What happens when a branding agency buys branded merch?

We’ve had 15 different holiday seasons to find the perfect branded holiday gift for our team. There is a bit of pressure. For one, we are a branding agency and should be able to make the best merch. And most importantly, we value our team and want to find something that is useful, fun, and thoughtful.

Here are a few Bullhorn holiday highlights. Hopefully, these past gifts will give you some ideas for branded merch your team might appreciate and motivate me to create something great this year. Good luck.

Blankets. It might be a little weird and intimate, but these co-branded Rumpl blankets are hip and useful. I have used mine camping, soccer-dadding, and occasionally while working at home when it is chillier than I want it to be (yes, I use a lap blanket from time to time). I always keep one in the trunk now, just in case.

Backpacks. Non-sized gifts are the best. These Cotopaxi backpacks have been all over the world. A word of warning: When your whole team shows up to a client meeting with the same bag, some embarrassing mix-ups can happen. We got black. Their Del Dia collection solves this problem.

Shoes. Getting the right sizes without spoiling the gift is a trick. But, a trick that might be worth it. The upside is that matching Nike running shoes is straight from the cult playbook. And, cults have a certain gravity.

Hat. Sometimes, a gift is a bit of a dud with the team, but I still think it’s cool. Enter the Elmer Fudd. Why do I like it? Not sure. It isn’t practical or particularly useful, but it is fun. Captuer Headwear has all sorts of unique hat options.

Sweatshirt. Okay, a sweatshirt isn’t a terribly original gift idea. But what if you could print inside the hood? Apliiq does just that. We added some illustrations to our visual identity and made these sweatshirts as a celebration.

I think it’s important to show appreciation for your team. Sometimes that is with gifts, and other times it’s with words. Our people are great people — and pretty talented, too. Meet them.