The Dreamforce 2024 Swag Report: Why Purpose is the New Premium

At San Francisco’s biggest tech conference, cheap giveaways are out. Here’s how meaningful, sustainable branded merchandise is rewriting the rules of corporate gifting.

Walk the floors of the Moscone Center during Dreamforce, and you’ll notice a distinct shift in the air. The usual frenzy for freebies has been replaced by a more thoughtful curiosity. Every September, this landmark event transforms San Francisco, but in 2024, the real innovation wasn’t just on the main stage—it was at the exhibitor booths, where corporate swag got a much-needed upgrade.

The era of forgettable, mass-produced trinkets is over. The new currency of connection is purpose-driven gifting and responsible branded merchandise. This year, the most successful brands weren’t just handing out products; they were sharing their values, one ethically-sourced, beautifully designed item at a time.

From Throwaway to Takeaway: The End of Meaningless Swag

For too long, the success of event marketing was measured in volume—how many pens, stress balls, or plastic water bottles could you give away? Today, that strategy can do more harm than good, associating your brand with waste and a lack of creativity. Smart companies are realizing that a single, high-quality item creates a more powerful and lasting impression than a hundred cheap ones.

Attendees at Dreamforce 2024 weren’t just collecting stuff; they were making judgments about a company’s commitment to quality, sustainability, and social responsibility. The brands that stood out were those who invested in merchandise that told a story and aligned with a modern ethos. We saw a surge in items that were both desirable and durable:

• Sustainably-made journal sets featuring recycled paper and inserts detailing the company’s community impact.
• Premium tote bags made from recycled or compostable materials, printed with eco-friendly, water-based inks.
• Custom hydration kits featuring bottles made from reclaimed ocean plastics, encouraging reuse.
• Limited-edition apparel designed in partnership with mission-driven nonprofits, turning a t-shirt into a statement of support.

Your Swag is Your ESG Statement in Action

In today’s market, customers, partners, and potential employees are all looking for proof of your company’s commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. Your corporate swag is a tangible, physical representation of those values.

“When an employee or a potential client takes home an item that tells a story about your ESG investments, that product becomes part of your marketing flywheel,” explains brand strategist Jennifer Liu. “Swag isn’t just marketing collateral anymore—it’s a walking, talking values statement.”

This is especially true for the B2B world. Leading San Francisco startups and established tech giants alike used Dreamforce as a platform to demonstrate their authenticity. They deliberately sought out vendors who could not only deliver a great product but also provide transparent, ethical, and sustainable supply chains.

The Bay Area Blueprint: Local Sourcing and Social Impact

As a hub for innovation and progressive values, San Francisco has long championed ethical sourcing and the circular economy. This mindset is now shaping how brands approach their event marketing. By partnering with Bay Area suppliers, companies reduce their carbon footprint from shipping while reinvesting in the local community—a powerful story in itself.

Corporate swag companies like Social Imprints are at the forefront of this movement. As a social enterprise, they produce premium branded merchandise while creating career opportunities for individuals facing barriers to employment. Their model proves that you don’t have to choose between exceptional quality and positive social impact, a message that resonated deeply with the purpose-driven audience at Dreamforce.

What Winning Brands Did Differently at Dreamforce 2024

The most memorable booths this year moved beyond simple distribution and created genuine brand experiences. The key was custom storytelling through product design. Many items featured QR codes that linked to microsites, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how the swag was made, who made it, and the positive impact of the campaign.

This fusion of physical product and digital storytelling created a much deeper connection. The swag itself was also smarter, blending utility with innovation. We saw carbon-neutral hoodies, wireless charging notebooks, and other tech-integrated gear that attendees would actually use long after the conference ended.

Interactive Experiences Drive Deeper Connections

The smartest marketers took it a step further, transforming their swag table into a destination. Post-event surveys showed that interactive brand moments—like live screen-printing stations where attendees could customize their own shirts or custom embroidery bars for hats and jackets—boosted booth engagement by over 50%. The future of trade show marketing isn’t about giving things away; it’s about inviting people to participate.

The Bottom Line for B2B Marketers in 2025

The trends at Dreamforce are a clear signal for the entire industry. Whether you’re in finance, healthcare, or SaaS, your corporate gifting strategy demands purpose. Audience expectations for transparency are higher than ever, and your promotional products are a direct reflection of your brand’s integrity.

The data backs this up: leading industry distributors report a 38% year-over-year increase in requests for sustainable or locally sourced items for major trade shows. For marketers planning their 2025 event calendar, the message is undeniable: authenticity and purpose are what drive real value and connection.

In a world saturated with fleeting digital ads, a physical, thoughtfully chosen product holds incredible power. Dreamforce 2024 proved that the best corporate swag isn’t about quantity—it’s about creating a meaningful connection that reflects shared values and builds a stronger brand.