Building a company swag store means setting up a managed online platform where employees, teams, and distributors order branded merchandise on-demand. A successful swag store starts with a clear purpose, funding, a fresh product mix, and steady communication. These eight steps cover what to plan before you launch, whether you are starting from scratch or fixing a store that has gone quiet.
1. What is the purpose of your company swag store?
Start with why the store exists. A clear purpose shapes every decision that follows.
- Why do you need a store? (Marketing, brand awareness, employee swag, and so on.)
- What are your goals?
- Is there demand? Who will purchase from the store, and what are the items used for?
- Do employees have budgets, or are they spending their own money?
- Will employees and distributors be required to purchase corporate logo merchandise through the store, or can they buy from any vendor?
2. What does it take to qualify for a swag store?
A lot goes into building a company swag store, so among the criteria we evaluate is the minimum spend. We will build a swag store if it fits our philosophy and model, and if the company spends a minimum of $250,000 per year in sales. This is a low cost of entry for a custom store with a large selection, multiple logo options, and little or no inventory liability. If you are evaluating vendors, our
company store RFP guide walks through the questions to ask before you commit.
3. How do you fund a company swag store?
Many companies believe employees will spend their own money on promotional products, swag, and logo apparel. They are usually disappointed. If you give swag to employees, they love it, but typically they will not buy it.
The best way to make a company store successful is to fund it. Some companies give employees an annual budget to purchase company-branded items. Others give points for birthdays, anniversaries, performance, safety, attendance, or other criteria. Our system lets you manage points and budgets for all employees.
4. How do you promote a company swag store?
Funded or not funded, monthly communication is key: company newsletter, e-blast, or company intranet. The communication can feature new items or specials, offer free shipping, or showcase products. We have learned one thing: out of sight, out of mind. Without gentle reminders about the store and products, it will slowly die. We send custom monthly e-blasts to store users.
5. How do you keep a swag store fresh?
Frequently adding new brands and styles of company logo apparel and promotional products is important, especially if the company store is the only place to purchase logo merchandise. No one wants to see the same choices every time they shop, so we strive to add items often.
6. How do you know what employees want?
Sending a survey to your employees is a great way to understand what they want, their price points, and more. We can work with you to do this. It is a great starting point before launching a company store, or for getting feedback on an existing one. When employees feel like they have a say, they are all in, and they will use and promote the store. Employee word of mouth helps the company store succeed.
7. How do you choose the right products and prices?
The product assortment must match your demographics and their price points. Ask who is buying and why: personal use, events, or customer gifts. The answer sets your assortment.
8. Do you need inventory for a swag store?
Do you want inventory, just-in-time items, or both? Depending on your volume and who is buying, we can determine the best choices for you. We call it Rightsourcing.
Building a successful company swag store takes planning and proper execution. iCoStore will consult with you to build a successful corporate swag store, or steer you in a different direction if one is not needed. See how a managed
company swag store platform works, or
request a demo to talk through your program.
