Unique swag ideas your employees will love in 2025
There’s one thing that companies with low turnover, high employee engagement, and better-than-average returns tend to have in common: a strong company culture.
And yet, only 20% of U.S. employees feel connected to their workplaces. That lack of belonging often stems from a mismatch between intention and execution – too many companies focus on perfecting their mission statement while overlooking the small cues, like how you welcome new hires, celebrate milestones, and express daily recognition.
Thoughtful swag is one of the easiest ways to reinforce a culture that people actually want to be part of. While you certainly can’t gift your way into a thriving team culture, well-designed team gifts can foster a sense of team identity and pride.
We’ve rounded up the best and most unique swag ideas, perfect for new hire kits, remote care packages, or offsite gifts that employees will want to use and keep.
Show your employees you care with these unique swag options
We’ve organized our ideas into five broad categories to help you hone in on the best swag option for your team.
1. Promote well-being with self-care-focused swag
Nearly 3 in 5 American workers say they’re burnt out. Although merch won’t magically fix a heavy workload or a bad Zoom connection, the right self-care item can help make someone’s day just a little better.
Rather than opting for the usual wellness clichés (looking at you, stress balls), here are some unique swag ideas that can help your team members relax and unwind after a long day at work:
- Mini massage guns: These compact massage guns help relieve neck, shoulder, and lower back tension – perfect for post-meeting decompression or winding down after a long day hunched over a laptop.
- Flame aroma diffuser and humidifier: This flame-effect diffuser adds a little cozy ambiance to any home office setup while doubling as a skin-saving humidifier during dry months.
- Waterproof electric scalp massager: These waterproof massagers promote relaxation, improve circulation, and honestly just feel amazing after a long day.
2. Upgrade their workstation with unique tech accessories
Sometimes, the most appreciated gifts are the ones that make someone’s setup smarter or faster. These tech accessories can help solve your employees’ daily frustrations like low batteries, tangled cables, or awkward meeting angles:
- Ultra-portable folding laptop stand: If your team is made up of digital nomads and work-from-anywhere types, this stand is perfect. It folds flat, sets up in seconds, and helps improve posture by turning any table into a more ergonomic workstation without adding bulk to their backpack.
- Fast-charging power bank: Nobody likes the frantic “Do you have a charger?” moment when they’re on the go. This high-capacity power bank solves that with built-in cables and an LED screen so employees always know how much juice they’ve got left. It’s especially handy if your team has to frequently travel or attend offsite events.
- Foldable wireless charging station: This sleek charging station keeps phones in place and topped up, ideal for people who like a tidy desk or hate fishing under tables for their charging cable.
- 3-in-1 retractable charging cable + phone stand: Hate untangling cords? This charging cable keeps cords organized, works across devices (USB-C, Lightning, Micro-USB), and even has a handy hidden phone stand function.
3. Create a sense of shared identity with unique, premium apparel
Branded apparel walks a fine line. Done right, and it feels like a thoughtful gift; done wrong, and it feels like something employees are obligated to wear once at a company event and never again.
The key? Choose stylish, wearable pieces that are subtly branded enough to feel like part of someone’s real wardrobe. These picks combine comfort, quality, and design details that make them feel like something people would buy for themselves:
- Luxe cotton hoodie: This midweight hoodie balances laid-back and luxe. It’s soft and well-structured, making it ideal for weekend coffee runs or chilly home office days.
- Soft-touch cotton tee: T-shirts are a swag bag staple, but this one upgrades the classic with a soft, premium feel and flattering cut – in other words, it’s the kind of shirt people actually look forward to pulling out of the laundry pile. Pair it with a minimal logo or tone-on-tone branding to keep it elevated.
- Alpaca wool blend beanie: A luxe cold-weather staple that works from the office to après-ski vibes. It’s cozy, not itchy, and has that minimalist look people gravitate toward. Again, a subtle logo tag on the fold-over cuff is all the branding you need.
- Jacquard knit crew socks: Everyone loves a good pair of socks. They’re low stakes, high reward, and way more exciting than yet another pen or sticker.
4. Elevate their workspace with unique, desk-friendly swag
Your employees only have so much desk space, and if your company swag isn’t objectively useful, it’s not staying there for long. These picks quietly make life easier or more delightful:
- Mini desktop vacuum: You wouldn’t think cleaning up crumbs and dust from your desk would be fun, but this tiny but effective tool proves otherwise.
- Faux leather desk mat: This mat instantly makes any workspace feel more polished. It protects the surface, doubles as a mousepad, and gives the whole desk an upgrade – especially for remote employees who might be working on a kitchen table.
- Mini grip tape measure keychain: If your business involves design, retail, events, logistics, or anything that requires measuring, this compact tool is one of those unique swag ideas that definitely earns its keep.
- Collapsible silicone coffee cup with straw: Perfect for employees who bounce between home and office. It folds down when not in use, is compact enough to toss into most bags, and helps cut down on single-use cups.
- Premium custom sherpa blanket: Okay, we’re cheating a bit on this one, but anyone who’s worked in a freezing office (or next to an overly ambitious air conditioner) knows a good blanket always has a place.
5. Speak to their values with more sustainable swag options
Swag that doesn’t get used isn’t just a waste of money but a waste, period. These picks are different. They’re useful, well-designed, and designed to have a lower impact on the planet, too:
- Cork and recycled cotton notebook journal: A sleek alternative to mass-market notebooks, this one features a tactile cork cover and FSC-certified recycled pages.
- Coffee cup made from recycled coffee grounds: Given that it looks like something from a boutique home goods store, few would guess that this coffee cup is mostly made from recycled coffee grounds. It’s stylish and lightweight, perfect for coffee-loving sustainability enthusiasts.
- Sorona blend t-shirt: This soft, breathable tee blends cotton with Sorona fibers – a partially plant-based material made with up to 37% renewable ingredients. Designed for all-day comfort, it’s a great wearable piece of apparel that feels premium without being wasteful.
Explore Wayo’s selection of sustainable custom merch.
Build a stronger team culture with these unique swag ideas
The best employee swag helps shape the kind of culture people want to be part of. Whether it’s something that makes their day easier, adds pizzazz to their space, or simply reminds them they’re valued, great swag reinforces the everyday moments that matter.
At Wayo, we make it easy to give away the good stuff. With premium merch at up to 50% less than big-name print-on-demand vendors, you can easily and cost-effectively gift your team swag that’s thoughtful, on-brand, and actually worth keeping.
