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Commentary November 19, 2020

Holiday Branded Merch That Warms Even My Cynical Heart

Whether it’s a color-changing coffee cup or a cozy mitten with built-in beer holder, there’s something for everyone among brands’ holiday merchandise collections.

By  Theresa Hegel

It’s that time of year again when brands start rolling out their holiday merch collections – and the wackier, the better. Whether it’s a light-up ugly sweater or a pizza-shaped weighted blankie, there’s something for everyone on your list. And the fact that these limited-edition branded products sell out so quickly and get so much play in the media and online is a testament to the power of promotional products. Let’s take a look at some of the more creative offerings brands came up with.

1. Stove Top’s Home Style Apparel Collection

Stuffing is probably my least favorite part of the traditional Thanksgiving feast (an admission that tends to elicit gasps, boos and sympathetic stares at the dinner table). That said, I’m totally in love with Stove Top’s new holiday merch. Lining a crushed velvet dinner jacket with a “stuffloral” print and transforming the stuffing box itself into a pair of “stufflinks” is pure genius. The tongue-in-cheek pomp of the whole collection is *chef’s kiss* magnifique. The fact that Stove Top is donating 50,000 meals to Feeding America as part of the apparel promotion is just gravy. Let’s get stuffy, indeed!

2. Personalized Merch From Dunkin’

Dunkin' hat

Dunkin’ is already a dab hand at building brand loyalty with cute and clever merch, whether it’s sprinkle-heavy sneakers, a logoed adult onesie or a collaboration with rapper Snoop Dogg. What I like about the doughnut-and-coffee chain’s latest holiday release, however, is the ability to personalize some of the merch. We’ve talked about the power of personalization many times over the years, so it’s always heartening to see that power in action. And, honestly, if you’re a big enough fan of a brand to wear a logoed cap or tee, why wouldn’t you want your own name on it as well?

3. Cheetos Ugly Sweater

Ugly Cheetos Sweater

Usually, when I get Cheetos all over my shirt, it’s a bit of a faux-pas. But this year, Frito-Lay is helping devoted snackophiles wear their love of finger food without the mess. The whole holiday collection, whether it’s a popcorn-bedecked adult onesie or a yellow Lays branded beanie, is pretty great. However, there’s just something about a blindingly orange sweater bearing the Cheetos logo across the chest that speaks to me. Or maybe I’m just hungry.

4. Sam Adams Beer Mitten

Sam Adams Merch

Sam Adams came up with the perfect solution for outdoor, socially distanced sipping during the chillier months: the drink mitten. It’s not the only inspired item in the beer brand’s collaboration with holiday-themed apparel company Tipsy Elves, however. There’s also a holiday sweater featuring founding father Samuel Adams’ mug (in both senses of the word). And for the pièce de résistance? The sweater actually lights up.

5. Color-Changing Starbucks Cups

I’m a sucker for overpriced coffee concoctions with fancy names and gimmicky drinkware, so Starbucks’ holiday merch pretty much has my name written all over it (not literally, like the personalized Dunkin’ apparel though). Among the coffee chain’s lineup of holiday cheer is a cup that changes from green to red when it contains hot liquid. Make mine a venti!

6. Thanksgiving Leftovers Locker From Budweiser

Budweiser Merch

Is it really Thanksgiving without a can of Budweiser close to hand? I’m honestly asking. I don’t really drink the stuff. (I just admitted to being a latte gal, so it’s probably no surprise that I also tend to be a wine mom; go ahead and file me under basic, I don’t mind.) Still, if the King of Beer is your brew of choice, the brand’s Thanksgiving merch could be a must-have. First, there’s a Bud Can Turkey, with detailed cooking instructions on how to get that signature flavor into your holiday bird. Then, so you don’t have to share your scrumptious feast, Budweiser has a locking Tupperware container for leftovers.

7. Weighted Pizza Blanket From Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut brought a whole new meaning to the idea of comfort food. (And in the anxiety-inducing year that 2020 has been, who doesn’t need some extra comfort?) The Hut teamed up with Gravity Blanket to create a weighted blanket that looks like a giant pepperoni pizza. The blanket also comes packaged in a cardboard pizza box, which is the kind of attention to detail I can get behind. Despite its $150 price tag, the limited-edition blanket sold out in less than a day, so I’ll just have to make do with the next best thing: actual pizza.

Theresa Hegel

Executive Editor, Digital Content

Theresa Hegel covers strategy for ASI Media, with a focus on apparel, digital technology and business operations and management. She's won multiple regional and national awards for her writing and reporting.