In today's world, branding has become an essential aspect of any business. From small startups to large corporations, businesses spend a considerable amount of time and money building their brand image. One crucial component of branding is swag or promotional products, which are given away as gifts to customers, employees, and partners. While swag can be a powerful branding tool, it's crucial to be intentional about your swag needs and purchase better, higher quality items. This is where "brandfill" comes into play.

Brandfill is a term used to describe low-quality swag that is distributed in large quantities without much thought and that usually gets thrown away nearly immediately (ending up in a landfill - get it?). While it may seem like a good idea to give away as much swag as possible, this approach can have a negative impact on your brand image. Poor quality swag can create a negative impression of your company, and recipients may associate your brand with cheap and low-quality products. Part of a good swag company's job is to also "protect your brand" making sure that these sorts of products get discarded in the planning process not once they are in your customers hand.

Investing in higher quality swag can help to build a positive brand image. When you give away high-quality items, recipients are more likely to associate your brand with quality and reliability. They are also more likely to use and appreciate the swag, which means that it will have a longer lifespan and a more significant impact on your brand.  

High quality does not necessarily mean more expensive - there are many items that are inexpensive, high quality, and produce the desired marketing result.  Also, just because you invest in higher quality swag does not mean that you have to increase your budget. Giving away 5000 items that cost $1 to random people that end up being tossed right away is less effective than targeting and qualifying who you give your swag to and only giving away 500 and spending $10 per item. The key is to track your ROI and the best swag companies will help you come up with a plan to do that.

Another benefit of investing in higher quality swag is that it can help to reduce waste. When you give away low-quality swag, recipients are less likely to use it, which means that it will likely end up in the trash. By investing in higher quality swag, you are not only building a positive brand image and increasing the impact of your promotional products, but you are also taking a step towards sustainability. High-quality items are more likely to be used and kept, reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. In today's world, where consumers are increasingly conscious of environmental issues, investing in sustainable branding practices can help to differentiate your company from competitors and attract environmentally-minded customers.

Swag can be a powerful tool for building your brand, but it's important to be intentional about the swag you choose to give away. By investing in high-quality, targeted swag, you can build a positive brand image, increase the impact of your promotional products, and reduce waste. At the end of the day, it's not about how much swag you give away, but the quality and impact of the items that matter. So, choose your swag wisely, and watch your brand soar to new heights.