Call them what you will–schwag, trinkets, or (yawn) promotional items–corporate gifts are a mainstay of the business world. I may be stuck in a time warp, but the Internet Boom (with caps … just like the Ice Age!) surely seemed to be a high point in the world of corporate gifts. My desk drawers overflowed with wacky stuff scavenged from trade shows from coast-to-coast. Software developers scattered their t-shirts to the throngs with great abandon. Hardware manufacturers showered their customers with fine corporate gifts. Brightly burning dotcoms shared their oh-so-temporary wealth with insanely great promos.

We all rejoiced at the fine bounty of fabulous trinkets as the bean-counters overlooked the costs and poured another drink for the road …

Just as it seemed like the corporate gifts would flow forever, they dried up.

Poof!

These days, fine schwag rarely shows up in the mailbox. It’s been ages since a big software developer has sent an unannounced goodie box. Alas, my collection of geeky t-shirts is finally showing its age, carbon-dating back to the mid-to-late 90’s.

Has anyone seen my Pets.com sock puppet?

When I wax nostalgic for the trinkets, I browse the multitude of corporate gift websites. Armed with a valid credit card, one can order up just about anything possible … emblazoned with a corporate logo, of course.

You’ll find it all, from the practical and obvious like pens, polos, and sweatshirts, through glittery glassware, jewelry, and watches, to the ever-useful flashlights, luggage, and ubiquitous Swiss Army knives … there’s a corporate gift for everyone, if not every budget.

Friends, Romans, Countryfolk … send me your schwag!