Goodies are promotional items that a company or an organisation gives to its clients, prospects, employees or event visitors to make its brand known: a pen, a mug, a tote bag or a USB stick with its logo, handed out for free. In French, they are also called "cadeaux publicitaires" or "objets publicitaires".
Merch, on the other hand, is chosen and worn: a team's sweatshirt, a club's t-shirt or a brand's cap, often sold to a community that identifies with it. The same t-shirt can be either one: it all depends on how it circulates.
Where does the word "goodies" come from?
"Goodies" is an English word that French has borrowed, the plural of goody or goodie. The French Wiktionary files it under advertising vocabulary and gives "cadeau publicitaire" (promotional gift) as its French equivalent. In French, it keeps its s in the singular as well as the plural: "un goodies", "des goodies", with the form "goodie" also in use.
The most common goodies
Goodies fall into broad families, the ones found in promotional item catalogues:
- office items: pens, notebooks, desk accessories;
- mugs, water bottles, cups and tumblers;
- bags, from the tote bag to the sports bag;
- tech: USB sticks, earphones, phone accessories;
- keyrings, lanyards and badge holders;
- caps, beanies and umbrellas.
At tknp.io, they are called custom items: the section of the same name brings together more than 2,300 references in 13 families. Depending on the item, the logo is pad printed, laser engraved or printed, and each item is priced on quote.
Goodies and merch: what is the difference?
The difference between goodies and merch lies less in the item than in its use: goodies mainly make the brand known and are handed out widely, while merch shows that you belong and is worn by those who are part of the team or community. A simple grid to tell them apart:
| Goodies | Merch | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | a promotional item, often a small everyday object | a product in the image of a brand or a community, most often a garment |
| Who receives it | clients, prospects, visitors | a team, members, fans |
| How it circulates | given away, handed out in large numbers | chosen, often bought, sometimes given to the team |
| What it aims for | making the brand known | showing you belong to the community |
| Size | none, for an object | one per person, for a garment |
The word merch, and what separates it from merchandising, are explained in our definition of merch.
When to choose goodies, when to choose merch?
Goodies have their place when you need to reach many people you don't know yet: trade show visitors, conference attendees, an event's audience. An item without a size can be handed to everyone, no questions asked. To give a garment to clients without knowing their size, and stay within the tax rules, our guide to client gifts sets out the steps.
Merch takes over when the audience is known and you want it to wear the brand: the team, the club, the association, the best clients. Our guide to trade show goodies combines the two, with a tote bag for every visitor and an embroidered garment for meetings. The same logic applies to seminar merch or to the welcome pack for new starters.
Textiles, between goodies and merch
A t-shirt handed out in large numbers at a stand, in a single size, remains a goodie. The same t-shirt becomes merch when everyone chooses it in their size and wants to wear it again: a pleasant fabric, a cut that hangs well, a design you would wear for its own sake.
At tknp.io, a custom garment can be ordered from 10 of the same model, mixing sizes and colours, so that everyone gets theirs. And to sell this merch to a community rather than give it away, the tknp.io Store, which opens free of charge, works with pre-sales: each member reserves their size on the campaign page, with no stock to pay for upfront.
Frequently asked questions
What is the French word for goodies?
French speakers say "cadeau publicitaire" or "objet publicitaire": that is the equivalent the French Wiktionary gives for this advertising term borrowed from English.
Is a free t-shirt a goodie?
Yes, if it is handed out in large numbers to make the brand known, as at a stand. It becomes merch when the people wearing it have chosen it in their size to show their team or their community.
In French, does "goodies" keep its s in the singular?
Yes: the French Wiktionary gives "goodies" for both singular and plural ("un goodies", "des goodies"), with "goodie" as a variant.
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