Frequently Asked Questions About Branded Merchandise, Swag Packs, and Corporate Gifting

The process is designed to be straightforward, whether you know exactly what you want or are still exploring options.

You can start by selecting products on our website and submitting a request with your quantity, customization details, and artwork if you have it. From there, our team prepares a detailed estimate and a virtual proof so you can see exactly how your branded merchandise will look before moving forward.

Once approved, your order moves into production and delivery, with our team managing the process through to completion.

For organizations looking for more than a one-time order, we can also support ongoing programs like onboarding kits, company stores, and fulfillment across multiple teams and locations.

You can request a quote directly through our website by selecting a product, choosing your customization options, and entering your quantity.

Pricing updates dynamically as you make selections, and once you submit your request, we prepare a complete estimate that includes all details, along with a virtual proof for review.

If you are working on a larger initiative like an event, onboarding program, or company-wide rollout, our team can also help scope out the right approach before finalizing products.

To prepare an accurate estimate, we typically need:

• the product or type of item you’re interested in
• quantity
• customization details such as logo placement
• your timeline or in-hands date
• shipping location(s)

If you have artwork ready, you can include it, but it’s not required to get started.

Even a rough idea is enough. We can help refine product selection, quantities, and approach based on your goals.

No. Many clients come to us with a general goal rather than a specific product.

You might be planning onboarding kits, event merchandise, or client gifts and need help figuring out what makes sense.

We can help you narrow down options, align products with your brand, and build a program that works across teams, locations, and timelines.

We can also help you explore options that align with your goals, whether that’s premium branded merchandise, eco-friendly products, or something designed for a specific use like onboarding or events.

We support both.

Some clients come to us for a single order tied to an event or campaign. Others are looking for a more structured approach to managing branded merchandise over time.

That can include onboarding kits, employee gifting programs, company stores, and fulfillment across multiple locations. We can also store inventory and ship items as needed, helping reduce repeat ordering, excess inventory, and unnecessary waste.

No. While most of our clients are organizations, we also work with individuals for things like events, team gear, or special projects.

That said, our approach is particularly well suited for organizations managing branded merchandise across teams, locations, or ongoing programs.

Most products on our site can be customized with your logo or branding using methods like embroidery, screen printing, or engraving, depending on the item.

When you submit a request, you can include your artwork and any details about placement or design. We’ll prepare a virtual proof so you can see exactly how your branded merchandise will look before anything moves forward.

If you’re not sure what works best, we can guide you based on the product, your brand, and how the items will be used.

Vector files are required for branded merchandise, such as AI, EPS, or SVG formats, as they ensure clean, high-quality results across different products and decoration methods.

If you only have a JPG or PNG, our team can review it. For simple artwork, we can often recreate it in vector format at no additional cost. More complex designs may require a small setup fee, which we would confirm in advance.

You don’t need everything finalized to get started—we can help you get your artwork into the right format as part of the process.

Yes. Every order includes a virtual proof so you can review and approve your design before anything goes into production.

This gives you the opportunity to confirm placement, sizing, and overall look, and to make any adjustments before moving forward.

Yes, we can provide product samples to help you evaluate quality, materials, and overall fit before moving forward with a larger order.

Samples are billed at the unit price, but if you proceed with a decorated bulk order of the same product, that cost is credited back to your order.

In many cases, we recommend starting with a virtual proof, which shows exactly how your logo will appear on the product. This allows you to review design, placement, and overall look before deciding if a physical sample is needed.

We’re always happy to talk through when a sample makes sense and help you take the most efficient approach based on your timeline and project.

Yes. While our website often shows a single decoration location for simplicity, many products can support multiple logo placements or different designs.

For example, you may want a front logo and a sleeve detail on apparel, or multiple branded elements on a kit or set of items.

Once you submit your request, we can walk through options and include additional placements or variations in your estimate and proof.

We work to align your merchandise as closely as possible with your brand standards, including colors, logo usage, and overall look and feel.

Exact color matching can depend on the product and decoration method, but we’ll guide you on what’s possible and provide a proof so you can review before approval.

For organizations managing merchandise across teams or locations, we can also help maintain consistency over time.

We offer a wide range of customizable products, including apparel, drinkware, bags, office items, and gift-ready products.

If you’re looking for something specific and don’t see it on the site, we can often source it through our supplier network and provide options that fit your goals, budget, and brand.

Yes. Sustainability is built into how we source and offer products, not treated as an add-on.

Every product we offer goes through a vetting process where we collect and maintain supplier compliance information, including materials, certifications where available, and country of origin. This allows us to provide transparency and consistency across your merchandise program.

We also use a Good, Better, Best rating system to help you balance sustainability, quality, and budget, so you can make informed choices based on what matters most to your organization.

Our goal is to make it easier to choose branded merchandise that aligns with your values while still meeting practical needs like cost, timelines, and usability.

You can also explore products based on specific attributes, such as items made from recycled materials or other sustainability features. Our site also highlights specific product attributes, making it easier to compare options based on what matters most to you.

Yes. Many clients start with a goal rather than a specific product.

Whether you’re planning onboarding kits, event merchandise, or client gifts, we can help you narrow down options that fit your audience, your brand, and how the items will be used.

We focus on helping you choose products that people will actually keep and use, rather than items that get set aside.

These are curated sets of branded products designed for a specific purpose, such as welcoming new employees, supporting events, or sending client gifts.

They can include a mix of items like apparel, drinkware, notebooks, or other useful products, packaged and delivered as a complete experience.

Depending on your needs, these can be one-time initiatives or part of an ongoing program that supports onboarding, team engagement, or brand consistency across your organization, while helping ensure products are selected with intention and used over time.

Yes. Onboarding kits are one of the most common programs we support.

We work with you to select products that reflect your brand and are practical for new employees, then manage the process from sourcing and customization through to packaging and delivery.

For organizations with ongoing hiring, we can also support a repeatable program so new team members receive a consistent experience over time, without needing to rebuild the order each time. This approach also helps avoid over-ordering and reduces unnecessary waste.

You can see an example of how this works in practice here:

👉 Onboarding Kit Case Study (EDC)

Yes. We can set up company stores that give your teams access to a curated selection of approved branded merchandise.

These stores are designed to maintain brand consistency while giving employees or departments some level of choice. You can control what products are available, how they are branded, and how they are distributed.

By limiting selection to items that are useful and aligned with your brand, this approach helps reduce excess ordering and increases the likelihood that products are kept and used.

A company store is typically an ongoing solution with a consistent set of approved products that teams can access over time.

A pop-up shop is usually time-bound and created for a specific purpose, such as onboarding a group of new hires, supporting an event, or running a campaign. It allows individuals to select items, sizes, or preferences within a defined window.

Both approaches offer choice within a curated selection, helping ensure products are useful, aligned with your brand, and less likely to go unused.

If you're exploring a choice-based approach, you can see an example here:

👉 Choice-Based Gifting Case Study

Yes. Many organizations are moving toward giving employees some level of choice, rather than sending the same item to everyone.

We support this through company stores and pop-up shops, where individuals can select from a curated range of approved products. This helps increase the likelihood that items are used and kept, while still maintaining brand consistency and control.

It also helps reduce waste by avoiding products that may not be relevant or useful to every recipient.

Yes. We manage the logistics behind getting your merchandise where it needs to go.

That includes receiving products, assembling kits if needed, and shipping to individual recipients or multiple locations. This is especially helpful for distributed teams, remote employees, or organizations operating across Canada and the U.S.

Managing fulfillment centrally also helps reduce duplication, missed shipments, and unnecessary reorders over time.

Yes. We can store your branded merchandise and manage it over time, rather than requiring everything to be ordered and shipped at once.

This allows you to use inventory as needed for onboarding, events, or internal programs, while maintaining visibility into what you have available.

We provide tools that help you track inventory levels, shipments, and usage, making it easier to manage branded merchandise across teams and locations, and helping avoid excess inventory and waste.

Yes. We are set up to support organizations operating across both Canada and the United States.

Whether you're onboarding employees, running events, or managing merchandise across multiple teams and locations, we can coordinate programs that work across both countries.

We manage sourcing, production, and fulfillment in each region, helping reduce cross-border complexity, shipping delays, and unexpected costs.

This allows for a more consistent experience across your organization, while also improving efficiency and reducing the need for duplicate orders.

Timelines vary depending on the product, decoration method, and how the order is being fulfilled.

For most bulk orders, delivery is typically around 15 business days from final approval.

For projects that include kitting, such as onboarding kits or curated swag packs, timelines are longer to account for assembly and fulfillment. These programs are typically closer to 25 business days from approval.

If you have a specific in-hands date, we can guide you toward products and approaches that align with your timeline.

Yes. We offer a Swift Swag program for products that can be produced and delivered on accelerated timelines.

Many Swift Swag products can be delivered in as little as 10 business days, depending on the item, customization, and shipping location.

You can browse Swift Swag qualified products directly on our website, or we can help identify options that meet your specific deadline and requirements.

Yes. We regularly ship to multiple offices, events, and individual recipients, including employees working remotely or across different regions.

This is a common requirement for onboarding programs, events, and distributed teams, and we manage the coordination to ensure items are delivered where they need to go.

Yes. We can ship directly to individual recipients, whether that’s employees, clients, or event attendees.

This is often used for onboarding kits, gifting programs, and distributed teams, where items need to be delivered to different addresses rather than a single location.

We are structured to support both Canadian and U.S. operations, with sourcing, production, and fulfillment managed within each region.

This approach helps reduce delays, duties, and additional costs that can arise when products are moved unnecessarily between countries.

For organizations operating in both countries, this creates a more efficient and consistent way to manage branded merchandise across teams, events, and locations.

This approach helps reduce cross-border complexity, delays, and unexpected costs, while minimizing the need to move products between countries unnecessarily.

Our headquarters is in Nova Scotia, Canada, and we support programs across both Canada and the United States.

Where your products ship from depends on the item and your delivery location. Whenever possible, we keep Canadian orders shipping within Canada and U.S. orders shipping within the U.S.

This regional approach helps reduce cross-border delays, duties, and unnecessary shipping complexity, while making delivery more efficient across teams and locations.

Yes. Many of the organizations we work with have employees, offices, or events across different cities, regions, or countries.

We support this through coordinated fulfillment, multi-location shipping, and programs that allow for consistent branding while accommodating different delivery needs.

This makes it easier to manage branded merchandise without relying on manual coordination across teams.

If timelines shift, we can help adjust where possible by recommending alternative products, decoration methods, or fulfillment approaches.

Because production timelines vary by product, flexibility early in the process allows for more options. Once production has started, changes may be more limited.

We’ll always work with you to find the best available solution based on your updated timeline.

Our primary focus is supporting programs across Canada and the United States.

We do not ship bulk orders internationally.

For programs that include individual shipments, such as onboarding kits or employee gifting, we can support international delivery on a case-by-case basis. In these situations, we review the requirements with you in advance, outline any additional costs or logistics, and proceed with approval before moving forward.

Yes. We can store your branded merchandise so it’s available when you need it, rather than requiring everything to be ordered and shipped at once.

This is especially helpful for onboarding programs, events, and ongoing team needs, where inventory can be used over time instead of reordered repeatedly.

Yes. We support organizations that need to manage branded merchandise across multiple teams, offices, or regions.

Instead of each team ordering separately, inventory can be centrally managed and distributed as needed, helping maintain consistency, reduce duplication, and simplify coordination across your organization.

Yes. We provide access to dashboards that give you visibility into your inventory, including what is available, what has been used, and where items have been shipped.

This allows you to track usage over time, understand how inventory is being distributed across teams or locations, and make more informed decisions about when to reorder or adjust your program.

Yes. We track shipments so you can see where items have been sent, whether that’s to individual employees, offices, or event locations.

This information is available through reporting and tracking tools, making it easier to manage large distributions and keep visibility across multiple recipients.

By combining warehousing, inventory visibility, and more controlled distribution methods like company stores or pop-up shops, we help reduce the need to order large quantities all at once.

This allows you to order more intentionally, use inventory over time, and avoid excess products that may go unused.

Yes. Once your products and branding are set up, reordering is straightforward.

Because your product details, artwork, and past orders are already established, you can quickly replenish inventory or repeat successful programs. You also have visibility into what’s running low, which helps you plan reorders more effectively.

Pricing varies depending on the product, quantity, and decoration method.

On our website, pricing updates dynamically as you select your options. The per-unit price you see already includes the setup and run charges for your chosen decoration, so you’re seeing a highly accurate cost as you build your order.

The only elements not included at this stage are shipping and taxes, which depend on your final order size, delivery location, and applicable taxes.

Once you submit your request with your shipping details, we provide a complete estimate that confirms shipping, inventory availability, and all final costs.

Several factors influence pricing, including:

• the type of product
• quantity ordered
• decoration method and number of placements
• number of colors/complexity of the design
• fulfillment requirements such as kitting or multi-location shipping

In general, higher quantities reduce the per-unit cost, while additional customization or more complex fulfillment can increase it.

Yes. Pricing typically improves as quantity increases, as setup and production costs are spread across more units.

Minimum order quantities are listed on each product, and we aim to help you select the right quantity to meet your needs without over-ordering.

Setup and run charges for decoration are already included in the per-unit pricing shown on our website when you select your quantity and customization method.

The only additional costs not shown upfront are shipping and taxes, which are calculated based on your order size, delivery location, and applicable taxes.

When you submit your estimate request, we provide a complete breakdown that includes shipping and confirms all details, so there are no surprises before you approve your order.

The most accurate way to get pricing is to select your product, customization options, and quantity on our website and submit a request.

From there, we prepare a detailed estimate and virtual proof so you can review both the pricing and the final look of your branded merchandise before approving your order, including confirmed shipping costs and all final details.

Sustainability is built into how we source and evaluate products across our full catalog - not treated as a separate category or applied to a small subset of items labeled eco-friendly.

Every sustainable promotional product we carry goes through a structured review that includes materials (recycled content, organic inputs, renewable sources), country of origin, supplier compliance documentation, and available third-party certifications. This gives us - and you - a clear basis for comparing what you are buying, not just what is marketed as green.

We also use a Good / Better / Best rating system to help you compare eco-friendly promotional products across more than 15 value-based criteria, including recycled content, organic materials, give-back programs, and supplier certifications. This makes it easier to choose sustainable swag that fits your budget, brand, and values without relying on vague language.

👉 Good / Better / Best rating system

When evaluating eco-friendly promotional products and suppliers, we look for third-party certifications that verify specific claims rather than accepting self-reported sustainability statements. These include:

• B Corp - whole-company certification for social and environmental performance, independently verified by B Lab
• GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) - for organic cotton and other certified textile products
• FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) - for paper, notebooks, wood, and bamboo-based sustainable promotional products
• Fair Trade - for products that meet verified labour and sourcing standards in manufacturing
• SA8000 - international social accountability standard for ethical supply chain practices
• 1% for the Planet - for eco-friendly branded merchandise where a portion of sales supports environmental nonprofits

Not every product carries every certification, and not every claim requires a third-party label to be meaningful. Where certifications exist, we share them. Where they do not, we explain what we know about how a product is made and leave the decision with you.

For us, ethical sourcing means working with suppliers who meet defined standards and being transparent about what we know - and what we do not - about how products are made.

That includes understanding materials, manufacturing context, and labour practices, and maintaining supplier compliance documentation so that information is available when clients need it. We ask harder questions about supply chains than most distributors. Promotional products can contain a mix of claims, and we prioritize suppliers who can support that claim with documentation rather than assertion.

We also recognize that no supply chain is perfect. Our approach is to be honest about tradeoffs and help clients make informed decisions rather than presenting every eco-friendly promotional product as problem-free.

Waste in the promotional products industry usually starts before a product is made - with bulk orders nobody asked for, distributed to people who did not want them, in quantities that were driven by price breaks rather than actual need.

We advocate for a different approach to sustainable swag: fewer, better-chosen items distributed with purpose. This includes:

• Choice-based gifting - recipients select from a curated range of eco-friendly promotional products, increasing the likelihood items are kept and used rather than discarded
• Company stores and pop-up shops - controlled distribution with inventory visibility to reduce over-ordering
• Warehousing and on-demand fulfillment - so organizations are not forced to order more than they need at once
• Intentional selection - helping clients choose sustainable promotional products based on how they will actually be used

👉 Event Activation

Yes. This is one of the most common ways organizations work with us.

Whether you are sourcing sustainable corporate gifts for hiring, eco-friendly promotional products for an event, or building a larger-term swag program that reduces your organization's environmental footprint, we can guide you based on what you are trying to achieve - not just what is available.

We combine structured product evaluation with hands-on support, so you are not left sorting through options on your own. If volume goals, sustainability goals, ESG needs, timeline constraints, or material preferences, we factor those in from the start rather than treating them as an afterthought.

Our Good / Better / Best system is how we make choosing eco-friendly promotional products practical without making it all-or-nothing.

Products are evaluated using information we collect and maintain from suppliers - materials, sourcing, country of origin, certifications, and intended use case - and grouped into three tiers:

• Good - accessible eco-friendly promotional products that meet a solid baseline standard within tighter budgets
• Better - stronger choices across materials, durability, and sourcing practices
• Best - sustainability promotional products that meet higher standards for environmental and social performance, quality, and long-term use

The goal is to give you a clear way to compare sustainable swag based on your priorities. Not every client needs - or can budget for - the highest-rated option. This system lets you choose what fits without compromising on transparency.

👉 Emoji Rating Guide

Yes. Country of origin is listed in the product description on every product page on our website.

We also maintain supplier compliance documentation on file, which allows us to provide further detail if you have specific sourcing, ESG reporting, or procurement requirements. If you need information beyond what is shown on the site - certifications, material breakdowns, supplier docs - reach out and we can work through what we have.

Sometimes, but not always - and the gap is smaller than most people expect.

Many sustainable promotional products - RPET drinkware, organic cotton apparel, FSC certified notebooks - are priced comparably to conventional alternatives at moderate quantities. Pricing, particularly if products with specific third-party certification or give-back commitments, can vary cost more per unit.

Our Good / Better / Best system is designed to make that tradeoff visible. You can find eco-friendly branded merchandise that fits your budget without assuming the most sustainable option is out of reach. If cost is a constraint, we can work within it rather than around it.

The most effective branded merchandise is practical, well-made, and relevant to the person receiving it.

What you choose to put your logo on reflects your brand, so items that feel thoughtful and aligned with your values are far more likely to be kept and used than generic or novelty products.

When merchandise is chosen with intention, it becomes something people use regularly, rather than something that gets set aside.

It starts with understanding what you want the merchandise to achieve.

Whether you're supporting onboarding, an event, client gifting, or an internal program, the right products are those that align with your brand and how the items will actually be used.

Focusing on usefulness, quality, and relevance leads to better outcomes and helps ensure the merchandise reflects your organization in a meaningful way.

Your onboarding kit is one of the first physical touchpoints a new employee has with your organization, and it clearly signals what you stand for.

That’s why it’s important to choose products that reflect your brand values and are genuinely useful to the recipient.

A strong onboarding kit typically includes a small number of thoughtful, high-quality items such as apparel, drinkware, or tools they will use in their day-to-day work, rather than a large number of low-value items.

Many organizations are also moving toward more flexible approaches, such as offering a curated selection, so employees receive something they actually want and will use.

Eco-friendly products can be a strong choice, but only when the claims behind them are clear and supported.

One of the challenges in this space is greenwashing, where products are labeled as sustainable without meaningful transparency around materials, sourcing, or production.

A better approach is to look for products where information is available and decisions can be made with confidence, and to focus on items that will be used over time rather than discarded.

If you’re exploring this further, we provide a resource to help guide decision-making:

👉 Sustainable Buyer’s Guide

Programs that rely on large quantities of generic items or mass distribution often result in products that are unused or quickly discarded.

We are strong advocates for a “less is more” approach, where fewer, better-selected items are chosen with a clear purpose in mind.

More effective programs focus on intentional product selection, thoughtful distribution, and approaches such as choice-based gifting, which help ensure recipients receive something they actually want.

We also work with clients to design programs that align with their marketing goals and brand values, rather than relying on volume alone.

Offering a curated choice is often more effective.

When people can select from a small range of approved options, they are more likely to choose something they will use, while organizations still maintain control over brand and product selection.

This approach works particularly well for onboarding programs, events, and employee gifting, and can be tailored to align with your goals and audience.