We've rounded up the latest merch trends and news for you. Enjoy!

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that we've all attended some type of trade show or convention, personally or professionally. So we all know how loud, overwhelming, and overstimulating these events can be. That doesn't mean the experience was bad, though. Despite the chaos, I'm sure you've stopped at a booth or two that made you slow down and look.

If you're on the other side of that interaction, that's the goal: stand out from the crowd, entice people to stop, and give them something memorable. And if you haven't stocked up on the basics yet, start with our Event Essentials guide. Once your table cover and banner are handled, come back here. Because having the right stuff is only half the battle. The real question is: how do you get people to stop at your booth and stay?

The Harbor Pouch is a premium, water-resistant neoprene pouch with a durable polyester lining, and it hits the same sporty-meets-elevated note that's made the Hunter Toiletry Bag so popular. Inside, two removable air mesh zip pouches keep smaller items organized instead of rattling around loose, and a secure zip closure plus an exterior clip (great for keys or a bag charm) round out the details. It's 100% vegan, available in six colorways, and priced to actually make sense at scale.

Every event has two versions. There's the agenda with keynote at 10, networking at 11:30, and lunch at noon. Then there's the one people actually experience: the helpful sign they telling them where to go, the name badge that saved them from an awkward faux pas, and the branded cup they took home and are still using eight months later.

The second version is the one that sticks. So let's talk about it.

Fitness is having a moment. Group fitness classes are packed, pickleball courts are booked solid on a Tuesday afternoon, and "active lifestyle" has become less of a niche and more of a personality trait for basically every generation. This isn't a passing trend, it's a full-on cultural shift, and it's opening up a huge opportunity for branded merch.

In a world post-Amazon Prime, it's easy to think, "It's just a bunch of t-shirts, how long can it take?" We get it, and honestly, like Amazon, we can do amazing things to meet a tight deadline. But good merch takes time. So how far in advance should you really order promotional products for an event? The answer depends on the product, quantity, and customization involved, but as a rule of thumb, we recommend ordering at least 4-6 weeks ahead of your event.

Be honest: you have a drawer somewhere with a stress ball from a trade show, a pen that skips, and a lanyard from a conference you don't even remember attending. We've all got one. It's the promo graveyard, and it exists because not every branded item earns a permanent spot in someone's life.

Here's the paradox we love talking about with clients: promotional products are one of the most effective advertising mediums out there, but a huge chunk of what gets handed out still ends up in the trash. So what separates the mug that lives on someone's desk for five years from the keychain that hits the junk drawer within a week? Turns out, it's not really about budget. It's about fit.

Have you heard about the new trending item that has people standing in line outside of retailers ahead of their release? Sure, you have! It's the Needoh! The now ultra viral product officially launched back in 2017 but suddenly skyrocketed to success in late 2025. If you haven't made the connection yet, I'll make it for you: You need to add branded stress relief toys to your merch strategy.

One of the biggest things I noticed coming out of the ASI Show was how many booths had some kind of build-your-own or interactive merch station.

Not just “grab a free item and go” prebagged giveaways, more like choose your color, pick your pieces, customize the final product, and make the giveaway feel personal.

[Boarding Pass #2] Low-Cost Merch & New Collections

Whether you find yourself browsing retail for personal use or searching for promo on behalf of a company, there is always a distinct draw toward purchasing a recognizable name brand. There is nothing wrong with that, we just want to let you know that you have more options! Especially when things like budget come into play, sometimes a dupe can really come in clutch! 

[Boarding Pass #1] Summer Swag & Custom Caps

Matching Merch collection are such a smart way to use branded items to make an impact. If you’ve never considered, or even heard of it, it’s time to change that.  A Matching Merch Collection is a curated set of products that already share a look, feel, color story, material story, or mood. This isn’t really an unfamiliar concept though, right? Clients often order a set of black pens to go with the black padfolio they are ordering, or a straw topper to compliment the branded Stanley Quenchers they picked. This is common sense ordering, but let’s raise the bar.

Below are the basics for supplying art for your merch order.

Remember - our graphic designers are here to help!

Lately my feed is full of “journal ecosystems” — not just one notebook, but a whole cast of journals with specific roles: memory keeping, goal tracking, brain dump, finance, creativity, even TV shows and reading logs.

Our VP Mitch Silver was interviewed on a podcast a while back. He talked about the secrets of his success in sales, and his words of wisdom still hold true today!

The best merch isn’t always the flashiest or the most expensive. It’s not always a name brand.

The best merch is thoughtful, useful, and makes life a little better!

Travel is ready to make a comeback and keeping PPE related items, cleaners and sanitizers together and organized is going to be a priority.

Yesterday, while leaving work, I passed by someone wearing a Guster T-shirt.