HALO Branded Solutions Overview

Founded in 1952 by Lee Wayne in Sterling, Illinois, HALO Branded Solutions has a long-standing history in the branded swag space. Often referred to simply as HALO, the company focuses on branded swag, uniforms, and employee recognition programs. Its services span the entire process, covering everything from product sourcing and creative development to fulfillment and logistics.

Main Features

Branded swag and uniforms

At its core, HALO focuses on branded swag and uniform programs. The platform supports a wide range of branded items, including apparel, drinkware, and tech accessories, and can be used for one-time projects as well as ongoing company stores. In addition, HALO provides uniform and workwear solutions designed for large teams, corporate environments, and retail organizations.

Creative support

HALO places a strong emphasis on creative support for swag initiatives. With a team of more than 30 in-house designers, the platform manages the full creative workflow, starting with concept ideation and campaign messaging and extending to product design, packaging, and visual merchandising. This makes HALO a strong option for teams that want more than basic logo placement and are aiming for a cohesive brand narrative across their swag.

Recognition and incentive programs

Beyond swag production, HALO also delivers employee recognition and incentive programs. These programs can be used to mark milestones, such as onboarding or work anniversaries, through branded swag and custom packaging. The platform also supports initiatives tied to daily recognition, peer-to-peer programs, sales incentives, well-being efforts, and other engagement-driven use cases, giving you multiple ways to acknowledge and reward your teams.

Pricing

HALO operates on a custom-quote pricing structure. As a result, pricing varies based on factors such as swag selection, project complexity, and the requirements of any recognition or incentive programs.

According to the company’s website, most items include setup fees, which cover the preparation of equipment with custom artwork. A dedicated account executive provides a final quote once your swag project scope is fully defined.

This pricing approach supports highly tailored service but doesn’t offer immediate visibility into costs. If you’re looking for instant pricing or a self-serve checkout experience, this process may feel slower and less predictable. On the other hand, for enterprise teams managing complex or customized programs, the quote-based model helps ensure design, sourcing, and logistics are all properly accounted for.

Pros and Cons

Pros

✅ Swag store: HALO provides digital swag stores that allow your employees and clients to browse and order from curated selections of branded swag.

✅ Low MOQ: Bulk swag orders can be placed with minimum quantities as low as five (5) units.

✅ High product quality: Reviews from G2 frequently highlight the quality of HALO’s swag and branded items.

✅ Procurement and SSO integrations: The platform supports procurement system integrations, including Oracle, making it a suitable choice if you want to connect existing purchasing and inventory workflows.

✅ Sustainability commitments: HALO has demonstrated sustainability efforts, including EcoVadis third-party audits and the availability of carbon-neutral shipping.

✅ Security compliance: The platform adheres to data protection standards such as GDPR, supporting secure data handling practices.

Cons

❌ Pricing lacks upfront transparency: Quotes are only available after booking a demo, and pricing varies by project, which can slow purchasing decisions.

❌ Limited information on warehousing and inventory: While fulfillment locations in the US, UK, and EU are mentioned, details around global inventory management are unclear.

❌ No HRIS or CRM integrations: HALO supports SSO and procurement integrations but doesn’t connect with HRIS or CRM systems.

❌ Lack of automation: Without HRIS or CRM integrations, automated milestone gifting for employees or clients isn’t supported.

❌ US-based shipping only: HALO states that all items ship from the US, which has led to reviews of higher shipping costs and delivery delays.

❌ Difficult navigation of the website: Some users note that the platform can be difficult to navigate without help from account executives or support teams.

HALO Branded Solutions is best for…

… US companies requiring swag and employee recognition programs 👍

HALO works well if you want to build employee recognition initiatives tied to branded swag. The platform’s incentive programs, custom kits, and recognition tools allow you to design experiences tailored to your employees. However, with fulfillment limited to the US, UK, and EU, the platform is better suited to companies with recipients located within those regions.

… organizations that need creative support for swag setups 👍

If your swag program requires more than basic customization, HALO is worth considering. Its in-house creative team supports concept development, artwork refinement, and execution, helping ensure swag aligns with brand goals without requiring internal design resources.

… businesses looking for platforms with a sustainable swag approach 👍

For companies where sustainability is a key decision factor, HALO presents a strong case. Its EcoVadis audit, CDP participation, and carbon-neutral shipping options demonstrate structured efforts around responsible sourcing and emissions reporting.

HALO Branded Solutions may not be a good fit for…

… global teams with international recipients 👎

If you’re an organization with employees or customers in APAC, India, or South America, you may find HALO limiting. With fulfillment restricted to the US, UK, and Europe, international shipping can result in higher costs, customs delays, and longer delivery times.

… companies that need to integrate their existing workflows 👎

HALO doesn’t integrate with HRIS, CRM, or marketing tools. This means automated gifting, employee data syncing, and engagement tracking must be handled manually or coordinated through account representatives.

… busy leaders looking to automate swag sending and milestone gifting 👎

HALO’s swag model centers on account-managed programs rather than plug-and-play automation. If you want HRIS-triggered swag sends or automatic milestone fulfillment without manual approval steps, then the platform won’t be suitable for you due to its lack of HRIS and CRM integration and automation.

… businesses seeking self-serve ordering 👎

The platform is built around account-managed programs rather than automated workflows. Without HRIS or CRM integrations, HR-triggered sends and hands-free milestone fulfillment aren’t possible. This is especially stressful if you need last-minute gifts or swag, as you need to do manual ordering.

… organizations that want transparent pricing 👎

Because pricing is delivered through custom quotes, cost transparency is limited upfront. Final pricing depends on decoration methods, setup fees, and shipping, all of which are confirmed only after a quote is issued. This can make comparisons and fast decision-making more difficult.

HALO Branded Solutions blends decades of experience with creative expertise to support branded swag and employee recognition programs. Its strengths include full-service design, sourcing, and fulfillment, reinforced by sustainability initiatives and compliance standards. That said, the platform follows a traditional agency-style model, which may not suit teams expecting self-service tools, transparent pricing, and automated workflows.

Looking for global swag solutions? Explore the best HALO Branded Solutions alternatives

If your organization needs broader global coverage, automation, or more flexibility, other swag platforms may be a better fit. Technology-first solutions often provide upfront pricing, instant ordering, and integrations with HR, CRM, and marketing systems to support automated workflows. To explore additional options, take a look at our guide to HALO’s top competitors and alternatives.

HALO Branded Solutions vs PerkUp, the #1 platform for global and automated swag

When evaluating HALO against PerkUp, the key differences center on automation, pricing clarity, and global reach. HALO operates through a traditional full-service model, offering creative merchandising, swag stores, employee recognition programs, and account-managed support.

PerkUp delivers these capabilities while expanding further. The platform supports bulk and On Demand swag, event swag, digital gift cards, and custom swag stores. Unlike HALO’s manual coordination, PerkUp enables automated swag sends triggered by HRIS data, such as new hire start dates or work anniversaries.

Global reach is another major differentiator. PerkUp maintains a global warehousing network across the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, the EU, India, China, and Australia. This allows for faster delivery, localized inventory, and DDP shipping whenever possible. Pricing transparency also sets PerkUp apart, with decoration, storage, and shipping costs clearly shown upfront during checkout.

A detailed breakdown of these differences is available in our HALO vs PerkUp comparison. Explore it to see why companies like Hiro and Cornerstone rely on PerkUp for their global swag programs.