Swag Packs & Kits: Ideas, Examples & FAQ

Updated June 2023

Kits of branded promotional items – aka swag packs – have become a popular way for brands to connect with customers. Swag packs also make effective employee incentives. The prevalence of remote work and virtual/hybrid meetings and events has driven this trend, in addition to the mass appeal of product unboxing videos on social media channels like YouTube and Instagram. We expect companies will continue to utilize gift bundles like swag packs in marketing campaigns in 2023 and the years to come.

Based on your audience, event type, and marketing objectives, Metron Branding – a full service promotional marketing agency – can design, assemble, and ship custom swag packs for any price point that will surprise and delight.

What is a Swag Pack?

A swag pack is a bundle of branded promotional products for customers, sales prospects, clients, and/or employees. This bundle, kit, or gift set often includes branded apparel and accessories like hats, t-shirts, and socks – as well as notebooks, drinkware, and stickers displaying a company’s logo – though they can be customized to include virtually anything.

Swag packs are also known as swag kits or swag boxes. Packaging is typically a box customized with your company logo and brand colors though other packaging options are available. Swag packs are frequently distributed to:

• sales prospects attending virtual trade shows and conferences
• loyal customers and brand enthusiasts via direct mailing campaigns or social media contests
• employees during work events like company retreats or annual meetings

 Swag packs also make fun and creative employee recognition awards!

 

Swag Pack Benefits

Variety’s the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavour.

– William Cowper (1731–1800)

A swag pack is essentially an updated version of a swag bag or corporate gift basket. Completely customizable, a swag pack can help your company:

• create a unique gifting experience utilizing novelty and variety (the spice of life) to excite your customers, sales prospects, or employees
• build trust and reinforce your brand image with aesthetically pleasing branded packaging and useful, high-quality promotional products
• deliver a delightful unboxing experience that your customers and employees will truly appreciate

 

What Should Be Included in Swag Packs?

Swag packs can feature a random selection of popular promotional products or follow a theme (tech swag, outdoor apparel and accessories, desk accessories, wintertime, et cetera). Our Happy Camper and Glamping Kits are examples of themed swag packs – useful for outdoor-themed promotions, they also make fun summer gifts for employees.

The most effective swag packs contain universally appealing, practical promotional products with low cost-per-impressions such as:

Branded apparel and accessories: t-shirts, hoodies, baseball caps, tote bags, socks, blankets, and pins

Custom drinkware and accessories: insulated tumblers, eco-friendly water bottles, drink Koozies, beverage chilling stones

Personalized office supplies: notebooks, sticky notes, pens, padfolios

Branded tech products: Bluetooth speakers, earbuds and headphones, USB flash drives, power banks

Other classic swag items include: stickers, refrigerator magnets, mints, hand sanitizer, lip balm, bento lunch boxes, travel umbrellas, luggage tags, phone wallets, and snacks or candy.

Trending promotional products for swag packs include: desk vacuums, backpack coolers, blue light blocking glasses, UV sanitizers for phones, fanny packs and health & wellness promotional products like face masks, yoga mats, and aromatherapy kits.

Swag Pack Ideas for 2023

Not sure what to include in a custom swag pack? Consider these branded items that have been curated into awesome swag packs and kits for 2023:

Hello There: Deluxe

Be an office hero with Hello There: Deluxe! Delicious for a new hire welcome packet, boss appreciation gift, or employee-of-the-month prize (you’ve earned it). Includes a delectable assortment of sweet and savory gourmet treats as well as a Customized Libretto Journal. Packaged in a customizable box with a personalized gift card at no additional charge.

Award Winner

A great swag pack idea for employee recognition and reward programs. The Award Winner gift set includes golden drinkware, champagne gumdrop candy, and a lapel pin with “I’m kind of a big deal” that will make your recipient feel proud of their achievement. Brand the box, the drinkware, and add your personalized message to a card we handwrite for you – for free!

Charcuterie Kit

Graze your way to total deliciousness with this assemblage of artisanal treats ready to be sliced and served (we won’t tell if you don’t share). Includes gourmet crackers, dill pickle chips, red wine and garlic salami, and assorted cheeses. This trendy charcuterie kit comes packaged in a customizable box with a personalized notecard and customized bamboo charcuterie board.

Trailblazer: Deluxe

The Trailblazer: Deluxe is a trendy assortment will turn heads and feed the soul. Includes the following customized items: Finley Mill Stashlight, Finley Mill Multitool, and Grabit Bottle Opener. Snacks that are ideal for camping or hiking are also included (chocolate bourbon cookies, spiced almonds, handmade pretzels, and a mixed nut bar). Best of all, everything comes packaged in a customizable box with a personalized card at no additional charge.

Branded swag packs can be customized to your specifications with additional or substitute items, if desired. Most or all of the non-food items contained in swag packs and swag kits can be customized with your brand logo and colors. Swag pack or kit packaging can also be personalized.

Check out these guides for additional swag pack ideas:

6 Company Swag Boxes that Provide an Epic Unboxing Experience

12 Business Swag Bag Ideas for Employees & Events

8 Employee Welcome Kit Ideas for New Hires

15 Employee Care Package Examples

15 Gift Boxes for Remote Employees

8 Wellness Boxes for Employees

Swag Packs Examples

One of the benefits of incorporating swag packs into your brand’s marketing campaigns is free publicity. Elated customers and contest winners often share unboxing videos featuring the swag packs gifted to them on social media. Some inspirational swag packs recently shared on social media channels like Twitter and TikTok include:

discovery+ Swag Pack Example

discovery+ recently sent home barista kits to some of their lucky customers. The coffee-themed swag box included a discovery+ branded insulated tumbler, French press coffee maker, and gourmet coffee as well as a branded baseball cap:

TikTok Swag Pack Example

Variety is an important component of the best swag packs and swag boxes for employees and community members. TikTok corporate often sends boxes of branded swag to their top creators throughout the year. Past swag packs have included branded apparel and accessories, stickers, travel tumblers, and fun items like disposable cameras and selfie light rings.

Google Pixel Swag Pack Example

This simple swag pack sent to members of the Pixel Superfans community from Google – consisting of a thank you note, branded socks, and a sticker featuring the Google Tensor chipset – demonstrates the effectiveness of a small gift. Superfans shared photos of the swag on Twitter and numerous tech news sites also discussed the promotion, which publicized the Google Pixel 6 Pro phone launch.

Swag Packs & Swag Kits FAQ

What should be included in a swag pack for new employees?

New hire welcome kits or swag packs should contain wearable items like shirts, hats, hoodie jackets, socks, and tote bags to help new employees feel connected to company culture. Candy and snacks are a great addition to swag packs for employees as well as branded office supplies (notebooks, sticky notes), drinkware (water bottles, tumblers), and tech products/accessories like wireless chargers and laptop computer sleeves.

How does a swag pack differ from a swag bag?

A swag pack is similar in many ways to a swag bag. However, the packaging is usually different. A swag bag typically contains items packaged in a disposable or cheap reusable decorative bag. A swag pack, on the other hand, usually contains items packaged in a gift box or occasionally a premium branded bag such as a backpack.

What is a swag kit?

A swag kit is a term that is often used interchangeably with swag pack. However, a swag kit or bundle usually features items needed for a specific activity or hobby. For example, an art-themed swag kit could have supplies for watercolor painting…another swag kit could contain branded items needed to set up a smart home.

A swag kit for remote employee onboarding will typically features items to help equip a home office, such as desktop dry erase boards, webcam covers, portable video lights, mini memo boards, mouse pads, and desk organizers.

Swag Pack Case Study

Swag packs can help your company accomplish many different marketing and HR goals – from increasing brand loyalty to boosting employee morale.

Metron Branding recently helped Precisely – a global software company – create custom swag packs for a virtual annual sales meeting. Their dedicated Metron Branding account representative managed the entire process from design to assembly to distribution in nearly 20 countries, ensuring the Precisely sales teams received great custom swag that promoted team identity.

To learn more, check out a swag packs case study that details the swag pack building process – including sourcing, packaging design, and international distribution – that Metron Branding deployed to provide Precisely’s employees with a memorable, personalized gift experience.

Ready to build your own unforgettable custom swag packs (or swag kits)? Contact our customer service team or fill out the form below to set up a consultation.