Everything you need to set up, launch, and manage your company store

What is Launch?

Written by Justin Hoehn •Updated Jul 21, 2026

Launch by Lead Apparel is a company swag store platform that helps businesses create, manage, and run branded merchandise programs for their employees.

Companies use Launch to build a branded online store where employees can browse and order premium merchandise — apparel, accessories, and gear decorated with the company logo — and have it shipped directly to their home or office. The platform handles the entire process: product selection, branding, employee ordering, payment, shipping coordination, and fulfillment.

Launch is built for modern teams managing remote employees, multiple office locations, and ongoing merchandise needs. It replaces the spreadsheets, bulk orders, and manual coordination that most company swag programs rely on.

 

Store Front

“Launch storefront interface displaying a live online company store with a countdown timer, product filters for color, gender, style, brand, and price, plus a grid of branded apparel and accessories with images, names, and pricing.”
Admin's Dashboard
Launch by Lead Apparel dashboard displaying 32 active products, 5 active logos, a live launch date, and 56 active employees. The sales section shows $534 from 2 orders across 8 products. A Best Sellers list highlights top-selling items, while the Store Overview notes the store will close in 3 days and displays a $500 minimum spend requirement. A checklist reminds administrators to confirm orders and review Launch Codes before the store closes.

 

What companies use Launch for

Launch supports a wide range of employee merchandise programs, including: 

  • New hire kits — give new employees access to branded gear from day one

  • Employee gifting — run holiday, anniversary, or milestone gift programs

  • Company uniforms — manage ongoing uniform ordering for staff

  • Event merchandise — open a store around a conference, retreat, or company event

  • Recruiting and sales swag — equip your team with branded materials

  • Remote employee programs — ship merchandise directly to employees working from home

  • Multi-office distribution — coordinate merchandise across multiple office locations

  • Ongoing employee merchandise programs — keep a store open year-round for continuous access


How Launch works

Setting up a company store with Launch involves four main steps:

  1. Build your store — upload your logo, select products, and customize your branded storefront

  2. Configure ordering — set payment options, employee access rules, and shipping preferences

  3. Open to employees — set a launch date and invite employees to order

  4. Manage and track — monitor orders, manage employees, and track spending through the Launch dashboard

Employees visit the store, select products, and check out based on the payment and shipping rules you set. Launch handles decoration, production, and fulfillment from there.

Launch supports both one-time store launches and ongoing year-round merchandise programs.

Launch by Lead Apparel Help and Feedback page displaying quick-start video guides for setting up and managing a store. Topics include uploading logos, adding products, setting shipping, adding and tagging employees, and Messenger emails. The Guides section in the left navigation menu is highlighted, and an orange arrow indicates additional guides are available by scrolling down the page.
Launch by Lead Apparel Help and Feedback page showing guides for payment methods and store management. Available topics include creating Launch Codes, setting Product Max, Employee Paid orders, managing Launch Dates, and viewing Sales Reports. The Guides section in the left navigation menu is highlighted, and additional Help and Feedback resources are displayed below.

 

Products available through Launch

One of the most common challenges with company swag programs is product quality. Launch gives companies access to premium retail brands that employees already recognize and use.

Available brands include:

  • Nike

  • Patagonia

  • The North Face

  • Peter Millar

  • Vuori

  • YETI

  • JBL

  • Tumi

  • TravisMathew

  • Imperial

Products are decorated by Lead Apparel's production team using professional embroidery, screen printing, and other decoration methods. All products are fulfilled and shipped directly to employees or office locations.

Higher quality products typically lead to stronger employee participation and better long-term brand visibility for your company.

Launch plan options

Launch offers two plan types depending on how you want to run your merchandise program.

The On-Demand plan is designed for companies running time-limited stores, events, or seasonal gifting programs. Stores open and close as needed, starting at $199 per launch.

Always Open plans keep your store open year-round for ongoing employee ordering, uniform programs, and new hire onboarding. Always Open plans start at $369 per month.

Both plans include a 14-day free trial that provides access to a full list of features— no credit card required.

For a full breakdown of features and pricing, see Launch plans and pricing.

Key features


Frequently asked questions

What is Launch by Lead Apparel?
Launch is a company swag store platform that lets businesses build a branded online store, add premium merchandise, and allow employees to order and receive products directly. Lead Apparel handles decoration, fulfillment, and shipping.

Who is Launch built for?
Launch is designed for HR, operations, and people teams at companies of all sizes that manage employee merchandise programs. It works for small teams running a one-time event store and for large organizations running ongoing uniform or gifting programs.

Is Launch only for apparel?
No. While apparel is a core category, Launch also includes accessories, drinkware, bags, tech gear, and other branded merchandise from premium brands.

Do I need to order in bulk?
No. Launch allows employees to order individually through the store. You do not need to pre-purchase inventory or place bulk orders.

How much does Launch cost?
Launch offers two plans: The On-Demand starts at $199 per launch. The Always Open starts at $369 per month. See the full plans and pricing page 

How long does it take to set up a Launch store?
Most companies can configure a store — upload a logo, add products, and set up payment and shipping — within a few hours. Launch offers a 14-day free trial so you can build and preview your store before activating a paid plan.

What is a Launch Code?
A Launch Code is a payment code that gives employees a set spending allowance in the store. Companies use Launch Codes to fund employee orders without requiring employees to pay out of pocket. See how to create your first Launch Code to get started.

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