There’s swag that instantly becomes your new favorite office accessory, and swag that soon becomes your latest workspace clutter. If you're investing in branded office supplies, you want the former — for that swag to stay out, not get shoved in a drawer.
From everyday workplace essentials to must-have tech, this guide to promotional desk items highlights the best custom office swag that actually earns its place on the desk.
What Makes Great Desk Swag?
The secret to great desk swag is a tasteful combination of two basic factors: it should be attractive enough that people feel excited to display it, and useful enough that people want it to be an arm’s length away.
Beyond that, here’s what you should consider when picking your next piece of custom office swag:
- Practicality: If it’s useful every day, it stays out. It’s as simple as that. Think about the kinds of promotional desk items you’d realistically have handy — if you wouldn’t use it, why would someone else?
- Aesthetic appeal: Keep in mind that your branding doesn’t do much good in a drawer. Just because something is useful doesn’t mean it’ll stay out where people can see it, so be sure to balance practicality with visual intrigue.
- Brand visibility: Subtle logo placement keeps your name in sight without screaming “This is a promotional item.” That means being tasteful with branding — if it feels too promotional, chances are, people won’t want to show it.
- Compact size: Desk space is prime real estate, so remember that everyone may not want to use a huge portion of theirs on clunky items that show off another company’s branding.
Top Picks: Office Swag That Stays Out
So you know what makes great custom office swag, and now you’re ready to see what that could look like for your team or office. Here are some of our favorite personalized office accessories that’ll get out and stay out.
Custom Notebooks and Journals
Branded office supplies should be practical above all else. Perfect for jotting meeting notes, sketching ideas, or doodling during those extra-long Zoom calls, a custom notebook feels personal, professional, and genuinely useful. Plus, there are plenty of aesthetically pleasing options that’ll look sophisticated on a desk — even if they’re never actually used for taking notes.
How to make it stay out: Pick a product with a premium feel, like leather-style hardcover, or a bold color that complements the design.
Custom Padfolios
Looking for a notebook alternative that’s a bit more luxe? Custom padfolios offer more storage, greater asset protection, and a more substantial heft that’s perfect for client meetings or keeping organized. With the ability to combine notes from all over your desk — everything from sticky notes to spiral tear-outs to worksheets or printouts — they’re the custom office accessory that earns daily use by saying “Don’t worry, I can keep it together.”
How to make it stay out: Look for additional features like USB holsters, ID windows, media pockets, and matching pens.
Custom Pens
A good pen is hard to come by — and harder to keep. Whether they get lost, dried out, or simply “borrowed” by the IT guy again, a slick custom pen that writes smoothly and looks sharp is a classic personalized office accessory that’s always a welcome addition to a desk.
How to make it stay out: Choose only high-quality pens that write smooth and have a premium feel in the hand.
Custom Tech Accessories
From wireless chargers to headphones to Bluetooth speakers — these promotional desk items aren’t just swag, they’re everyday essentials. Custom tech accessories can easily check both the aesthetic and practical boxes if curated and designed properly, keeping your brand plugged in and the user geared up.
How to make it stay out: Opt for pure practicality first — you want an item someone could realistically use on a regular basis, ideally in a highly visible way.
Custom Mugs or Tumblers
Looking for truly practical promotional desk items? Whether it’s coffee, tea, or water, for most of us, our beverages are always within reach at our desks. A durable, attractively designed custom mug or custom tumbler will position your brand as a thoughtful partner while staying in regular mug rotation for years to come — displaying your logo in the process.
How to make it stay out: Opt for unique product designs and minimal branding to keep these items feeling genuine and desirable.
Sticky Notes
There always seems to be a use for sticky notes, whether it’s password hints on your monitor or reminder messages on the anonymous pile of folders on the corner of your desk. By offering custom sticky notes complete with your unique branding, you show your company can be a go-to resource that’s always there when it’s needed.
How to make it stay out: Select vibrant colors that will get noticed without clashing with your branding, ideally in sleek booklets.
Custom Keychains
The truth is, custom keychains don’t need to be attached to keys to be useful. With the right product option, you can ensure people want to attach your swag to their backpack, lunchbox, or even desk drawer for a handy tool that’ll keep your brand top of mind. A safe bet is always a carabiner style — these are infinitely useful and convenient for your branding.
How to make it stay out: Look for options that have genuine utility beyond just holding keys, like lights, bottle openers, or multi-purpose carabiners.
Bonus: Swag for Remote Teams
Desk space means something slightly different when that desk is in your home office — and the same applies to the branded office supplies you fill it with.
The best personalized office accessories for remote teams are lightweight, compact, and easy to ship. Keep in mind that, since it may only be seen regularly by the people who live in the recipient’s home, you also want it to be either supremely practical or capable of being taken outside the home. This can help make sure that your custom branding stays relevant while also making the recipient an ambassador for your brand.
Here are some employee swag ideas to consider for both remote and hybrid team members:
- Branded notebooks, pens, or sticky notes, which can be used for work or around the house
- Compact tech gear like power banks or wireless earbuds that can be useful in a home office, on the go, or at a coffee shop
- A short sleeve t-shirt, hoodie , or hat that can lend an essential company culture element that can be hard to promote for remote teams
How to Make Sure Your Swag Stays Visible
The key to custom office swag is essentially the same as it is for just about any promotional product — it needs to earn its visibility without going overboard on branding. To make sure your products can do that, follow these guidelines:
- Keep designs simple and clean: Cluttered design distracts from your branding while making branded products feel a little too branded. People will be looking at these all day, five days a week, so you don’t want to overwhelm them visually.
- Choose neutral or trendy color palettes: When in doubt, opt for neutral tones that allow your items to blend into any desk aesthetic. Or, go for the trendy color du jour that they’ll want to show off.
- Prioritize quality: Wow your recipients with well-curated, quality items to keep spend low and retention high. You can always scale up once you find what works.
- Think about desk real estate: A good litmus test for this is your desk — what items would you really want to keep out? You want your product to legitimately be used.
- Match the item to the environment and audience: What works on a corporate desk might not fit a creative studio. A custom Stanley may be perfect for your indoor-centered younger demographic, while custom shaker bottles could make more sense for a less formal gym-going crowd.
Why Order Office Swag From RushOrderTees
Don’t let your next swag order become another tedious line item on your to-do list — take it as an opportunity to creatively grow your market. Our online Design Studio makes it easy to upload a logo, experiment with layouts, and preview your product before finalizing your order.
Whether you need a small batch for your sales team in a week or a few hundred pieces for a conference in a few days, our flexible order specs can help you deliver the perfect design. And with no-minimum options, fast turnaround, and free shipping options, you’re sure to get the perfect order for your needs.
We know quality is what earns desk space, so we stock products that can go to work for your recipients, from pens that look as sharp as they write to notebooks that beg to be written in to padfolios that keep them all together.
Need more guidance about the perfect product, design specification, or shipping option? Our friendly team of experts is always here to help you make the right call.
Start Designing Your Custom Office Swag Today
The best swag doesn’t get stored — it gets used. Whether you’re building welcome kits, stocking up for trade shows, or showing appreciation to your team with corporate gifts, it all starts with a customizable product that people want to use.
Browse our collection of custom office swag and start designing today.
About the Author
Based in New Mexico, Bryce Emley is a seasoned content writer and expert in the realms of custom apparel and eCommerce. Holding an MFA in Creative Writing, he seamlessly blends his passions, specializing in insightful content that bridges the gap between innovative apparel solutions and digital commerce trends. Beyond his professional pursuits, Bryce is an avid creator, channeling his creativity into poetry, screenplays, and creative nonfiction. In his leisure time, he has a penchant for collecting unique, vintage anime t-shirts, showcasing his love for both rare finds and the artistry of apparel design.
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