10 Creative Marketing Swag Ideas Worth the Spend
Marketing swag has moved beyond giveaways and gimmicks.
Today, the most impactful merchandise reflects your brand’s values, offers something useful, and gets remembered. When thoughtfully chosen, creative marketing swag becomes part of how people experience your brand, building recognition and long-term value.
Here are 10 ideas that strike the right balance between cost, quality, and staying power.
Custom caps
Why they work
A well-made cap gets worn again and again, especially when it’s been created from the ground up. Print Room offers made-to-order caps with complete customisation: from specialty fabrics like hemp or corduroy to custom-dyed colourways, woven labels, and interior branding.
How to customise it
Tonal or puff embroidery, branded tape under the peak, internal pip tags — every detail is an opportunity to reflect your brand.
Cost guide
From $19 NZD + gst per unit
(Based on 100 units unstructured hemp dad caps with centre front embroidery + custom tag inside)
Minimum order: 50 units
Lead time: 6–8 weeks
Shorter lead time: 10–15 days with AS Colour stock caps and in-house embroidery
ROI potential
High — works well for brands where visibility, fit, and finish are part of the appeal.
Branded socks
Why they work
Socks are lightweight, unisex, and seasonless. They travel well, suit almost any campaign, and land in that sweet spot between practical and a little unexpected.
How to customise it
Knit in your brand’s colours, include woven patterns and phrases underfoot, or release limited editions to mark key events.
Cost guide
From $9.90 NZD + gst per pair
(Based on 500 units custom sewn crew socks with fully customised sock wrap)
Minimum order: 300 units
Lead time: 8–12 weeks
Shorter lead time: 10–15 days with AS Colour Relax Sock and in-house embroidery
ROI potential
Medium to high — especially when part of a series or paired with other swag.
GOTS-certified tea towels
Why they work
Tea towels offer large print real estate and find their way into kitchens, cafés, and workplaces. Print on Print Room’s GOTS-certified 100% organic cotton or linen blend tea towels and support your sustainability goals.
How to customise it
Screen print up to 6 colours for bold, graphic designs — or create made-to-order digitally printed tea towels for intricate, high-colour artwork and edge-to-edge coverage.
Cost guide
From $9 NZD + gst per unit
(Based on 250 units organic cotton tea towel with 1 colour screen print)
Minimum order: 100 units
Lead time: 10–15 days
Digitally printed (custom): 40 working days, MOQ 250 units
ROI potential
High — especially for food, beverage, or home lifestyle brands.
Enamel pins and keyrings
Why they work
Small but distinctive, enamel pins and keyrings offer a lasting way for people to carry your brand with them. They’re lightweight, easy to post, and popular across a wide range of audiences — from corporate to creative.
How to customise it
Enamel products are made-to-order from scratch. Choose soft or hard enamel, glow-in-the-dark fills, metallic finishes, matte textures, or detailed cut-outs.
Want a pin shaped like a vintage postcard? A keyring in your brand’s mascot? Add a custom backer card or box, and it becomes a complete, considered piece.
Cost guide
From $3 NZD + gst per unit
(Based on 250 units single sided small enamel pin 30mm x 30mm)
Minimum order: 100 units
Lead time: 4–6 weeks
ROI potential
Medium to high — especially when the design has character or ties in with a specific campaign.
Laser-engraved drink bottles
Why they work
High-quality drink bottles go wherever people go — from their desk to the outdoors. They’re built to last and offer daily visibility for your brand.
How to customise it
Laser engrave stainless steel or BPA-free bottles, co-brand with Project Pargo, Hydro Flask, Ocean Bottle, or Stanley, and customise bottles to match your brand colours for a cohesive look.
Cost guide
From $19 NZD + gst per unit
(Based on 50 units Nomad powder-coated vacuum bottle with engraving)
Minimum order: 50 units
Lead time: 10–15 days
ROI potential
Very high — people keep good bottles around, which means your branding sticks around too.
Quality cotton tote bags
Why they work
Tote bags earn their place quickly. They’re practical, visible, and useful across a range of audiences and industries.
How to customise it
Choose from Print Room’s stock range:
-
The Everyday Tote – compact and affordable
-
The Weekend Tote – roomy, with a gusset
-
The Bottle Tote – features an internal divider and pocket
All made from heavyweight canvas and perfect for full-colour water-based screen printing. For bespoke designs, opt for made-to-order sizing, handles, colours, and woven labels.
Cost guide
From $12 NZD + gst per unit
(Based on 100 units Print Room Everyday Tote with a 1 colour print)
Minimum order: 50 units
Lead time: 10–15 days
Custom: 40 working days, MOQ 500 units
ROI potential
High — a smart choice for campaigns that need both function and brand presence.
Limited run screen-printed tees
Why they work
A well-printed tee holds its own, especially with quality blanks from AS Colour, Earth Positive, or Stanley/Stella. When the artwork feels intentional and the fit feels right, the tee won’t be left behind.
How to customise it
Print with water-based ink for a soft feel. Add labels, pips, or sleeve prints to make it feel elevated.
Cost guide
From $16 NZD + gst per unit
(Based on 100 units AS Colour Staple Tee with 1-colour front print)
Minimum order: 24 units
Lead time: 10–15 days
ROI potential
Very high — with strong artwork, a tee has serious staying power.
Custom playing cards
Why they work
Playing cards bring something different to the table…literally. They’re compact, tactile, and invite interaction. A custom deck can land in break rooms, on coffee tables, or in weekend bags, and each time it’s picked up, your brand gets another moment of visibility.
How to customise it
Design every part of the deck, including face cards, backs, and internal inserts. Use custom illustrations, campaign messaging, or brand patterns. Go further with premium finishes like metallic edging, linen card stock, or matte lamination.
Cost guide
From $8 NZD + gst per deck
(based on an order of 500 units with standard box and full custom print)
Minimum order: 300 units
Lead time: 6-8 weeks
ROI potential
Strong - A good choice for brands in hospitality, tourism, or creative businesses looking for merch with personality.
Woven patches
Why they work
Patches give recipients creative freedom. Patches give recipients creative freedom. They can sew or iron them onto bags, jackets, or hats — wherever people want to show a bit of character.
How to customise it
Choose woven or embroidered finishes, with or without merrow edges. You can also opt for debossed leatherette patches for a premium feel.
Cost guide
From $2.50 NZD + gst per patch
(based on an order of 250 units cap size woven patch with merrow edge - supply only)
Minimum order: 100 units
Lead time: 4–6 weeks
ROI potential
Medium to high — ideal for outdoor brands, breweries, clubs, or collectible campaigns.
Custom tech organisers or power banks
Why they work
Tech accessories fit seamlessly into daily routines, whether you’re remote, commuting, or travelling.
How to customise it
Debossed logos, printed linings, laser engraving, and branded pouches can elevate the look and feel.
Cost guide
From $26 NZD + gst per unit
(Based on 50 units Zion power bank with engraving and printed carry case)
Minimum order: 50 units
Lead time: 10–15 days
ROI potential
High — they earn their place fast and stick around because they’re genuinely handy..
The most creative marketing swag feels intentional. It lasts. It’s used. And it reflects the quality of the brand behind it.
From fun company swag ideas to unique marketing swag with practical impact, the best merchandise isn’t just kept, it’s appreciated.
Need support bringing your campaign ideas to life?
Print Room helps brands across Aotearoa create thoughtful, high-quality merchandise with purpose.
