Kettering University Pins and Cord Keepers
July 7, 2025
Kettering allowed us the opportunity to make lapel pins and cord keepers to use as gifts for their students and staff. These are very popular because they show affiliation with the university. The pins and cord keepers symbolize achievement and belonging, and they are very stylish. It makes a statement to others to show that you are a part of something that is worthy to be shown to people. Here at BYD, we offer branded swag to help attract the best candidates to your business.
Corporate swag, also known as promotional products or branded merchandise, can offer several benefits for businesses as part of their marketing and branding efforts. However, it also comes with some challenges. Here's an overview of the benefits and challenges of corporate swag:
Benefits:
- Brand Awareness: Corporate swag can increase brand visibility and recognition. When people use or wear items with your company's logo, it acts as a constant advertisement.
- Customer Loyalty: Giving away branded merchandise to customers or clients can foster a sense of appreciation and loyalty. It can make customers feel valued and more likely to return or recommend your business.
- Employee Morale: Providing employees with branded swag can boost morale and create a sense of belonging. It can also serve as a tangible reminder of their association with the company.
- Trade Shows and Events: Branded items are popular giveaways at trade shows and events. They can attract visitors to your booth and serve as reminders of your company after the event.
- Lead Generation: Swag items can be used as incentives for lead generation. For example, offering a free promotional item in exchange for contact information can help build your marketing database.
- Cost-Effective Marketing: Compared to some other marketing strategies, corporate swag can be cost-effective, especially when ordered in bulk.
- Tangible Marketing: Swag provides a tangible way to connect with your audience. People often retain and use branded items, extending the lifespan of your marketing efforts.
Challenges:
- Costs: While corporate swag can be cost-effective when done right, it can also become expensive, especially if you invest in high-quality or custom items. Budget constraints can be a challenge.
- Waste: Swag items that aren't well-received or are of low quality can lead to waste. They might end up in the trash, and this can have negative environmental implications.
- Effectiveness: The effectiveness of swag can vary widely depending on the type of items you choose and how they align with your target audience's preferences. It's essential to select items that resonate with your audience.
- Storage and Distribution: Managing and storing a stockpile of swag items, as well as distributing them to the right people at the right time, can be logistically challenging, especially for large organizations.
- Competition: Many businesses use corporate swag, so standing out in a sea of branded merchandise can be difficult. To be effective, your swag needs to be unique and memorable.
- ROI Measurement: It can be challenging to measure the return on investment (ROI) of corporate swag. Determining whether the cost of producing and distributing swag results in tangible benefits can be elusive.
- Sustainability Concerns: With growing environmental awareness, there's a greater emphasis on sustainable and eco-friendly promotional products. Using non-environmentally friendly swag can generate negative perceptions.
In summary, corporate swag can be a valuable tool for marketing and branding efforts, but it should be approached strategically. Careful consideration of the type of items, their quality, and their alignment with your target audience is crucial. Additionally, managing costs, waste, and sustainability concerns should be part of your swag strategy to ensure its effectiveness.
If you're interested in this product for your business and/or event contact us at (810) 373-9293 or www.behindyourdesign.com/contact
Check out these videos of all the different finishes for enamel pins!
Some promotional products are practical. Some are useful. And some simply make the whole event more fun. Foldable cowboy hats fall into that last category. They bring instant energy to an event and create a shared moment people actually participate in. Whether you're hosting a company picnic, sponsoring a festival, organizing a golf outing, or planning a community celebration, foldable cowboy hats are an easy way to add personality and interaction right away. A Giveaway That Sets the Tone Foldable cowboy hats are lightweight, packable, and made for events where people are moving around and having fun. They fold into a compact pouch, making them easy to distribute and easy for guests to keep. Once opened, they pop right into shape and become part of the experience almost immediately. Perfect for Summer Events Foldable cowboy hats fit right in at: Company picnics County fairs Music festivals Rodeos Golf outings Customer appreciation events Campgrounds and outdoor recreation School events Community festivals Beach and lake events They are fun to wear, easy to carry, and naturally encourage participation and photos. A Simple Way to Add More Energy One of the best parts is how quickly they change the feel of an event. People put them on right away, start interacting more, and suddenly the environment feels more relaxed and engaging. It’s a small touch that creates a shared experience without adding complexity to your event planning.
Back-to-school season is one of the busiest times of year for schools, community organizations, and family-focused businesses. Open houses, orientations, festivals, and school supply giveaways all provide opportunities to connect with local families. While everyone else is handing out another pencil or notebook, consider giving them something they'll actually enjoy using: a coloring book. Coloring books are interactive, memorable, and offer a fun way to keep your brand in front of families. Better yet, there are two ways to make them work for your organization. Branded vs. Custom Coloring Books Branded Coloring Books A branded coloring book starts with a professionally designed, ready-to-print book. Your logo, business name, and contact information are added to the cover, creating an affordable giveaway that's quick to produce and easy to distribute. Branded coloring books are a great fit for school open houses, community festivals, health fairs, pediatric and dental offices, libraries, parks and recreation departments, banks, credit unions, and other family-focused events. Custom Coloring Books A custom coloring book is created specifically for your organization. Instead of placing your logo on an existing design, every page features original artwork and content that reflects your business, mission, or message. You can include your mascot, products or services, local landmarks, educational topics, safety tips, puzzles, activities, or just-for-fun pages. Whether you're introducing students to a new school, teaching healthy habits, celebrating your community, or explaining what your business does, a custom coloring book tells your story in a creative and engaging way. Give Families Something They'll Remember Back-to-school season is the perfect time to think beyond the standard promotional products. Whether you're looking for a branded coloring book featuring your logo or a completely custom coloring book with original illustrations and content, Behind Your Design can help you create something families will be excited to take home. Sometimes the best promotional products aren't the ones everyone expects. They're the ones everyone remembers.
When Superior Lawn & Landscape completed its new facility, they wanted an event that felt as professional and polished as the company they’ve built. Behind Your Design partnered with their team to bring that vision to life, creating an experience where every detail reinforced their brand. From the moment guests arrived, the Superior Lawn & Landscape brand was present. We managed signage, catering, beverages, entertainment, photography, and overall layout, along with rental coordination to create a cohesive, functional space. We also created branded giveaways and promotional items, including aluminum cups, koozies, journals, chapstick, bug spray, sunglasses, and lots more. Door prizes and a raffle featuring company merchandise added excitement and gave guests keepsakes from the day. The biggest visual impact came from something simple: the custom Hawaiian shirts. Seeing the team and staff in coordinated branded apparel instantly created unity. It transformed individuals into one team with one identity and reinforced the company’s personality in a way traditional marketing materials can’t. That’s the power of branded apparel.
Some projects are about creating great branding. Others are about helping bring a piece of community history back to life. This spring, Behind Your Design had the privilege of supporting the return of the Flint Soap Box Derby to Cronin Derby Downs, the original home of the Flint Soap Box Derby, where racing first began in 1969. On May 30, 2026, the newly restored track welcomed racers, families, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters back to the hill for the inaugural race at its historic location. It was a day filled with excitement, nostalgia, and community pride, but the impact of the Soap Box Derby extends far beyond a single race day.
When it comes to creating a polished, professional space, the details matter. One of the most effective and affordable ways to elevate your workplace is with custom vinyl lettering for walls, windows, and other smooth surfaces. Whether you’re branding a storefront, organizing an office, or adding clarity to a facility, vinyl lettering helps turn everyday spaces into intentional brand experiences.