Re:Ask HN: Can we have a conversation on startup swag waste?
by jka on Thursday March 17, 2022 @05:16PM
(#30715976)
Could it be a form of cargo culting[1]?
You have a department that is tasked with promoting your organization at public events. They see that other organizations provide lots of wares with their logo emblazoned on them. Some of those other organizations are successful. There are companies that provide customised wares. Thus: your department purchases more of the wares.
And a belief: you can make a big difference by not peddling swag, and being principled and open (albeit not loud) about the fact that you do not. Perhaps it basically comes down to reducing energy usage and waste; the upside to you would be the word-of-mouth reputation benefit from taking a principled stance.
You have a department that is tasked with promoting your organization at public events. They see that other organizations provide lots of wares with their logo emblazoned on them. Some of those other organizations are successful. There are companies that provide customised wares. Thus: your department purchases more of the wares.
And a belief: you can make a big difference by not peddling swag, and being principled and open (albeit not loud) about the fact that you do not. Perhaps it basically comes down to reducing energy usage and waste; the upside to you would be the word-of-mouth reputation benefit from taking a principled stance.
[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo_cult