SOMERVILLE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Grossman Marketing Group, a fourth-generation marketing services firm with a deep history of corporate responsibility, has launched SwagCycle, a startup focused on responsibly managing the lifecycle of branded merchandise.
Ben Grossman, Co-President of Grossman Marketing and founder of the firm’s Green Marketing and Sustainability Practice, said SwagCycle allows companies to repurpose their unwanted branded items in a responsible, ethical, affordable way.
Branded merchandise, also known as “swag,” includes everything from t-shirts, bags and hats, to pens, mugs and event signage.
“When companies rebrand, get acquired, or complete a marketing campaign, many items historically have ended up in landfills. That’s bad for the environment and it’s bad for a company’s image,” said Grossman. “By leveraging our proprietary network of recycling firms and charitable partners, we turn harmful decisions into helpful alternatives.”
According to Grossman, “the days of tossing loads of unwanted goods into a dumpster are numbered.” In a 2018 Nielsen global online survey, 81% of respondents felt strongly that companies should help improve the environment. Another Stanford University survey noted more than 90% of CEOs believe sustainability is important to a company’s success.
Grossman said SwagCycle offers a simple, efficient 3-step process to address the sustainability challenges that corporations face: (1) Assess inventory of unwanted items; (2) Confirm brand guidelines; and (3) Match items with an appropriate charity or one of Grossman’s best-in-class recycling partners.
“While recycling is a good option, donating to a worthy cause is the best choice,” said Grossman. He noted that Second Chances (www.secondchances.org), a SwagCycle partner, accepts donations of clothing, shoes and accessories to assist homeless and lower-income people while minimizing the amount of apparel sent to landfills.
“Often companies are happy to donate obsolete promotional products, but have a tough time coordinating this process or don’t know the right organizations to reach out to,” said Grossman. “By vetting various charities, we ensure the right items go to the right charities to benefit the right people at the right time.”
Grossman Marketing Group, with headquarters outside Boston and major operations in New England, New York, Washington, D.C. and Florida, has a client base that boasts a “who’s who” list of sports teams, hospitals, educational institutions, corporations and environmental groups.
