Company Swag Is Critical to Employee Happiness, New Custom Ink Survey Shows

At Custom Ink, we have always believed in the power of company swag. We know that it’s a great way to make employees feel appreciated and that using swag for things like employee gifts and giveaways, as well as recognizing important events like product launches and anniversaries can make a big difference in employee satisfaction, which boosts company success.
To learn more about how businesses are using employee swag and how their people feel about it, Custom Ink surveyed 1,064 US adults who work for companies with more than 50 employees. Our results provide a unique perspective into company habits and employee experiences. It also gives insight into the opportunities employers have to increase employee satisfaction, increased feelings of belonging, and retention simply by sending a little bit more company swag.*
*Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number.

Key Findings

Here are our key findings from our survey of American workers on their opinions about receiving employee swag and gifts:

• • Employees overwhelmingly said swag would increase their retention, with 93% saying they would be more likely to stay with their employer for another year if they received the right piece of swag.
  • Surprisingly, retention increased regardless of the employee’s current satisfaction level, as even 81% of dissatisfied employees said a preferred piece of swag would make them more likely to stay. 
  • A similar percentage (88%) of employees said they felt more positive about their company after receiving a favorite piece of swag.
  • Nearly three-quarters (74%) of employees said they had been asked to wear a custom t-shirt or other branded clothing to a company event or meeting. 
  • The vast majority of employees (92%) said wearing a common piece of clothing increased their feeling of connection and community to their team.

• More than two-thirds of employees (70%) say they receive swag from their employer at least once a year, with one in five (22%) saying they get such items from their employer every month.

• • One in four employees said their favorite swag item was apparel (13% t-shirt and 12% hoodie/jacket). Other popular items included backpacks (7%), drink containers (travel coffee cups 7%, mugs/glasses 5%, and water bottles 5%), and tote bags (5%).
• By a four-to-one margin (81% to 19%), employees would rather receive a piece of swag that they love and use to celebrate a team success over a happy hour or meal with their team.

Gift Tip: Gifting at least once a year can go a long way toward employee happiness. Gifting 2-10 times a year is better, and giving every month will produce the best results.

How Satisfied are Employees Overall?

88% Are Satisfied With Their Employment

Very satisfied 54%
Somewhat satisfied 34%
Not very satisfied 8%
Not at all satisfied 4%

How Often Do Companies Give Employee Swag?

It’s an Even Split

Once a month or more 22%
Every 1 to 5 months 23%
Every 6 to 12 months 24%
Less than once a year 21%
Never 9%

How Does Overall Job Satisfaction Correlate with Frequency of Employee Gifting?

Employees Who Receive Company Gifts 12X a Year Are the Most Satisfied

Receive Company Gifts Once a Month or More
Very satisfied 94%
Somewhat satisfied 6%
Not very satisfied 0%
Not at all satisfied 0.4%
(Share of whole group 22%)

Receive Company Gifts Every 1 to 5 Months
Very satisfied 61%
Somewhat satisfied 37%
Not very satisfied 2%
Not at all satisfied  0.4%
(Share of whole group 23%)

Receive Company Gifts Every 6 to 12 Months
Very satisfied 41%
Somewhat satisfied 45%
Not very satisfied 10%
Not at all satisfied  3%
(Share of whole group 24%)

Receive Company Gifts Less Than Once a Year
Very satisfied 33%
Somewhat satisfied 44%
Not very satisfied 16%
Not at all satisfied  6%
(Share of whole group 21%)

Never Receive Company Gifts
Very satisfied 17%
Somewhat satisfied 47%
Not very satisfied 20%
Not at all satisfied  15%
(Share of whole group 9%)

How Do Employees Feel After Receiving Company Swag? 

87% Feel More Positive
I felt significantly more positive about my company 33%
I felt somewhat more positive about my company 54%
I felt somewhat more negative about my company 10%
I felt significantly more negative about my company 3%

What is the Most Commonly Gifted Company Swag?

It’s Clothing, Drinkware, and Office Products

Clothing
Drinkware
Office Products
Bags
Tech Gear
Home Gifts

The Breakdown*
Clothing 60%
Drinkware 52%
Office Products 51%
Bags 44%
Tech Gear 34%
Home Gifts 27%
Other 13%
None of the Above 10%
*They could choose all that apply.

Gift Tip: To keep it fresh, choose a brand new style from one of the popular categories.

Top Ten Favorite Types of Employee Swag

Custom T-shirts
Hoodies or Jackets
Backpacks
Travel Coffee Cups
Mugs or Glasses
Water Bottles
Tote Bags
Laptop/Tablet/Phone cases
Wireless Speakers
Headphones

Gift Tip: Really wow them by grouping a few together in a custom kit.

Top Ten Most Desired Employee Gifts

The North Face Jacket
Yeti Cooler
JBL Wireless Headphones
Bose Portable Speaker
Stanley Water Bottle
Smart Mug That Keeps Coffee or Tea Warm
Coleman Folding Chair With Cooler
Anker Portable Charger
Portable BBQ Grill
Moleskine Leather Notebook

Gift Tip: Sending a product from a known brand can make a lasting impression.

If an Employee Receives Their Most Desired Gift, How Likely Are They to Stay Another Year?

93% Would Be More Likely to Stay

Much more likely to stay 41%
Somewhat more likely to stay 52%
Somewhat less likely to stay 5%
Much less likely to stay 2%

What Are the Reasons Companies Give Employee Swag?*

Item to wear at a volunteer day or corporate event 49%
Commemoration of a corporate anniversary 43%
Giveaways at a company party 42%
Recognition for a team accomplishment 35%
Celebration of a new product or service launch 34%
Holiday gift 24%
Extras from client gifts, conferences, or corporate events 24%
Other 5%
None of the above 2%
*They could choose all that apply.

Happy Hour or Company Gift?

81% prefer to receive employee gifts instead of a happy hour or dinner out.

Gift Tip: Only 24% of employees have received a holiday gift from their employer. If your company sends one, this is an easy way to stand out, both within the company and with recruiting and referrals. If you aren’t, you might want to start!

Coming Together Through Company Swag

74% of employees have been asked to wear an item of clothing with the company logo on it.
92% of them say they feel an increased sense of community and connection to their team.

How Much Does Wearing Company Logo Clothing Increase The Feeling of Community?

Increased the feeling of community a great deal 43%
Increased the feeling of community somewhat 49%
Decreased the feeling a community somewhat 7%
Decreased the feeling of community a great deal 2%

Conclusion

Corporate Gifts Make Happier Employees

Custom Ink’s survey shows that company swag isn’t just a fun perk—it can boost employee happiness and create a stronger sense of team. With almost 90% of employees reporting more positive feelings about their employer after receiving gifts and nearly 100% of employees who receive swag monthly report being satisfied, it’s clear that this practice can have a profound impact on engagement and retention. Employers who invest in sending thoughtful, frequent employee gifts—whether it’s a cozy hoodie or a high-end item like a name brand wireless speaker—are likely to see more satisfied, motivated employees who feel a stronger connection to their team and company. Incorporating company swag into the employee experience is not just a nice-to-have—it’s a powerful tool for long-term success.

Methodology

The survey was conducted among 1,064 US adults who work for companies with more than 50 employees via SurveyMonkey from August 30-31, 2024. Based on a confidence interval of 95 percent, the margin of error for the survey is +/- 3 percent.

See all results here.