# MerchButler.AI > AI merch concierge for bulk B2B and org buyers. Helps race directors, trade-show coordinators, HR / people-ops teams, nonprofit fundraisers, school groups, and conference organizers figure out what to order, how much, and when. Backed by a 9,000+ product catalog from brands including Carhartt, Nike, Champion, Stanley, Hydro Flask, The North Face, and more. MerchButler answers the questions buyers actually ask — 'how many shirts for a 200-person 5K?', 'what's a fair price for 100 custom tees?', 'what do I put in a tier-2 trade-show giveaway?' — instead of throwing a product catalog at them. ## Core entry points - [Chat with The Butler](https://merchbutler.ai/chat): conversational interface — describe your event in plain language, get a curated shortlist. - [Resources hub](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/): editorial guides, decision frameworks, and calculators organized by buyer persona. - [Free calculators](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/tools/): standalone tools for shirt-size distributions, budget tiers, and per-shirt cost matrices. - [About](https://merchbutler.ai/about): how MerchButler works and who's behind it. ## Event Swag Planning > Quantity, cost, and timing math the rest of the industry skips. - [Swag Production Timeline for a Multi-Day Conference](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/event-swag-planning/conference-swag-production-timeline/): Build a realistic swag production timeline for your multi-day conference. Learn how 12 weeks, decoration delays, and shipping gaps affect your delivery date. - [Swag-Bag Stuffers Under $1: What's Actually Worth Including](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/event-swag-planning/swag-bag-stuffers-under-1-what-s-actually-worth-including/): Sub-dollar swag stuffers that actually come home from the event. What works for corporate, athletic, and nonprofit bags—and what goes straight in the bin. - [100 vs. 500 Custom Shirts: Where the Cost Math Actually Bends](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/event-swag-planning/100-vs-500-custom-shirts-where-the-cost-math-actually-bends/): Screen-printing 100 vs 500 shirts: see exactly where setup fees, shipping, and hidden costs change your true per-unit price. - [Setting a Realistic Swag Budget for Your Event](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/event-swag-planning/realistic-event-swag-budget/): Learn how to set a realistic event swag budget by breaking costs into materials, fulfillment, and packaging — before you talk to a single vendor. - [The Real Event-Swag Checklist (T-12 Weeks to T-Day)](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/event-swag-planning/event-swag-checklist/): A real working timeline for event swag, week by week from T-12 to T-Day, with the things every checklist online forgets. - [What 100 Custom T-Shirts Actually Cost](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/event-swag-planning/100-custom-tshirts-cost/): Real pricing math for a 100-shirt order. Per-shirt cost by fabric, decoration method, ink colors, and sides. Plus a free interactive cost matrix. - [How to Collect T-Shirt Sizes from a Group](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/event-swag-planning/collect-tshirt-sizes-from-a-group/): A working template, a hard-deadline rule, and the size-distribution averages by group type that fix the "I never got a response from Tom" problem. ## First-Time Organizer > You have not done this before. We have. Step-by-step playbooks. - [Five Swag Mistakes First-Time Organizers Make](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/first-time-organizer/first-time-swag-mistakes/): Five swag mistakes first-time event organizers make, from wrong shirt sizes to proof typos, and how to fix them before it's too late. - [Is Your Merch Quote Fair? How to Tell If You're Overpaying (Before You Sign Off)](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/first-time-organizer/is-your-merch-quote-fair-how-to-tell-if-you-re-overpaying-before-you-sign-off/): Not sure your promo-products quote is fair? Here's how to spot inflated markups, setup fees, and hidden charges before you sign off, plus a free quote check. - [Is Your Merch Quote Fair? How to Tell If You're Overpaying Before You Sign Off](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/first-time-organizer/is-my-merch-quote-fair/): Not sure your promo-products quote is fair? Here is how to spot inflated markups, setup fees, and hidden charges before you sign off, plus a free quote check. - [What to Ask a Swag Vendor on Your First Call](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/first-time-organizer/first-call-swag-vendor-questions/): Know what to ask a swag vendor before your first call. Budget, minimums, turnaround, and reorder costs—questions that save volunteer organizers real money. - [Your First Event Swag Kickoff Checklist](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/first-time-organizer/first-event-swag-kickoff-checklist/): Your first week of swag planning should lock in vendor contact, sample timelines, and proof deadlines. Not daydream about logo placement. Before you open a… - [I'm Running a Charity 5K and Don't Know Where to Start](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/first-time-organizer/charity-5k-from-scratch/): A first-time race director's working playbook for a charity 5K. Timeline, registration platform, sponsorship, shirts, and the parts nobody warns you about. - [First-Time PTA Spirit Wear Chair: A 30-Day Quickstart](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/first-time-organizer/first-time-pta-spirit-wear-chair/): A first-time PTA spirit wear chair's playbook for the first 30 days. What to do this week, what to ignore, and how to clear a real margin without a year of experience. ## Trade Show Swag > Tiered budgets, decision flows, and the things listicles skip. - [Swag That Actually Drives Lead Capture](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/trade-show-swag/swag-that-drives-lead-capture/): Stop shipping stress balls home. Learn how trade-show swag earns qualified leads when you price it right, set a friction filter, and track cost per badge scan. - [Trade-Show Swag Distribution: Where to Put What at the Booth](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/trade-show-swag/trade-show-swag-distribution-where-to-put-what-at-the-booth/): Learn exactly where to place trade-show swag at your booth to maximize badge scans, protect your lead list, and avoid the off-site swag trap. - [Fall Trade-Show Swag Tiers: A Budget + Timeline Playbook](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/trade-show-swag/fall-trade-show-swag-tiers-a-budget-timeline-playbook/): Plan fall trade-show swag with a tiered budget split and honest lead times. Order by late July or risk showing up with a blank table. - [SaaS Conference Swag, By Event: Dreamforce, SaaStr, HumanX](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/trade-show-swag/saas-conference-swag-by-event-dreamforce-saastr-humanx/): Conference swag strategy by event: Dreamforce, SaaStr, and HumanX each demand different items, timelines, and distribution logic. - [Choosing Premium Giveaways for Decision-Makers](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/trade-show-swag/premium-giveaways-for-decision-makers/): Most conference organizers overspend on the wrong premium giveaways and underspend on the judgment required to pick good ones. The best VIP gifts cost less… - [Premium Trade-Show Giveaways for Booked-Meeting VIPs](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/trade-show-swag/premium-trade-show-giveaways-for-booked-meeting-vips/): Most trade-show coordinators land on the same shortlist of premium giveaways because they Googled "premium trade show giveaways" and got the same ten articles.… - [How to Choose Trade-Show Giveaways: A Decision Flow, Not a Listicle](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/trade-show-swag/how-to-choose-giveaways/): A real decision framework for picking trade-show giveaways. Audience, goal, budget, distribution model, ops constraints. No 30-item lists. - [Trade-Show Swag Tiered Budget: A Real 60/30/10 Framework](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/trade-show-swag/tiered-budget/): How to split a trade-show swag budget across cold-traffic, qualified-lead, and VIP tiers, with real per-person spend ranges and a free calculator. - [Swag for Healthcare Trade Shows (HIMSS, HLTH, Becker's)](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/trade-show-swag/healthcare-trade-shows/): Compliance-aware swag picks for booths at HIMSS, HLTH, and major healthcare events. What works, what gets confiscated, and how to think about the Sunshine Act. - [Conference Swag Bag Ideas (with Per-Attendee Cost Math)](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/trade-show-swag/conference-swag-bag-ideas/): Conference swag bags as an organizer (not an exhibitor). Per-attendee cost target, what attendees keep, sponsor-funded vs organizer-funded, and what to skip. ## Race & Walk Organizer > Order math, size mix, and the Saturday-morning version of swag. - [Race Medals + Shirts: Ordering Both as One Project](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/race-and-walk-organizer/race-medals-shirts-ordering-both-as-one-project/): Learn how to coordinate custom race medals and shirts as one project with shared timelines, vendor deadlines, and artwork approvals that actually sync up. - [Sponsor Logo Placement on Race Shirts](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/race-and-walk-organizer/sponsor-logo-placement-race-shirts/): Learn where to place sponsor logos on race shirts so sponsors stay happy and runners actually wear them after the event. - [Tech Tee vs. Cotton Race Shirt: A Decision Guide by Event Type](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/race-and-walk-organizer/tech-tee-vs-cotton-race-shirt-a-decision-guide-by-event-type/): Tech tee or cotton race shirt? Learn which fabric wins by event type, distance, weather, and runner profile—plus sizing tips for race directors. - [How Many T-Shirts to Order for a 5K](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/race-and-walk-organizer/how-many-shirts-for-a-5k/): A simple formula and size-distribution table for race directors ordering 5K shirts. Plus a free calculator. - [How to Run a Walk-a-Thon (A 6-Week Playbook)](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/race-and-walk-organizer/walk-a-thon-6-week-playbook/): A working 6-week playbook for a school or nonprofit walk-a-thon. Pledge structure, sponsor logos, shirt order, and the day-of distribution that does not melt down. ## People Ops Swag > Onboarding, retreats, and the things Swag.com does not tell you. - [Best Swag for a Board Offsite: Useful, Quiet, Memorable](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/people-ops-swag/best-swag-for-a-board-offsite-useful-quiet-memorable/): How to choose swag for a board offsite that feels intentional, not generic. Budget guidance, item counts, and what executives actually keep. - [Custom Moleskine Pocket Notebook and GO Pen Gift Set for New-hire onboarding kits: A Buyer's Take](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/people-ops-swag/custom-moleskine-pocket-notebook-and-go-pen-gift-set-for-new-hire-onboarding-kits-a-buyer-s-take/): Is the Moleskine Pocket Notebook and GO Pen Gift Set worth it for onboarding kits? Real talk on pricing, lead times, and decoration choices. - [Inclusive Sizing for Company Apparel](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/people-ops-swag/inclusive-sizing-company-apparel/): Learn how to offer inclusive sizing in company apparel programs so every employee feels represented and proud to wear company swag. - [Onboarding Kits at Every Headcount: 5, 50, 500](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/people-ops-swag/onboarding-kits-at-every-headcount-5-50-500/): Onboarding kit strategy for every hiring stage. Learn when to go from DIY to fulfillment partner, how many items to include, and when to lock your apparel lineup. - [Custom Moleskine Pocket Notebook Gift Set for New-hire onboarding kits: A Buyer's Take](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/people-ops-swag/custom-moleskine-pocket-notebook-gift-set-for-new-hire-onboarding-kits-a-buyer-s-take/): Custom Moleskine Pocket Notebook Gift Sets for onboarding kits: real costs, lead times, decoration tips, and when to skip them entirely. - [New Hire Welcome Kit Essentials That Earn Day-One Trust](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/people-ops-swag/new-hire-welcome-kit-essentials/): What actually belongs in a new hire welcome kit? Four essentials, a $40–70 budget, and one rule that beats any gadget. - [Custom Moleskine Passion Journal - Wellness for New-hire onboarding kits: A Buyer's Take](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/people-ops-swag/custom-moleskine-passion-journal-wellness-for-new-hire-onboarding-kits-a-buyer-s-take/): Custom Moleskine Passion Journal Wellness for onboarding kits: real costs, lead times, and whether it fits your hiring timeline. - [Custom Moleskine GO Pen for New-hire onboarding kits: A Buyer's Take](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/people-ops-swag/custom-moleskine-go-pen-for-new-hire-onboarding-kits-a-buyer-s-take-2/): Custom Moleskine GO Pen for onboarding kits: real per-unit costs, decoration timelines, and when a cheaper branded pen makes more sense. - [Retreat Swag That Does Not End Up in a Drawer](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/people-ops-swag/retreat-swag-people-keep/): Stop wasting your retreat budget on totes and water bottles nobody needs. Here's how to choose swag your team will actually keep. - [Custom Moleskine Hard Cover Ruled Large Expanded Notebook for New-hire onboarding kits: A Buyer's Take](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/people-ops-swag/custom-moleskine-hard-cover-ruled-large-expanded-notebook-for-new-hire-onboarding-kits-a-buyer-s/): The custom Moleskine looks great in onboarding kits — until you run the numbers. Here's what it actually costs, how long it takes, and when to skip the branding entirely. - [Inclusive Sizing for Org Swag](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/people-ops-swag/inclusive-sizing/): A working reference for inclusive sizing in org swag. Real size ranges, fit notes by garment, the unisex-vs-women's-cut question, and what to ask the vendor. - [How to Plan an Onboarding Kit (Role × Remote × Budget)](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/people-ops-swag/onboarding-kit-planner/): A working framework for onboarding kits across role tier, remote vs in-office, and budget. The items new hires actually keep, plus the per-hire cost ranges. - [Remote Employee Welcome Kit: The Operational Logistics](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/people-ops-swag/remote-employee-welcome-kit/): An operations playbook for remote employee welcome kits. Sizing collection, fulfillment partners, drop-shipping, and the timing that lands the kit before day 1. ## Nonprofit Event Swag > Galas, walkathons, donor appreciation. Mission-aligned by default. - [Nonprofit Volunteer Kit: What Every On-the-Ground Volunteer Needs](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/nonprofit-event-swag/nonprofit-volunteer-kit-what-every-on-the-ground-volunteer-needs/): Build a nonprofit volunteer kit for under $20 per person with four practical items that actually survive event day. - [Walkathon Swag on a Mission Budget](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/nonprofit-event-swag/walkathon-swag-mission-budget/): Walkathon swag that actually gets worn: how to pick two items per walker, nail the size mix, and avoid the merch-as-revenue trap. - [Memorial Run Shirt Design: A Family-Forward Playbook](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/nonprofit-event-swag/memorial-run-shirt-design-a-family-forward-playbook/): How to design a memorial run shirt that honors the person, manages sponsor placement, and actually gets worn years later. - [Fall Charity Gala Favors + Donor Pieces: Lead Times That Hold](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/nonprofit-event-swag/fall-charity-gala-favors-donor-pieces-lead-times-that-hold/): How to budget gala favors, set lead times, and choose mission-tied pieces that donors actually keep. Practical numbers for fall charity events. - [Charity Walk T-Shirts: An Organizer's Guide to Bulk Orders](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/nonprofit-event-swag/charity-walk-t-shirts-an-organizer-s-guide-to-bulk-orders/): How to order charity walk t-shirts in bulk without overspending or running short. Covers quantities, sponsor logos, lead times, and size buffers. - [Nonprofit Gala Favors That Don't Feel Cheap](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/nonprofit-event-swag/gala-favors/): A framework for gala favors that respect the donor and the budget. Per-guest spend, mission-aligned ideas, and the ratio that protects your major-gift ask. - [Nonprofit Golf Tournament Swag: A Sponsor-Tier Framework](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/nonprofit-event-swag/golf-tournament-swag/): How to plan golf tournament swag as a nonprofit organizer. Per-player gift bag math, sponsor-tier inclusion, what golfers actually use, and the items to skip. ## Volunteer Org Guides > PTAs, youth groups, philanthropies. First-timer playbooks. - [Youth Group Trip Swag Essentials](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/volunteer-org-guides/youth-group-trip-swag/): How to order youth group trip shirts that survive travel, shared laundry, and a week of chaos. Fabric weights, sizing buffers, and decoration that lasts. - [PTA Spirit-Wear Fall Launch: An August-Ready Plan](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/volunteer-org-guides/pta-spirit-wear-fall-launch-an-august-ready-plan/): PTA spirit wear ordered in spring or early summer arrives in August, giving you a two-week window to pre-sell it before the first week of school when family… - [PTA Swag That Parents Will Actually Wear](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/volunteer-org-guides/pta-swag-parents-wear/): Spirit wear that actually gets worn lives in the gap between looking school-appropriate and feeling like something a parent chose for themselves. Nail both… - [How to Run a Spirit Wear Fundraiser (PTA Chair's 6-Week Playbook)](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/volunteer-org-guides/spirit-wear-fundraiser/): A first-time PTA chair's working playbook for spirit wear. Timeline, vendor decision, profit margin, design rules, and the size collection that does not fall apart. - [Church Youth Group T-Shirts: A First-Time Pastor's Guide](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/volunteer-org-guides/church-youth-group-tshirts/): A first-time youth pastor's playbook for church youth group t-shirts. Vendor models, design rules, size collection for kids, and the budget math. ## Sustainable Swag > Sourcing transparency, real certifications, no greenwashing. - [Sustainable Swag Materials Worth Choosing](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/sustainable-swag/sustainable-swag-materials/): Eco-friendly swag claims mean nothing without certification numbers. Learn which standards (GOTS, GRS, bluesign) actually verify sustainable materials. - [Decoding Sustainable Swag Certifications](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/sustainable-swag/decoding-sustainable-swag-certifications/): Learn which sustainability certifications actually hold up in a procurement review, and how to verify them before you approve a swag PO. - [Sustainable Swag: What's Real, What's Greenwashing](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/sustainable-swag/sustainable-swag-real-vs-greenwashing/): How to evaluate sustainable swag claims. The certifications that mean something, the marketing language that doesn't, and the questions to ask vendors before you order. - [Recycled Cotton vs Organic Cotton vs RPET: What Each Is, What Each Costs](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/sustainable-swag/recycled-cotton-organic-rpet/): A buyer's guide to the three most common sustainable apparel materials. What each is made of, how each performs, and how the per-shirt cost compares to conventional. ## Swag Spotlights > Real products worth knowing about, with the facts and the events they fit. - [Stanley/Stella Unisex Chaser Hooded Sweatshirt SXU038: A Swag Spotlight](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/swag-spotlights/stanley-stella-unisex-chaser-hooded-sweatshirt-sxu038-a-swag-spotlight/): The Stanley/Stella Chaser hoodie delivers organic cotton, recycled polyester, and a clean minimalist look at $22.20 per unit. Swag people actually keep. - [Moleskine Medium Notebook Gift Set: A Swag Spotlight](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/swag-spotlights/moleskine-medium-notebook-gift-set-a-swag-spotlight/): The Moleskine Medium Notebook Gift Set comes box-ready in Scarlet Red. See pricing, decoration options, and who it's really best for. - [Carhartt Tall Rain Defender Paxton Heavyweight Hooded Zip Mock Sweatshirt CTT100617: A Swag Spotlight](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/swag-spotlights/carhartt-tall-rain-defender-paxton-heavyweight-hooded-zip-mock-sweatshirt-ctt100617-a-swag/): The Carhartt Tall Rain Defender Paxton Heavyweight Hooded Zip Mock Sweatshirt is rugged branded apparel built for outdoor crews who actually work in the weather. - [Stanley Flowstate Spring Bottle 20oz: A Swag Spotlight](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/swag-spotlights/stanley-flowstate-spring-bottle-20oz-a-swag-spotlight/): There is a version of company swag that lives in a drawer and a version that gets used every single day. The Stanley Flowstate Spring Bottle lands firmly in… - [Nike Dri-FIT Stretch 1/2-Zip Cover-Up. 779795: A Swag Spotlight](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/swag-spotlights/nike-dri-fit-stretch-1-2-zip-cover-up-779795-a-swag-spotlight/): Anyone who wants a branded athletic layer that doesn't embarrass itself outside the gym will find a lot to like here. This is a piece that reads as genuinely… - [The North Face Chest Logo Ridgewall Soft Shell Jacket NF0A88D5: A Swag Spotlight](https://merchbutler.ai/resources/swag-spotlights/the-north-face-chest-logo-ridgewall-soft-shell-jacket-nf0a88d5-a-swag-spotlight/): The Ridgewall is aimed squarely at the kind of person who actually wears their company jacket outside. Not to a meeting. Outside. If your team spends time on… ## Optional - [Full corpus](https://merchbutler.ai/llms-full.txt): every article body concatenated for direct ingestion.