Beyond the Basics: Unique Swag Ideas to Level Up Your Company Retreat

Swag (also known as merch or promotional products) are branded items that are typically gifted to employees or customers. If you are looking for swag ideas for company offsites, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Read below for ideas, pricing and extra retreat tips.

Why Bring Merch on Retreats?

Socks for Christmas can evoke the same feeling as receiving bad merchandise. Another hat that you don’t wear, or even worse – a squishy anti-stress foam cat (who ever thought this was a good idea?).

In today’s world, the last thing we want is to create more trash.

The most used swag is:

1. Useful
2. Desired
3. Or Both

On company offsites, thoughtful merch can go a long way.

Here’s why:

• Build Community: We might still know it from school sports (or Taylor Swift concerts): matching t-shirts, hats, or other accessories instantly create a sense of unity. When everyone’s dressed in the same gear, it’s a visual reminder that you are all part of the same team.

‘5 in 10 people feel a stronger sense of team inclusion when using swag’, (giftafeeling.com)

• Create Lasting Memories: Did you know that kitchen magnets are a 1.3 billion USD industry. But why? Because they throw people back to warm summer memories💃.

It’s the same for company retreats. These trips are designed to be memorable, and merchandise items serve as tangible reminders of those experiences. Like a song from our childhood, they bring to mind the bonds people formed and the good times they had together.

• Make it professional: You might know out of experience how many things can be forgotten when travelling. Yes, a larger-than-you-thought percentage of participants will forget their notebooks, pens and toothbrushes. Prevent these forgotten items from impacting your offsite team meetings (especially the bad breath🪥) with some simple merch.
• Promote Company Culture and Values: I will never forget the ‘attention to detail’ slogan on my first job’s tote bag. I carried it around proudly. Swag isn’t just about logos. It’s an opportunity to subtly communicate your company’s values to keep them front and centre during your offsite.

Okay, now that we’ve covered the “why,” let’s dive into the “what.”

Here are three swag packages that will take your retreat from good to unforgettable.

The Best Swag Ideas for Company Offsites

1. The Guaranteed-Success Items

These are the classic, can’t-go-wrong swag items.

They are universally loved and highly practical. They’re the kind of things your team will use during the retreat and beyond.

• Branded Hoodies: Everyone loves a good hoodie. It’s comfortable, practical, and is good for cold evenings. If you’re going to a warmer country, switch it for T-shirts.
• Reusable Water Bottles: On retreats you’re always on the move. Being able to take a water bottle will be beneficial.
• High-Quality Notebooks and Pens: Perfect for taking notes during sessions or jotting down ideas. We like to do notebooks with a cork touch – as this is typical to Portugal

2. The Surprise Items

If you do retreats every year and you don’t need another hoodie, these ideas are for you. It’s about offering something unexpected—items that are unique, memorable, and maybe even a little quirky.

• Branded Bathing Robes: Yes, you read that right. One of my clients went all out with custom robes, and it was a hit. It added a luxurious, spa-like feel to their retreat, making everyone feel pampered.
• Custom Lego Figures: Want to take it a step further? How about personalised Lego figures with your company’s logo? It’s a fun, playful touch that can bring everyone back to their favourite childhood toy.
• Sports T-Shirts (Basketball Style): Perfect for a sporty group and a retreat that includes physical activities. These shirts are not only functional but also give your team a cohesive, athletic look.

3. The Hackathon Kit.

My top pick for tech team retreats. These Hackathon swag items are tailor-made for those intense 24-72 hour sessions where your team dives deep into a new software project.

• Wireless Branded Chargers: Keep everyone’s devices powered up without the hassle of cords. No more scrambling for outlets or dealing with tangled cords.

• Blue Light Blocking Glasses: Long hours in front of screens can be tough on the eyes. These glasses help reduce eye strain, making it easier for your team to stay focused during intense brainstorming sessions.
• Laptop Cases: Branded laptop cases can keep laptops safe during the retreat. Don’t forget to ask for the different sizes!
• 6-in-1 Chargers: These chargers can handle everyone’s gadgets at once—phones, smartwatches, headphones.

A few extra tips

• Include a personalised welcome card with and a print out of the offsite programme. It gives a personal touch, and helps everyone be at the right place at the right time.
• Make sure to get high-quality items. Not only are the promotional items a representation of your high quality brand, but you also want people to love and use it over a long period of time.
• A few loved merch items are really not useful on retreats:
  • Mugs or Houseware
  • Fluids with more than 100ml (no liquid diffusers or skincare)
  • Backpacks (normally people already bring one)
  • Food items that need a fridge
• Pricing: This really depends on your budget and how much emphasis you place on high-quality, memorable items. Some companies go all out, seeing merch as a key part of the retreat experience, while others keep it simple and functional. We’ve seen that typically, companies spend around €40 to €100 per person on merch for a retreat.

Summing up, we can see that merch brings a few convincing benefits to the retreat experience. However, some companies love merch more than others. Like preferences in the seven love languages, ‘giving gifts’ might not be your company’s way of showing your employees appreciation. And that’s fine, running a company offsite alone is a great way of saying thank you.

If you do opt for some of these swag ideas for company offsites, make sure it’s useful, desired or both. From classic, can’t-go-wrong items like cosy hoodies and reusable water bottles to unique custom Lego figures, the right merchandise can go a long way and help keep the offsite memories alive.