The Unsung Heroes of Corporate Swag: Custom Ink Survey Reveals Hidden Workload Behind Team Merchandise

Survey of 500+ professionals shows swag organizers spend nearly 10 hours weekly on invisible tasks, with 60% managing responsibilities outside official job descriptions

TYSONS, Va., Feb. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Custom Ink, the online leader in custom products and apparel for businesses, groups, and organizations, today released findings from its 2026 Unsung Heroes Survey revealing the significant hidden workload behind corporate swag programs. The survey of over 500 professionals responsible for ordering custom gear shows organizers spend an average of nearly 10 hours per week on invisible tasks, with 60% managing these responsibilities outside their official job descriptions.

The research illuminates a critical gap between the perceived simplicity of ordering custom merchandise and the complex reality of coordinating sizes, managing budgets, ensuring quality, and building team culture through branded products. Nearly one in three organizers (29%) report feeling very or extremely anxious about orders arriving late or wrong, with quality concerns outweighing timing fears as the top worry.

"Swag doesn't just appear—someone has to make it happen," said Kane Posner, Chief Operations and Merchandising Officer at Custom Ink. "What surprised us most wasn't just the time investment, but the emotional weight these organizers carry. They're juggling five different roles, working through lunch breaks, and experiencing real anxiety about getting it right. These are the unsung heroes behind every company retreat hoodie and team celebration t-shirt."

Five Hats, One Person: The Multiple Roles of Swag Organizers

Survey respondents revealed they simultaneously play multiple specialized roles when organizing custom merchandise, with the average organizer juggling 2-3 roles at once:

Size/Fit Consultant (54%): Tracking down everyone's size preferences, fielding questions about fit, and managing spreadsheets of individual requests.

Logistics/Shipping Manager (49%): Coordinating delivery timelines, tracking packages, and handling distribution to remote employees across multiple locations.

Budget Magician (47%): Stretching limited dollars further and finding the balance between quality and cost constraints.

Amateur Graphic Designer (46%): Creating or refining designs, even when lacking formal design training or experience.

Vibe Curator/Tastemaker (33%): Selecting items that authentically reflect team personality and company culture.

Additionally, 39% report working on these tasks during core work hours, taking time away from their primary job responsibilities, while 30% handle swag coordination after hours in the evenings.

Quality Concerns Trump Timing Fears

When asked about the "scariest" part of organizing custom swag, quality concerns emerged as the dominant anxiety, surpassing traditional logistics worries:

• Quality looking "cheap" in person: 30%
• Design errors (spelling, wrong logo): 28%
• Items arriving late for events: 22%
• Getting sizes wrong: 20%

"People fear embarrassment more than logistics," said Posner. "When your name is attached to the order, you don't want to be the person who picked shirts that feel like sandpaper. Quality concerns beating timing concerns tells us organizers understand that swag represents their judgment and reflects on the entire team."

The Design Confidence Gap Reveals Opportunity for Support

Survey findings reveal a significant design confidence gap, with only 41% of organizers enjoying design work and finding it easy. The majority face substantial challenges:

• 24% can design but lack sufficient time
• 23% have vision but struggle with professional execution
• 6% find design intimidating and freeze up
• 6% typically reuse existing designs to avoid the challenge

This means 47% of swag organizers could benefit from design assistance but may not know where to access support. Notably, design confidence increases with spending level—60% of high-spend buyers ($50,000+) enjoy designing compared to just 34% of low-spend buyers, suggesting experience builds confidence but doesn't eliminate the need for expert help.

When Swag Works: Pride Outweighs Anxiety

Despite the invisible workload and anxiety, swag organizers experience genuine emotional rewards when their efforts succeed. When asked how it feels seeing their team use the swag they organized:

• 53% feel proud ("I made this happen and it looks great")
• 45% feel appreciated ("The team is thanking me")
• 44% feel connected ("It feels like we are truly one team")
• 40% feel relieved ("Thank goodness nothing went wrong")
• Only 16% feel stressed ("I'm waiting for someone to complain")

The data shows pride significantly outweighs relief, indicating that the joy of successful team connection exceeds the fear of potential failure. Organizers shared memorable feedback including stories of remote teammates crying happy tears over birthday mugs, team members' spouses confiscating hoodies because they were "so soft," and employees saying custom swag made them feel like part of the team "in a way no meeting ever could."

Different Groups Face Unique Challenges

Analysis by use case revealed distinct patterns across different organizer segments:

K-12 Schools: Quality-Obsessed - School swag organizers have the highest quality concerns of any segment, with 47% fearing products looking "cheap" compared to 30% overall. They also dedicate the most time to swag tasks (13+ hours weekly), reflecting the tension between tight budgets and quality expectations.

Personal Events: Highest Anxiety - Organizers of family reunions, weddings, and milestone birthdays report 41% anxiety levels compared to 27% for corporate buyers. Once-in-a-lifetime personal events carry higher emotional stakes than quarterly business reviews.

High-Volume Buyers: More Experience, More Pressure - Contrary to expectations, high-volume buyers ($50,000+ annually) report 38% anxiety levels compared to just 23% for low-volume buyers. More budget means more pressure to deliver results.

Fundraisers: Timing Critical - Fundraising organizers are the only segment where timing (33%) beats quality as the top fear, because charity 5K races and fundraising events offer no deadline flexibility.

The Recognition Gap: Valued but Not Always Acknowledged

While 56% of swag organizers feel highly recognized for their culture-building efforts and 45% highlight swag successes in performance reviews, a recognition gap persists. The work is valued enough to mention in reviews but may not receive sufficient day-to-day acknowledgment, with 40% feeling only somewhat recognized and 4% feeling invisible despite their substantial time investment.

"These organizers are doing the invisible work that holds teams together," Posner added. "They're not just ordering t-shirts—they're building culture, creating belonging, and making teams feel connected. That deserves recognition at every level, not just in annual performance reviews."

Custom Ink Support for Swag Organizers

In response to survey findings, Custom Ink emphasizes support resources designed to reduce organizer workload and anxiety:

Design Assistance: Custom Ink's "Inkers" design experts can help transform rough ideas into polished designs, addressing the 47% who lack time or struggle with execution.

Quality Guarantee: Twenty-five years of experience backs every order, directly addressing the 30% who fear products looking cheap.

Group Ordering Tools: Self-service size selection and payment options eliminate spreadsheet management for the 54% serving as size consultants.

Reliable Delivery: Transparent delivery options help organizers plan with confidence, particularly the 22% most worried about late arrival.

Survey Methodology

The 2026 Unsung Heroes Survey was conducted in February 2026 among 516 professionals responsible for organizing custom products for their teams or groups. Respondents represent diverse use cases including employee initiatives, marketing programs, K-12 schools, fundraising organizations, personal events, and business recognition programs, with annual spending ranging from under $1,000 to over $1,000,000.

About Custom Ink

Custom Ink is the online leader in custom products and apparel for businesses, groups, and organizations. The company helps bring colleagues, communities, teammates, and friends together with inspired custom products they are proud to use and wear. Custom Ink makes getting custom gear smooth and seamless with innovative design tools, caring customer service, creative design inspiration, and a broad range of high-quality merchandise. For more information, visit www.customink.com.

Media Contact:

Hani Durzy
hani.durzy@customink.com

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