Website Design: Swag Bar
When I worked as the Creative Director at Swag Bar, a Charlotte-based corporate gifting company, I had the opportunity to redesign their website. They were ready for a platform that could match the growing business and streamline the way customers shop.
The goal? A polished, user-friendly online experience that showcased their premium swag offerings while making it easy for clients to order exactly what they need.
Swag Bar specializes in high-quality, branded swag for corporate events, employee appreciation, and client gifting. They also have a strong commitment to sustainability, which is built into their mission: for each pound of products they create, they remove five pounds of trash from the world. With such a strong brand and purpose, their website needed to highlight both their services and their values — while also delivering powerful e-commerce functionality.
Moving to Shopify for Better Insights & Flexibility
The first major step was moving Swag Bar’s entire site over to the Shopify platform. Shopify offers in-depth reporting tools and analytics that allow them to monitor product performance, track orders, and better understand customer behavior. This move opened the door for growth, giving the Swag Bar team better visibility into how their products are performing and where opportunities lie.
With Shopify as the foundation, I could integrate powerful apps, add product customization tools, and create a seamless shopping experience.
Applying New Brand Assets to a Fresh Theme
Swag Bar went through a brand refresh earlier in the year, so there were strong brand assets from the get-go. I was able to apply those to a carefully chosen Shopify theme. Colors, fonts, and imagery were implemented to maintain consistency and reflect their modern, professional, and slightly playful aesthetic.
Creating Clear Paths for Two Ordering Processes
One of Swag Bar’s challenges was that they have two distinct ordering processes:
- Service-based swag box kitting & shipping: This process involves creating curated boxes filled with branded swag, assembled, packed, and shipped directly to recipients.
- Bulk ordering of custom products: This is for customers who want to purchase larger quantities of a single branded product, shipped directly to them.
I created clear navigation and page structures so customers can quickly identify which ordering process fits their needs. This not only reduces confusion but speeds up the path to purchase.
Enhanced Bulk Order Shopping Experience
For bulk orders, I designed a filter navigation system that makes finding the perfect product simple. Customers can sort products by:
- Material type
- Imprint type
- Minimum order quantity
- Special brand values like “Made in the USA,” “Small Batch,” or “Eco-Friendly”
This allows customers to refine their search and quickly locate the products that match their brand and values.
Highlighting the Swag Bar Process & Mission
I created dedicated pages to explain the kitting, fulfillment, and shipping process so customers know exactly what to expect. Additionally, I built a sustainability mission page to emphasize Swag Bar’s environmental commitment.
Added Functionality for a Seamless Experience
Every product page was enhanced with Shopify apps (like Hulk Product Options and Volume Discount Bundles) to make customization and ordering easier. Features include:
- Color selection options
- Required order minimums
- File upload for logos or custom artwork
- Bulk discount pricing visibility
These upgrades allow customers to fully customize their orders without the need for lengthy back-and-forth communication.
A Website That Works as Hard as They Do
The new Swag Bar website is more than just a pretty design — it’s a powerful sales tool. By combining Shopify’s e-commerce capabilities with thoughtful navigation, detailed product filters, and a focus on brand storytelling, we’ve created a platform that makes it easy for customers to find, customize, and order high-quality swag.
Now, Swag Bar has a website that reflects their professionalism, supports their sustainability mission, and streamlines the ordering process for both service-based and bulk orders.
If your business is ready for a website that works as hard as you do, let’s talk about creating a design that’s tailored to your needs.
