‍Meet The Hub Project

In today’s digital landscape, mastery over digital communication and campaigns is a must. That’s where the Hub Project comes in. Made up of a passionate team of organizers, communicators, digital strategists, researchers, and more, the Hub Project partners with progressive organizations to build winning campaigns on issues that matter. To celebrate the wins and appreciate their hard working team, the Hub Project family was looking for an alternative to a company holiday party, especially with everyone working from home.

“We did a lot of people and culture stuff last year, we had an actual holiday party where we booked a venue and everything,” says Sara, “But this year, we can't do in-person events.” For the Hub Project team, something to appreciate the team in the holiday season of 2020 was especially important.

“The whole project is usually based in DC,” says Sara Yaseen, Special Assistant & Operations Associate at the Hub Project, “And we wanted to connect with our staff a little bit more because we know work from home has a bunch of challenges.”

As a result, the team decided to put together a small gift of appreciation. “We wanted to give our staff these holiday packages to retain that in-office connection,” says Sara.

The Search for the Perfect Holiday Swag

It all began with a simple goal: get good swag.

But swag, and the logistics associated with it, can be something of a mystery (not to mention a hassle). As Sara recalls, “Before I came to the hub, I've never had to order swag for an organization before. And if I did, it was bulk orders through Amazon.”

“I found out what people had gotten in the past,” says Sara, “And they already had things like water bottles, tumblers, and backpacks. So I thought, let's do something holiday related.” Through some research, Sara discovered SwagUp. “I thought, Oh, SwagUp looks cool. The website was very easy to understand. You guys literally handle everything so that I don't have to, it seemed perfect. Easy to navigate, the whole process seemed very smooth.”

“The website was very easy to understand. You guys literally handle everything so that I don't have to, it seemed perfect. Easy to navigate, the whole process seemed very smooth.”

— SARA YASEEN, SPECIAL ASSISTANT & OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE AT THE HUB PROJECT

Using SwagUp preset packs for inspiration, Sara brainstormed some swag ideas for the Hub Project team. “The socks were cool because people have hoodies and stuff, but I don't think people had socks,” says Sara. (This is true - socks are one of the most underrated and popular swag picks to make!) “I also liked that a beanie would be great for the winter season.”

By the way, for those of you planning some surprise swag, here’s a pro tip from Sara: “I specifically went with one-size fits all clothing because we wanted it to be a surprise. We couldn’t just start circulating a sizing chart.”

Sara shared her ideas about holidays swag to her Swag Expert, Jordyn, and together they built an awesome swag pack for the Hub Project team, including some of our favorite swag picks like organic Cocoa Sante Hot Chocolate, custom branded coasters and the stylish camper cup. “It all just made sense. And after I showed the mock-ups to my boss, she was like, yeah, this fits what we are. This is the Hub.” That’s a swag win right there - after all, what’s the point of good swag if it doesn’t match your organization and brand culture?

“It all just made sense. And after I showed the mock-ups to my boss, she was like, yeah, this fits what we are. This is the Hub.”

— SARA YASEEN, SPECIAL ASSISTANT & OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE AT THE HUB PROJECT

The Verdict: Swag Success!

The Hub Project successfully celebrated the end of a very tough year, appreciating their hardworking team with a selection of top quality swag for the season.

Looking back, Sara says, “When I first got this assignment, it was tough because there wasn’t an exact budget and there are so many options out there. That’s why I really like the preset packs. And because this is my first time purchasing branded swag for an organization, I didn't know what to expect. With SwagUp, I feel pretty confident in the choices I made and the advice I got. It was a good experience.”

If Sara’s story resonates with you, here’s what Sara would recommend:

“Well, first, I would tell folks like me who've never ordered swag before that SwagUp really takes care of you. Yes, some of the processes are automated, but there’s also that human touch with you to answer any and all questions. Jordyn and I were on a very long email chain and she was so sweet, answered all the questions I had, and was always very efficient, very timely, to settle my nerves and everything. So I would say SwagUp is really there for you.”

“I would tell folks like me who've never ordered swag before that SwagUp really takes care of you. Yes, some of the processes are automated, but there’s also that human touch with you to answer any and all questions [...] SwagUp is really there for you.”

— SARA YASEEN, SPECIAL ASSISTANT & OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE AT THE HUB PROJECT

Thanks for sharing Sara, and congratulations to the Hub Project team for an amazing swag project! 🎉

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