Spring Swag Ideas to Refresh Your Brand This Season

When the days get longer and the weather starts warming up, it’s not just your wardrobe that could use a refresh—your spring promotional items could use one too. Spring is the season of renewal, and there’s no better time to infuse new life into your marketing strategy with branded spring gifts for employees, customers, incentives, and more!

Whether you’re looking to boost team morale, celebrate Earth Day, run a seasonal giveaway, or the like, spring swag is an easy way to stay top-of-mind. From colorful staples to wellness-forward gifts, these ideas will help you turn seasonal vibes into lasting brand impressions.

Photo courtesy of OnlyNY; Shown: OnlyNY Mesh Short

Why Spring Is the Perfect Time for Branded Swag

Spring naturally symbolizes growth, optimism, and fresh starts—everything you want your brand to be associated with. It’s also the season when people are more active, social, and outdoors, which means more opportunities for your branded merchandise and spring and summer gifts to shine.

Photo courtesy of Only NY; Shown: Only NY Custom Nalgene bottle

Here’s why spring swag makes perfect sense:

  • More events, more exposure. Outdoor events, community festivals, spring break travel, and company retreats provide the perfect environment to share branded goods.
  • It sets the tone for the rest of the year. Spring swag can kick off your Q2 campaigns, reinforce company values, or set goals in motion.
  • It aligns with eco-conscious messaging. Spring and Earth Day go hand in hand, making it a great time to lean into sustainable swag and tell your brand’s values story.

Shown: Beach Balls

Spring Giveaway Ideas

Want to spark buzz on social media, re-engage customers, or show your team some love? These promotional ideas are designed to showcase your brand while offering something people will use and enjoy.

1. Branded Picnic Kits

Say hello to outdoor season with custom picnic blankets, reusable utensils, compact cooler bags, and more, all branded, of course. These spring giveaways are perfect for clients, customers, or loyal followers who value lifestyle perks.

Pro tip: Add a branded mini Bluetooth speaker to enhance the experience and create an unforgettable unboxing experience.  

Shown: Numo Picnic Pal 

2. Earth Day Eco-Swag Bundles

Sustainability is more than a trend—it’s an expectation. Earth Day offers a timely opportunity to show your commitment. 

Try bundling together different products, like:

  • Bamboo or stainless steel reusable straws
  • Notebooks made from recycled materials
  • Seed paper cards that blossom when planted
  • Organic cotton tote bags with a minimalist logo
  • Canvas pouch or dopp kit

These giveaways are ideal for nonprofit partnerships, corporate social responsibility initiatives, and the launch of environmentally friendly products. Check out these 20 eco-friendly swag ideas for more inspo!   

Photo courtesy of OnlyNY; Shown: Only NY x Manhattan Portage Coin Pouch

3. Fresh Desk Kits

Spring cleaning doesn’t stop at home. Encourage recipients to refresh their workspace with spring giveaway ideas that spark creativity and calm. 

Include items like:

  • Mini succulents, air plants, or custom seed packets
  • Pastel pens, sticky notes, highlighters, or branded notebooks
  • Branded ceramic mugs or reusable drinkware
  • Scented candles or stress balls in spring scents and branded colors

Bonus idea: Add a playlist QR code or affirmation card for a little midday motivation.

Photo courtesy of OnlyNY; Shown: OnlyNY Trash Can Pen Holder

3. Branded Beach Towels

Sun’s out, brand’s out! Custom beach towels are a fun, functional way to make your logo stand out—literally.

Fun customizable products for spring include:

  • Oversized, quick-dry towels with edge-to-edge printing
  • Lightweight Turkish towels in your brand colors
  • Towel-and-tote gift sets for sunny-day promotions
  • Roll-up towel bundles with branded straps or tags

Find the perfect customized beach towel for spring incentive gifts, outdoor events, or welcoming new hires with serious vacation energy.

Photo courtesy of A24 Films

4. Seasonal Self-Care Boxes

Winter was long, making spring a warm welcome. Help your audience reset with gifts that say, “take a breath.”

Create a self-care box filled with thoughtful items like:

  • Cooling eye masks or gel rollers
  • Herbal teas or adaptogen drink powders
  • Sleep masks and essential oil rollers
  • A gratitude journal with your branding on the inside cover
  • Corporate food gift items, like healthy snacks or artisan treats

These seasonal swag favorites are ideal for influencer mailers, customer loyalty programs, internal wellness initiatives, and other promotional purposes.

Shown: Grand Provisions Butter Toffee Pretzels

5. Spring Break Survival Kits

Whether your audience is packing for vacation or just dreaming of one, these travel-friendly giveaways bring the vacation vibes.

You can’t go wrong with customized items like:

  • Custom sunglasses or travel-size sunscreen
  • SPF lip balm and electrolyte drink sticks
  • Foldable water-resistant bags
  • Travel pillows or passport holders with your logo

These are ideal for campus marketing, seasonal promotions, or hospitality brands that want to stay relevant on the go. Check out summer swag options too!

Photo courtesy of Bon Appetit; Shown: The Tinned Fish Tote

6. Spring Gifts for Employees

Your team deserves some seasonal appreciation, too. Spring is a great time to recognize their contributions, welcome new hires, and reconnect after winter hibernation. Already have spring gifts for employees? Check out these 10 tips for updating employee swag

Freshen up their wardrobes with branded apparel:

  • Full-zip jackets, breathable windbreakers, or crewneck tees
  • Subtle tone-on-tone embroidery or minimalist logos
  • Soft, sustainable fabrics that feel as good as they look

These make great additions to onboarding kits, off-site merch, or appreciation packages.

Shown: Topo Designs Tee 

Another idea, encourage wellness with stylish, functional drinkware:

  • Stainless steel tumblers or glass water bottles with silicone sleeves
  • Branded insulated mugs for cold brew or tea
  • Infuser bottles for spa-like hydration

Consider pairing with herbal tea bags, fruit powders, or a hydration challenge tracker for extra marketing power. 

Shown: Porter Glass Bottle

Make commuting and weekends easier with on-the-go gear that’s designed for movement:

  • Custom belt bags, backpacks, or convertible totes
  • Foldable umbrellas or packable rain jackets
  • Branded caps or UV-protection sunglasses

With cool picks that are designed for movement, you’ve got spring giveaway ideas that prove your brand has thought of everything. And, as for your spring promotional items, they get used again and again!

Photo courtesy of A24 Films

Nothing says spring like a fresh new lid, customized with your logo, of course. 

  • Branded baseball caps in seasonal colors
  • Bucket hats with custom embroidery
  • Performance hats for outdoor team events
  • Knit beanies for those cooler spring mornings

Shown: Baggu Bucket Hat

The best hat swag ideas are great for company outings, employee appreciation, or adding personality to your welcome kits. Take design notes from Sporty & Rich, like this two-toned corduroy ball cap with script embroidery. 

Photo courtesy of Sporty & Rich; Shown: Wellness Club Corduroy Hat 

Curate delicious, customized items like seasonal snacks, treats, and accessories: 

  • Citrus gummies or lemon shortbread
  • Trail mix in custom pouches
  • Branded koozies, napkins, or dish towels. 

With these fresh picks and yummy additions, your spring swag just got even better! Plus, these are great options for staying on budget when it comes to your spring giveaways.   

Shown: California Gummy Bears

Tips for Creating Seasonal Swag That Stands Out

With so many options, how do you choose swag that leaves a lasting impression? 

Here are a few tips to guide your spring strategy:

  • Be functional. If your swag solves a seasonal problem (like staying cool, packing light, or organizing a desk), it’ll get used—and remembered.
  • Stay on theme. Align colors, patterns, and messaging with spring. Think florals, bright hues, bold greens, citrusy shades, or notice me patterns in your brand colors. 

Photo courtesy of Only New York

  • Think sustainable. Look for eco-conscious packaging, recycled materials, or refillable formats. Spring is the time to lead with values.

  • Add personality. Include branded messaging cards with humor or inspiration to boost the unboxing experience and highlight your brand voice while connecting with your recipients. 

  • Make it Instagram-worthy. Beautiful design encourages shares and unboxing videos, which means free brand exposure. With the best promotional items for spring you can make sure your company gets noticed!

Photo courtesy of Art of Play and Fontaine Cards (left) and CardsAround (right); Shown: Cardistry-Con and Hand-Illustrated Travel Card Deck

How Gemnote Can Help

At Gemnote, we help brands bring their seasonal swag visions to life with elevated, customized, and on-brand merchandise. Whether you’re planning a spring giveaway, rethinking your employee appreciation program, or curating an Earth Day drop, we’re here to make it seamless.

Photo courtesy of Aimé Leon Dore; Shown: Aimé Leon Dore tee + slides

With Gemnote, you can take advantage of:

  • Product sourcing from premium and sustainable vendors
  • Customization services (design, colorways, embroidery, engraving, and more)
  • Kitting and sustainable packaging to bring it all together and make an impact
  • Global shipping and fulfillment to remote teams or customer lists
  • Hands-on curation support to align your swag with your seasonal campaign goals

Photo courtesy of Only NY; Shown: Canvas Tote

Our experienced team has worked with top brands to create one-of-a-kind branded promotional products that align with a company’s brand identity, values, and customer preferences. They can even help you find the best picks for your budget. 

Spring is more than a season—it’s a brand opportunity! Whether you’re connecting with your team, celebrating a sustainability milestone, or engaging your audience, spring swag giveaways and promotional items can help you do it all with style.

Shown: Custom Pool Floats

From lightweight apparel to eco-forward kits, every product tells a story—and Gemnote is here to help you tell yours this season. Check out our Lookbook, start a project, or contact us today to create memorable spring swag!

Start creating magical merch today.