At Pinnacle Promotions, swag is not just our business – it’s our passion. You might be wondering what swag really is, and from where did that term actually originate?
There have been varied opinions over the years about how ‘swag’ came to be. Many people have convinced themselves that ‘swag’ must be an acronym or abbreviation for something.
Here are some things we came across in our research – just to name a few:
- ‘Stuff We All Get’
- ‘Stuff We Ain’t Got’
- ‘Stolen Without A Gun’
- ‘Scientific Wild Arsed Guess’
While these may be rather colorful explanations, they are certainly not true. ‘Swag’ actually comes from the Scandinavian word svagga, meaning ‘to rock unsteadily or lurch.’ It was first introduced into the English language in the 13th or 14th century.
As you might suspect, the meaning of words evolves over time, and it’s certainly not set in stone. In current usage, swag has come to have a few very different meanings—illegally obtained goods, a decorative garland, or lastly, our realm of expertise, free merchandise—namely promotional items and goodies.
For us swag lovers, it’s all about anything and everything that can be custom branded to promote your business.
The possibilities are endless, from custom branded hats to mobile phone cases to promotional magnets, and everything in between. We’ve seen from first-hand experience how custom promotional products have benefited businesses of all sizes.
If you’ve decided that your marketing strategy could use an update, you might just need a little bit of swag. We would love to share our passion for swag with you by helping you build much needed brand awareness and recognition with the promotional products that click with your company and audience.
Just as the meaning and context of words changes with the times, so should your marketing strategy. With the right swag, you can build your business by leaps and bounds, and ultimately Make the right impression™.