Every year, ASI Chicago brings together thousands of products, fresh ideas and emerging trends from across the branded merchandise industry. Our merchandising team walked the show floor searching for items that felt genuinely useful, thoughtfully designed and exciting enough to make a lasting impression.

From cozy apparel and smarter workday essentials to products that bring people together, these five finds rose to the top.

1. A Game Night Worth Branding

We can already picture friends and family gathered around the table for a cozy game night at home. Brands can choose from available stock game artwork or fully customize the mat to create an original game experience.

What makes this product so special is its potential to become more than a one-time gift. It can inspire traditions, friendly competition and meaningful memories—all while keeping the brand at the center of the fun. It is an especially creative choice for employee appreciation, family-focused campaigns, client gifts or community events.

2. Comfort That Still Looks Polished

“Kumo” means “cloud” in Japanese, and we can confirm that this layering piece lives up to its name.

The Kumo ¼ Snap delivers the kind of softness you want to wear all weekend, paired with a polished silhouette that still feels appropriate for the workday. Keep it at your desk for chilly offices and video meetings, pack it for a business trip or throw it on for a casual Saturday morning.

It is an elevated alternative to the traditional corporate pullover and a versatile branded-apparel choice people will reach for again and again.

3. The Desk Salad, Upgraded

We know—it’s a salad bowl. But hear us out.

This is not your average lunch container. The NAYAD Utilia Salad Bowl features a secure, spill-proof lid, a removable divider tray that keeps greens, proteins and toppings separate, and a stainless-steel container for dressing. Everything stays organized, fresh and crunchy until lunchtime. Its generous 64-ounce capacity also makes it a smart option for meal preparation and lunches on the go.

With a sleek, elevated look and genuinely useful features, this wellness-oriented gift might actually make someone look forward to eating a desk salad.

4. One Screen, A Much More Organized Day

This is one of those products that makes a workspace feel instantly more pulled together.

Instead of juggling calendars, reminders and sticky notes that inevitably disappear, the Dayflow Digital Smart Calendar puts important information in one highly visible place. It is practical, modern and designed to become part of someone’s daily routine.

For employee onboarding, executive gifts, milestone recognition or work-from-home programs, this is branded technology that provides value every single day.

5. The Travel Hero You’ll Be Glad You Packed

It may not be the flashiest product in the room, but it could quickly become one of the most appreciated.

The Big Daddy Laptop Power Bank is the ultimate travel companion, helping keep laptops, phones and other devices charged through long travel days, airport layovers, off-site meetings and busy events. It solves a real and familiar problem: running out of power when there is no convenient outlet nearby.

This is an excellent choice for frequent travelers, remote teams, conference attendees, sales professionals and anyone who relies on their devices to keep the day moving.

What These Picks Tell Us About Branded Merchandise

Our ASI Chicago favorites reflect a larger shift in the industry. The best branded merchandise is no longer simply something with a logo on it. It supports the way people live, work, travel, connect and unwind.

Each of these products offers a different kind of value: shared experiences, everyday comfort, healthier routines, better organization or dependable power. That usefulness is what helps a branded product earn a permanent place in someone’s life, and keeps the organization that gave it top of mind.

See something that would be perfect for your audience? Connect with your sales representative to discuss creative branding ideas, campaign possibilities and additional products inspired by the latest finds from ASI Chicago.