Brand Fuel is one of the more established names in the branded merchandise space. They’ve been around for decades and bring deep expertise in creative swag, company stores, and full-service fulfillment. For companies looking for hands-on help and great product curation, Brand Fuel can be a strong partner.
But when it comes to modern swag management—think automation, real-time reporting, and support across departments—their model starts to feel less scalable.
Here’s what they do well, and what to consider if you need more flexibility and control.
Where Brand Fuel Excels
Creative merch and campaign support
Brand Fuel takes a consultative approach to swag. Their team handles everything from product selection to design, decoration, kitting, and delivery. If you want help building a unique campaign or kit, they’re fully equipped to support.
Company stores for on-demand and inventory-based swag
They offer multiple store models—on-demand, pre-produced, or hybrid—which gives some flexibility. Clients can choose a setup based on the size and complexity of their program.
Personalized service and in-person collaboration
With showrooms in Raleigh and Virginia Beach, Brand Fuel makes it easy to explore physical samples, brainstorm with their team, and align swag with brand identity.
Strong values and social impact
As a B Corp, Brand Fuel emphasizes ethical sourcing, sustainability, and corporate responsibility. That mission matters to many of their clients.
Where It Falls Short
No true swag platform
Brand Fuel does not offer a modern software platform for managing swag. Their stores are likely powered by basic tools like Shopify, with limited integration, automation, or control for clients.
Not built for cross-team scalability
If you’re supporting HR, sales, events, and marketing all from one system, you’ll hit friction. Brand Fuel operates more like a traditional distributor—great for single campaigns, less so for ongoing, complex programs.
Visibility and reporting are limited
Because fulfillment and store management are handled manually or by request, clients often lack access to real-time data, spend tracking, or inventory transparency.
Less operational consistency at scale
Without a centralized system, maintaining brand standards across regions, departments, or use cases can get tricky—especially when swag is tied to automation or international needs.
When Brand Fuel Makes Sense
- You want hands-on creative support and are okay with a traditional agency model
- Your swag needs are campaign-based or limited to a single department
- You don’t need deep platform features or self-serve control
When Avail Might Be a Better Fit
- You need a centralized swag platform to support multiple teams
- You care about visibility into budget, inventory, and fulfillment
- You’re managing complex programs, not just campaigns
- You want swag, stores, gifting, and events all under one roof
Final Thoughts
Brand Fuel brings great creative chops and a long-standing reputation in the merch space. If you’re looking for a full-service experience and one-off project support, they can deliver.
But if your swag program is growing and you want consistency, visibility, and flexibility across the business—then a platform like Avail is designed for exactly that.
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