The branded merch we can’t live without

The makeup pouch you’ve had since 2009.

We’ve already told you about the shi***est merch we’ve ever received. But now we want to shine a light on the merch we can’t live without. 

We asked MOOsters to dig through their bags, desks, and bathroom shelves for the branded stuff they actually still use.

TL;DR 

The best Branded Merch solves a real problem, feels good in your hand, and becomes part of your daily routine.

The desk tech that’s still going strong

Most tech is cheap, ugly, and breaks the second time you use it. Good branded tech is rare, and when it’s good, it sticks around for years.

Bex, our Senior Brand and Content Manager, is still running on 2016 energy:

“I got this USB fan from a marketing agency called DML back in 2016. And 10 years later, it still gets me through every heat wave at my desk. It’s so reliable (if a little dusty). I do think there is a place for what may LOOK like junky merch, when it’s solving a particular problem.”

The MOO take: Premium beats cheap, and function beats flash. Nobody’s putting a USB fan on a mood board, but it’s still doing its job a decade later, which is more than most “exciting” merch can say. 

The bags doing the heavy lifting

Forget the gift bag, these ones are MOO-approved.

Mariana, our Brand and Content Manager, found her dream branded tote and hasn’t looked back:

“I LOVE my Ace and Tate tote bag. It’s super sturdy. I use it most days, and you can wash it without shrinking it.”

Hannah Hawksley, Senior Sales Manager, picked hers up on a night flight:

“JetBlue gives these out if it’s a night flight. It’s a silicone reusable clip-up bag. I’ve got a few of these at home, and I’ve found them so useful. They’re tactile, stretchy, and soft. So when I’m going on vacation, it’s the perfect size to host all my cables for charging, or little makeup pieces or jewelry.”

And Yooree Ko, our Graphic Designer, is in it for the long haul:

“I’ve been using the same Clinique makeup pouch for 2000 years now.”

The MOO take: These bags go everywhere their owners go, from the daily commute to international travel. Each one is a tiny brand ambassador, quietly doing the rounds for years because it’s a genuinely useful product.

Drinkware accessories nobody loses track of

There’s a reason “which one’s my drink” is a universal problem. But here’s a design-led problem solver.

Toby Hextall, our Global Director of Product, swears by his PPAI find:

“These neoprene can coolers from PPAI this year. I use them all the time. They’re a set of different colors, which is what makes them useful for identifying which drink is yours. The artwork is fun too.”

The MOO take: Useful and good-looking is the sweet spot. 

Stationery so good you want to steal it

Sometimes the best merch isn’t even the merch you were meant to take home.

Kristen Sullivan, our Executive Assistant, has no regrets:

“When my sister stayed at the Ham Yard hotel, I stole everything that wasn’t nailed down, including these fun pencils and the body lotion that was a partnership with Kit Kemp.”

The MOO take: Beautifully designed Stationery and toiletries don’t need a hard sell. People will happily “borrow” them, and every desk drawer or bathroom shelf they land on is a tiny, ongoing brand moment.

What separates good merch from crap merch

None of these were the showiest thing in anyone’s swag bag. Pretty unremarkable on paper, but they all have the same things in common:

• They solve a real problem, not a hypothetical one.
• They feel good to use. Texture, weight, and function all matter.
• They look good enough to keep out on a desk or in a bag.
• They last well beyond the moment they were handed out.
• They keep creating little positive brand moments, over and over, just by being used.

Branded merch needs to last longer than 30 seconds at a conference table. Do it properly, and it can survive in a bag, on a desk, or in a suitcase for years to come.

Make merch with staying power 

Explore MOO’s full range of Branded Merch. And with MOO Business Services, our team of experts can help you create corporate gifts that don’t end up in the trash. To get started, fill in this simple form, and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.