Benefits of an Always Open store

Written by Sloan Vantosh •Updated Jul 18, 2026

Benefits of an Always Open store

An Always Open store keeps your company swag store running year-round — giving employees continuous access to branded merchandise without scheduled opening and closing windows.

Unlike On-Demand stores that open and close around specific events or programs, Always Open stores remain active continuously. Employees can visit the store and place orders at any time — on their first day, on a work anniversary, or whenever they need branded gear.

Always Open plans start at $369 per month and include a 14-day free trial — no credit card required.

Who Always Open is built for

Always Open is designed for companies that manage merchandise as an ongoing part of how they operate — not just for occasional events or seasonal programs.

It's the right fit when employees need access to merchandise throughout the year, when new hires join on a rolling basis, or when your program spans multiple departments, locations, or employee groups.

Common programs that run on Always Open include:

New hire onboarding — employees order branded gear as part of their first-week experience, without requiring HR to coordinate a separate store launch for each cohort
Ongoing uniform programs — staff order and reorder uniforms year-round without waiting for a scheduled ordering window
Employee recognition — milestone gifts, work anniversaries, and performance recognition available anytime
Multi-department merchandise — different teams with different product needs and budgets, all managed through one store
Internal company stores — a permanent branded storefront employees can return to throughout the year
Remote employee programs — merchandise shipped directly to employees working from home, on demand

Run new hire programs without the manual work

One of the most common reasons companies move to Always Open is new hire onboarding. When employees join on a rolling basis — weekly, monthly, or year-round — scheduling a separate store opening for each cohort creates significant administrative overhead.

With an Always Open store, new hires receive access to the store as part of their onboarding process. They visit the store, select approved merchandise, and have it shipped directly to them — without HR or operations teams manually coordinating each order.

This creates a consistent onboarding experience regardless of when an employee joins, and reduces the administrative work involved in running a new hire merchandise program.

For companies using Launch Codes, new hires can receive a pre-funded spending allowance automatically — eliminating the need for employees to pay out of pocket.

Support uniform and recognition programs year-round

Always Open stores are well-suited for programs that require employees to access merchandise on an ongoing basis rather than during a fixed window.

Programs that benefit from year-round access include:

Uniform programs — employees who need to reorder or replace uniform items do not need to wait for the next scheduled store opening
Recognition programs — managers can award merchandise at any time, tied to performance milestones, anniversaries, or company achievements
Department merchandise — individual teams can maintain their own product selections and budgets within the same store

Employees access approved products whenever they are needed. Launch Codes can be created for specific departments, employee groups, or individual employees — giving companies fine-grained control over who can order what and how much they can spend.

Access integrations and automation

Always Open plans support integrations that connect Launch with HRIS platforms and other internal business systems — reducing manual employee data management and keeping your store in sync with your organization.

Integrations can help automate:

Employee roster updates — add or remove employees as they join or leave
Payment code assignment — automatically issue Launch Codes to new hires based on HRIS triggers
Reporting and spend tracking — connect ordering data to internal reporting systems

For companies managing large or fast-growing employee populations, integrations reduce the manual work of keeping employee lists current and ensuring the right employees have access to the right products.

See Launch add-on options for available integration details.

Add warehousing, fulfillment, and branded packaging

Always Open plans can expand with additional operational services for companies managing larger merchandise programs.

Available services include:

Warehousing — warehouse and fulfillment option for companies purchasing inventory in bulk. Inventory tracked in real time in the Launch dashboard.
Fulfillment — ship orders directly from warehouse inventory to employees or office locations
Inventory tracking — monitor inventory levels and available quantities in real time
Branded packaging — customize shipping materials and packaging inserts with your company branding.

These services are most commonly used by companies running high-volume onboarding programs, large uniform programs, or ongoing merchandise initiatives where speed of fulfillment matters.

Unlike On-Demand stores, which require a minimum of $500 in total store volume per launch, Always Open stores have no store volume minimum. There are no order minimums for apparel, hats, and bags. Accessory items — including drinkware, tech, audio, home goods, and office accessories — may have product-level minimums depending on the item.

What's included in an Always Open plan

Always Open plans start at $369 per month and include:

3 logos
36 products
3 payment codes
Ongoing production runs
Integrations
Warehousing and Fulfillment (additional fees apply)
Inventory management
Branded packaging (additional fees apply)
No store volume minimum — no order minimums for apparel, hats, and bags. Accessory items may have product-level minimums.

Additional logos, products, and payment codes can be added at any time with Launch add-ons.

For a full feature comparison between Always Open and On-Demand, see Launch plans explained.

Frequently asked questions

What is an Always Open store?
An Always Open store is a company swag store that remains active year-round — employees can browse and order merchandise at any time without waiting for a scheduled store opening. Always Open is one of two plan types available through Launch by Lead Apparel.

How much does Always Open cost?
Always Open plans start at $369 per month. Both plans include a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. See the full plans and pricing page for a complete breakdown.

What is the difference between Always Open and On-Demand?
On-Demand stores open and close on a schedule — ideal for events, seasonal programs, or one-time launches. Always Open stores remain active continuously — ideal for onboarding, uniform programs, and ongoing employee merchandise. See Launch plans explained for a full comparison.

Does Always Open require a minimum order volume?
No. Always Open plans have no minimum store volume requirement. On-Demand plans require a minimum of $500 in store volume per launch.

Can I add more logos, products, or payment codes to my Always Open plan?
Yes. Both plans support additional logos, products, and payment codes through Launch add-ons.

Do Always Open plans include warehousing?

Always Open stores offer a warehouse and fulfillment option for companies purchasing inventory in bulk. On-Demand plans do not support warehousing.

Does Always Open have a minimum order requirement?

Always Open stores have no store volume minimum. There are no order minimums for apparel, hats, and bags. Accessory items — including drinkware, tech, audio, home goods, and office accessories can have product-level minimums.

On-Demand stores require a minimum of $500 in total store volume per launch.

Can I switch from On-Demand to Always Open?
Yes. You can change your plan from your account billing settings. See how to manage your Launch subscription for details.

Is there a free trial for Always Open?
Yes. Both Always Open and On-Demand plans include a 14-day free trial — no credit card required.

Benefits of an Always Open store