Customers know best: Promo item ideas from the experts

By Laurie Frees

Our customers are always coming up with creative promo item ideas—and we’re here for it! From recognizing employees and strengthening team spirit to elevating events and creating memorable gifts, these real-world success stories showcase the many ways promotional products make an impact. Read how these customers earned their #SwaggingRights^® and pick up inspiration for your next big idea along the way. 

Recognizing the people who make it happen 

Behind every successful organization are people going above and beyond. These customers used promotional products to celebrate important contributions and show appreciation for the people who help make magic happen. 

• “Our staff wore these [T-shirts] for our 2026 summer camps in Ontario and Nova Scotia. We needed a wide variety of sizes and it was important for them not to be too heavy during warm summer days.” — Paul 

• “[We] used [certificate holders] for onboarding and staff appreciation gifts.” — Crystal 

• “We use our [glass awards] as give aways at our Christmas party for our associates’ kids as well as awards for our associates.” — Leigh-Anne 

• “Staff appreciation gift [backpacks] for hospital staff.” — Stephanie 

Promo items for events that steal the show 

From conferences and trade shows to fundraisers and community celebrations, the right promotional products help elevate the experiences for attendees. These customers share the promo item ideas that helped build buzz and make their events a little more memorable. 

• “Used [stress balls] at trade shows and conventions.” — Mary-Anne 

• “Merchandise [sunglasses] for a pride organization.” — Justin 

• “We had 400 CEOs in a room. We wanted the room to have our company’s presence but without it feeling too in your face. The pens and paper were a nice touch and the quality was excellent - more than one person asked me where we got them.” — Jen 

• “It [water bottle] was used for our Golf Tournament and all participants appreciated the quality and workmanship.” — Kashif 

Promo products for community connection 

One of the most rewarding uses for promotional products is bringing people together. These customers’ creative promotional item ideas helped their organizations extend their reach, connect with community members and keep their brand visible.  

• “We give a keychain to each of our customers! I love seeing key chains that people have kept their keys [on] for our products for decades.” — Bob 

• “We used it [keychain] as a giveaway on Canada Day Parade.” — Rhea 

• “We use our swag [keychains] to get our name out into the community. We are always being told we have the coolest swag.” — Lori 

• “We use these [pens] for various community connections and events that we attend.” — Lisa 

Gifts, rewards and memorable keepsakes 

When used with intention, promotional products become more than simple giveaways. These customers found ways to create keepsakes that commemorate accomplishments, strengthen relationships or celebrate meaningful moments.  

• “Literacy Lambton’s Summer Reading Buddies is a volunteer-powered program connecting Big Buddies with Grade 1–6 Little Buddy readers for weekly summer reading meetups at the downtown Sarnia Library. Through a generous 4imprint.ca One x One grant, each Little Buddy will receive their own Bee Buddy in a Literacy Lambton t-shirt—a reminder to “Bee-lieve in Yourself. Keep Reading.” Our goal is simple: to spark the joy of reading and build confidence that lasts beyond summer.” — Tracy 

• “I use the [duffel bags] for client and referral gifts.” — Umme  

• “We used our [notepads] as swag for our students and prizes when they do something awesome.” — Susan 

• “These [luggage tags] were used for our sales team and everybody that was invited loved them. The process was easy and delivery was faster than expected.” — Julie 

Share your best promotional item ideas 

Do you have a favorite promo item idea to share? Let’s hear it! Head to our #SwaggingRights page to tell your story.  

Laurie Frees

Laurie Frees is a merchandising category manager at 4imprint who specializes in apparel. With over 25 years of experience in merchandising and product development—plus four years in the promotional products industry—she brings deep expertise in fabric construction and logo application. Laurie manages the product assortment across all apparel categories, including T-shirts, polos, outerwear, dress shirts, sweatshirts and more. Her role includes tracking trends, building supplier partnerships and analyzing data to guide decisions. With a strong focus on products made from sustainable materials, Laurie helps drive innovation in core apparel offerings that customers rely on to showcase their brands.

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