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Ask HN: Can we have a conversation on startup swag waste?

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Ask HN: Can we have a conversation on startup swag waste?

#1

Post by jimkri »

Yesterday I made a Jokr order and was handed a swag bag. It had a rag thin bandana, a tote bag, and a plastic bag dog waste holder. The tote bag has a use, but the bandana was so thin it was a waste of fabric. The dog waste holder is another problem, but also uanessacry when I don't have a dog.

I think swag is great to get, when it has a use. I they probably made a lot of bandana's and plastic bag holders that were probably thrown away. I also know there are a ton of conferences where this is also happening. This is leading to so much waste that is not controllable, but companies continue to waste money in this area. They will also shift blame to consumers on recycling when the companies are constantly producing it.

Questions:

- Why do companies continue to waste money on useless swag?

- What can be done to have companies think about the waste they are producing from swag?

Edit 1: I'm not talking about t-shirts or sweatshirts

Re: Ask HN: Can we have a conversation on startup swag waste?

#2

Post by cf100clunk »

I appreciate that you used the word "continue" in your first question as tech firms have featured swag seemingly forever. I will just say that my DEC Alpha coffee mug, a multitude of lapel pins from an array of companies, and my Nokia monitor screen brush have all stood the test of time, unlike the many golf shirts, posters, lanyards, and pens. The swag you have received seems to be pitiful and wasteful.

Re: Ask HN: Can we have a conversation on startup swag waste?

#3

Post by jka »

Could it be a form of cargo culting[1]?

You have a department that is tasked with promoting your organization at public events. They see that other organizations provide lots of wares with their logo emblazoned on them. Some of those other organizations are successful. There are companies that provide customised wares. Thus: your department purchases more of the wares.

And a belief: you can make a big difference by not peddling swag, and being principled and open (albeit not loud) about the fact that you do not. Perhaps it basically comes down to reducing energy usage and waste; the upside to you would be the word-of-mouth reputation benefit from taking a principled stance.

[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo_cult

Re: Ask HN: Can we have a conversation on startup swag waste?

#4

Post by jka »

cf100clunk wrote: post #2

I appreciate that you used the word "continue" in your first question as tech firms have featured swag seemingly forever. I will just say that my DEC Alpha coffee mug, a multitude of lapel pins from an array of companies, and my Nokia monitor screen brush have all stood the test of time, unlike the many golf shirts, posters, lanyards, and pens. The swag you have received seems to be pitiful and wasteful.

What is the world's most durable item of historic corporate swag?

Re: Ask HN: Can we have a conversation on startup swag waste?

#6

Post by spaetzleesser »

I think this should be stopped. I have a ton of water bottles, mugs, shirts, USB chargers, pens and other stuff I will never use and often just throw away. Not only do I not need the items but usually they are just cheap crap that breaks if you actually use it. One company handed out Patagonia shirts which actually were good quality but most companies are too cheap for that.

Just stop. It's wasteful and harmful for the environment. If they want to make me happy, give me some cash :-).

Re: Ask HN: Can we have a conversation on startup swag waste?

#7

Post by spaetzleesser »

jka wrote: post #4
cf100clunk wrote: post #2

I appreciate that you used the word "continue" in your first question as tech firms have featured swag seemingly forever. I will just say that my DEC Alpha coffee mug, a multitude of lapel pins from an array of companies, and my Nokia monitor screen brush have all stood the test of time, unlike the many golf shirts, posters, lanyards, and pens. The swag you have received seems to be pitiful and wasteful.

What is the world's most durable item of historic corporate swag?

I once got a pet rock.

Re: Ask HN: Can we have a conversation on startup swag waste?

#8

Post by fellowniusmonk »

This is the time of year in Austin (sxsw) that we load up on a years supply of free promo sunglasses.

The funny perk of being a highly paid engineer is all the free stuff you get.

I don't know if it's an accurate representation of the flow of money but I've always thought of it as the fed sending stimulus money to me directly through banks & VCs.

Re: Ask HN: Can we have a conversation on startup swag waste?

#9

Post by jokethrowaway »

> Why do companies continue to waste money on useless swag?

Marketing, attracting talent, reminding people you care about your company exist. It has a use and it's cheap.

> What can be done to have companies think about the waste they are producing from swag?

Tell them plastic recycling is a scam perpetrated by the oil business and our weakly-spined governments and just a small portion of plastics get actually recycled; we end up eating and contaminating the environment with most of it.

Once this issue picks up enough steam maybe companies will stop with the useless gadgets in order to show they care about the environment for virtue points.

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