The SWAG B2B Buyers Actually Want (According to Our Survey)

When you give a gift, the best move is often just asking what the recipient actually wants. That’s why we surveyed our customers about the SWAG they want to receive, so marketing and sales enablement teams choosing branded merchandise know exactly where to spend their budget.

Think of this like a wedding registry. The happy couple makes a list of items they’ll actually use and enjoy, so you can look at that list and decide what fits your budget and what feels meaningful. Buy something that wasn’t on the list, and it usually ends up in a box in the attic, at Goodwill, or in the trash.

Keep your SWAG out of the trash. Read on for real data on what your next branded giveaway should include.

What Did the Mimeo SWAG Survey Ask B2B Buyers?

We asked 125 business professionals across different industries which branded merchandise they’d actually be excited to receive. We split the survey into two categories: small items you might get at a trade show, in a training class, or as a token gift, and bigger-budget items for leave-behinds or client gifts. Using items from Mimeo’s branded item catalog, we offered six options for the smaller handouts and seven options for the bigger-budget items.

Which Branded Merchandise Did B2B Buyers Choose?

B2B buyers chose practical, everyday-use items over novelty gifts. Our marketing team expected customers to gravitate toward more unique ideas, like a cuddly branded teddy bear or a promotional bamboo cutting board. Instead, respondents voted the RFID Phone Wallet with Ring their most-wanted small item, with the Universal Car Adapter close behind.

What Won the Trade Show Promo Item Category?

The RFID Phone Wallet with Ring won the trade show promo item category with 29% of the vote. Here’s the full breakdown of small-item results:

What would you be most excited to receive at a tradeshow, in a training class, or as a small gift?

1. RFID Phone Wallet with Ring (29%)
2. Universal Car Adapter (28%)
3. Flip Top Candy Dispensers with M&Ms (23%)
4. Rubik’s 9 Panel Full-Stock Cube (10%)
5. 6″ Big Paw Bear (9%)

What Won the Leave-Behind Gift Category?

The Eastman Tritan Water Bottle won the leave-behind gift category with 29% of the vote, followed closely by Bluetooth Earbuds at 28%. Every other option came in under 10%. Here’s the full breakdown:

What would you be most excited to receive as a leave-behind after a meeting or as a client gift?

1. Eastman Tritan Copolyester Water Bottle (29%)
2. Bluetooth Earbuds (28%)
3. Hemingway Journal Notebook (10%)
4. Bamboo Cutting Board (9%)
5. Cotton Canvas Grocery Bag (8%)
6. Office Buddy Cube (8%)
7. 3-Piece Gift Stress Relief Tube with Popcorn (7.5%)

Which Branded Item Did B2B Buyers Like Least?

Branded sunglasses ranked last. The LensTek Sunglasses received zero votes in our survey. Branded sunglasses had their moment a decade ago, but buyers today have had enough of finding them in their SWAG bags.

How Can You Order Branded SWAG Like This?

You can order any of these items directly through Mimeo’s branded merchandise catalog. Choosing the right promotional products for your next event or client gift makes a real difference in how your brand lands. Getting your brand noticed with effective print distribution at events pays off well beyond the day of the event itself.

Swag Survey FAQ

Things to Remember

• Practical items outperform novelty items. B2B buyers consistently chose useful, everyday products over gimmicky ones.
• The RFID Phone Wallet with Ring topped the small-item category.
• The Eastman Tritan Water Bottle topped the leave-behind gift category.
• Branded sunglasses are a pass. They landed dead last with zero votes.

Order branded SWAG your customers will actually keep.