Business merch giveaway ideas: engage partners via swag shops

You’ve got plenty of business partners—and even more gifts to send. But let’s face it, they’re probably already swimming in business merch. So, how do you leave a lasting impression? Try branded swag shops.

You spend hours picking out custom gifts for your business partners. You have to remember who got what and what they like. Plus, your gifts need to stand out from the rest. So, change the gifting game with branded swag shops.

We’ll show you creative ways to use swag shops to leave a lasting impression on your partners—and make the whole process a lot easier for you, too.

What is a swag shop?

Swag shops are digital stores with branded merch for business. They give an experience similar to browsing Amazon or Farfetch. But the difference is that they offer merch for bonus points, not for money.

You assign bonus points to each item and then send a magic link with points to business partners. They pick what they like while you maintain control over the merch spending and budget.

Why are swag shops perfect for business merch giveaways?

Business merch gifting comes with many challenges:

1. Last-minute gifts. Forecasting demand for gifts is difficult, leading to delays and last-minute scrambling to fulfill gift needs, which hurts relationships and brand reputation.
2. Generic presents. Poorly chosen business gifts are less likely to build brand loyalty or create a real emotional connection, resulting in wasted budget.
3. Poor insights into gift performance. Without data on gift preferences or past performance, you risk repeating the same mistakes—wasting resources and seeing little return on your gifting efforts.

And here’s how all these challenges can be avoided with swag shops:

1. Stress-free gifting. You order a large batch of gifts upfront and can easily reorder more with just one click whenever you need.
2. Personalized, memorable gifting experience. Your business partners choose what they like to receive, making the experience more personal and emotionally engaging. Plus, they’re more likely to use the gifts.
3. Gift insights. You track past orders and learn what your business partners like. So, next time, you order what works and makes an impact.

Five scenarios of partner gifts with swag shops

We’ve collected a couple of creative scenarios for using swag shops and point-based gifting to make the usual “thank you” more memorable.

Scenario 1. Celebration of special moments and holidays

Want to say thank you in a unique way? Or maybe celebrate a special occasion like a company anniversary or the Christmas holiday season? 

Here’s how to do it: order branded merch with Swag42 and set up a swag shop using our platform (read the Swag42 Platform: branded merch without stress article to learn more about it). It won’t take longer than 60 seconds. 

Then, add branded merch from your stock to the swag shop. Assign points to each item depending on its value. After that, send your clients or business partners a link to the shop and a personalized message with bonus points they can spend.

It’s a win-win: you buy a batch of gifts once, add them to your swag shop, and share as needed, so there’s no need to start from scratch each time. When stock runs low, simply reorder with a few clicks. Meanwhile, your business partners enjoy a personalized gifting experience, choosing items they’ll use and appreciate.

Scenario 2. Gamified rewarding 

Use a swag shop to reward your partners for marketing activities. Create a challenge or mini quest for your business partners or clients. For example, ask them to complete a quick survey, join a webinar, refer a lead, or leave a review on Clutch or Trustpilot.

Each action earns them points. The more actions they complete, the more points they get—and the more premium merch they unlock.

It’s a fun, simple, and engaging way to strengthen your partnerships, create several touchpoints with your brand, and make a lasting impression. It’s also a great way to motivate your partners to join your marketing activities, especially since they’re often reluctant to write case studies, fill out surveys, or leave reviews.

Scenario 3. Ongoing loyalty program

Turn your branded swag shop into a long-term loyalty program. Assign points to your clients or business partners for recurring actions like signing a new contract, completing another successful year, or celebrating successful deals.

Each partner collects points over time and spends them on merch whenever they want or at the end of the year (as you want). This strategy keeps partners engaged all year round.

Scenario 4. Digital giveaway at events 

Hosting an event or participating in one? Bring one tablet instead of large boxes of swag. Let your guests enter their email on the spot, and they’ll get a magic link straight to their inbox. With that link, they can order merch anytime from any device.

Give attendees small tasks, like asking a question or posting on social media with your hashtag. Each action earns points, which they can spend in your swag shop.

Scenario 5. Sorry gifts

Sometimes, things go wrong—a missed deadline, a mix-up, or a delay. When this happens, acting fast can make all the difference in protecting your brand reputation. 

Always keep your swag shop stocked with affordable “sorry” gifts ready to go. Opt for small, thoughtful items like branded notebooks or custom tote bags.

Why? Because a quick apology gift can help you turn things around. One negative review on Trustpilot costs your business far more than a little gift.

Launch your swag shop on the Swag42 Platform

To set up your digital shop, you must first order corporate merch with Swag42.

Our Swag42 design team will help you customize and personalize it to reflect your brand voice. Use our catalog to choose the merch you want to customize.

Now, create your custom shop.