in Canada are ethically sourced, eco-friendly, and designed for long-term use, making them better for both people and the planet.
Q: Can personalized corporate gifts scale across Canada?
A: Absolutely. Digital platforms like Ethical Swag’s pop-up shops make it easy to scale personalized corporate gifts for large teams or client groups while maintaining consistency.
Q: What ROI do companies see from client appreciation gifts?
A: According to ASI, useful branded merchandise generates thousands of impressions, delivering one of the lowest costs per impression of any marketing channel.
Q: How does Ethical Swag help with ESG reporting?
A: Ethical Swag provides detailed Impact Reports that map purchases to UN SDGs, helping organizations showcase their commitment to sustainability and use the data in ESG reporting.
Final Thoughts
CarGurus reimagined corporate gifting in Canada by prioritizing choice, sustainability, and personalization. The result was a gifting program that delighted clients, reinforced brand values, and delivered long-term impact.
By partnering with Ethical Swag, they turned a seasonal tradition into a sustainable, scalable, and values-driven experience.