Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about HR Swagger: what we sell, how the shop works, what the consulting practice covers, and how to book a keynote. If your question is not here, the Contact page reaches a person, not a queue.
About HR Swagger
What is HR Swagger?
HR Swagger is an independent HR brand founded by Dr. Shari Simpson, a senior HR leader with more than two decades in the field. It has three parts: a shop that makes HR-themed gifts and merchandise for the people who run HR, a consulting practice for small and midsize organizations, and keynote speaking and workshops for HR and leadership audiences. The name says it: HR done with confidence.
Who is Dr. Shari Simpson?
Dr. Shari Simpson is the founder and CEO of HR Swagger. She has spent more than twenty years in human resources across talent strategy, learning and development, employee relations, and culture. She holds a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation, an MBA, a Master of Human Resource Management, and the SHRM-SCP certification. She speaks regularly at national and state HR conferences. Off stage she is a military mom and married to a fire service leader. Read her full bio on the About page.
Where is HR Swagger located, and do you work with clients outside Illinois?
HR Swagger, LLC is based in Cary, Illinois, in the Chicago suburbs. Consulting and training run virtually or in person anywhere in the United States, and the shop ships throughout the US. Speaking engagements travel wherever the event is.
How do I contact HR Swagger?
Use the Contact page. For consulting or training, include your organization's size and industry, the problem you want solved, your timeline, and who else is involved in the decision. For speaking, share the event date, audience, and format. For an order question, include your order number. You will hear back from Shari directly.
The HR Swagger shop
What does the HR Swagger shop sell?
Original HR-themed designs on hoodies and sweatshirts, t-shirts and tanks, coffee mugs, glass tumblers, vinyl stickers, candles, notebooks, tote bags, and a few desk and home items. Every design is made by HR Swagger for people who work in HR: recruiters, generalists, HR managers, People Ops, and the friends who buy for them. Collections include It's Wild in HR, But Did You Document It, First Coffee Then HR Things, and seasonal lines for Christmas, Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, and fall.
Where can I buy funny HR gifts and gifts for HR professionals?
Directly from the HR Swagger shop at askhrswagger.com/shop. HR Swagger sells only through its own site, not on Etsy, Amazon, or any marketplace, so every design here is exclusive. Browse by product type (hoodies, mugs, stickers) or by collection, and use the seasonal category when you are shopping for a holiday.
What is a good gift for an HR professional?
Something that shows you know what the job is actually like. The best-received HR gifts name a real HR moment: the open enrollment season, the documentation habit, the coffee before the hard conversation. A mug or sticker works for a coworker or a Secret Santa. A hoodie or glass tumbler works for a manager, a mentor, or an HR Professionals Day gift for the whole people team. Avoid generic corporate swag; HR people receive enough of it.
When is HR Professionals Day, and what should I get my HR team?
HR Professionals Day is September 26 every year. Employee Appreciation Day falls on the first Friday of March, and Boss's Day is October 16. For a team, stickers and mugs scale well and ship in one order. For an individual HR leader, a hoodie or a glass tumbler reads as a real gift. Order at least two weeks ahead, because every HR Swagger item is printed after you order it.
Are HR Swagger products printed on demand?
Yes. Every product is printed to order through a US-based print partner after you place your order. Nothing sits in a warehouse. That is why the shop can carry a large range of designs and sizes, and it is also why made-to-order items cannot be returned for a change of mind. Check the size and color before checkout.
How long does shipping take?
Production comes first, then shipping. Most orders are printed within 2 to 5 business days and then ship by standard carrier, which typically takes another 3 to 7 business days within the United States. Apparel and drinkware come from different print facilities, so a mixed order may arrive in more than one package. You will receive tracking by email when each package ships. For a holiday deadline, order at least two weeks ahead.
Do you ship internationally?
HR Swagger currently ships within the United States only.
What is your return and exchange policy?
Because every item is printed to order, HR Swagger does not accept returns or exchanges for a wrong size, wrong color, or change of mind. Misprinted, damaged, or defective items are replaced free. Email a photo of the problem and your order number through the Contact page within 30 days of delivery and a replacement goes into production. You do not need to send the original back.
How do HR Swagger hoodies and t-shirts fit, and what sizes do you carry?
Hoodies are a heavyweight 50/50 cotton and polyester fleece in a relaxed unisex fit that runs true to size, available S through 5XL. T-shirts are 100% ring-spun cotton in a classic unisex fit, S through 3XL. Tank tops are a slim-fit racerback, XS through 2XL, so size up if you want a looser fit. Each product page lists the fabric, the exact sizes for that item, and the colors available.
Are the mugs and tumblers dishwasher safe?
The 15 oz ceramic coffee mugs are dishwasher safe on the top rack and microwave safe. The 16 oz glass tumblers with the bamboo lid and straw are hand wash only, and should stay out of the microwave and dishwasher to protect the print and the lid. Each product page repeats the care instructions for that item.
Can I order HR Swagger merchandise for my whole team or an event?
Team orders go through the shop like any other order; contact us if you need a specific delivery date.
Do you make custom designs for companies or HR teams?
Every design in the shop is an HR Swagger original, and the catalog is the full range. For a team or event order with a specific idea in mind, share the idea and quantity through the Contact page and we will tell you whether we can fulfill it.
Do you sell gift cards?
Yes. HR Swagger gift cards are sold in the shop and delivered by email, so they work for a last-minute HR Professionals Day gift or when you do not know the recipient's size. They can be used on anything in the store.
Do you offer discounts or run sales?
Seasonal promotions go to the HR Swagger email list first. Subscribe at the bottom of any page.
HR consulting and training
What HR consulting services does HR Swagger offer?
HR Swagger works with small and midsize organizations on the systems that make people management work: HR strategy and operating model, handbook and policy modernization, performance management and coaching frameworks, culture and engagement diagnostics with an action plan, change management and communication planning, and non-legal employee relations support. Work is project-based with a defined scope, or ongoing advisory support that fits your operating rhythm. Details are on the Services page.
Does HR Swagger work with small businesses that do not have an HR department?
Yes, and that is the most common client. If you are the owner or operations lead handling HR on the side, HR Swagger gives you two decades of senior HR judgment for a defined project without a full-time hire. Typical first projects are an employee handbook, a compliance and risk review, an onboarding build, or a job architecture so titles and pay make sense as you grow.
Does HR Swagger provide training for managers?
Yes. Manager and leadership training is scenario-based, built around the situations your managers actually face, so they practice the conversations that matter. Programs include new manager essentials, coaching, feedback and accountability, inclusive leadership and belonging, and onboarding that sticks. Sessions run as a single workshop or a cohort series, virtual or in person.
How much does HR consulting cost?
Projects are quoted as a fixed fee for a defined scope, so you know the number before work starts. The fee depends on organization size, the deliverable, and the timeline. Share those three things through the Contact page and you will get a scope and a price, not a sales call.
Does HR Swagger do recruiting or executive search?
No. Recruitment and executive search are not services HR Swagger provides. If you need a search partner, ask; Shari can recommend firms she trusts. HR Swagger will help you build the job architecture, onboarding, and manager practices that make a hire succeed once you have made it.
Is HR Swagger a law firm, and can you give legal advice?
No. HR Swagger is an HR consulting practice, not a law firm, and does not give legal advice. Employee relations support, handbook work, and compliance reviews are delivered from a practitioner's perspective. When a matter needs an attorney, Shari will tell you so and work alongside your employment counsel.
Does HR Swagger work with public sector, municipal, or fire service organizations?
Yes. Public sector, municipal, and fire and emergency services clients work with Principal Brian Simpson, PhD, a Battalion Chief with more than two decades of fire service leadership. Private sector and small business clients work with Dr. Shari Simpson. Both practice areas run on the same standard: real operational experience, not borrowed theory. See the About page for both bios.
Speaking and events
Can I book Dr. Shari Simpson for a keynote?
Yes. Dr. Shari Simpson delivers keynotes, breakout sessions, half-day and full-day workshops, panels, and multi-session virtual training for HR and leadership audiences. Keynotes run 45 to 60 minutes and are tailored to your event theme. She has spoken at national and state HR conferences and corporate leadership events. Share your date, audience, and format on the Speaking page to check availability and rates.
What topics does Dr. Shari Simpson speak on?
Signature topics are AI in HR (what AI actually changes for HR and how to lead it), leadership and turning managers into leaders people follow, employee experience, women in leadership, onboarding and belonging, and HR strategy and job architecture. Every session combines research with direct, practical guidance built for audiences who need something they can use Monday morning.
Does Dr. Shari Simpson speak virtually as well as in person?
Yes. Keynotes, workshops, and training series are delivered in person or virtually, and rates differ by format. Virtual training series run as multiple sessions so a team can apply the material between meetings. Include your preferred format when you check availability.
Can I book Dr. Brian Simpson for a fire service or public sector event?
Yes. Brian Simpson, PhD, speaks on fire service leadership, leading change in public safety organizations, personnel development, and public sector culture. Submit an inquiry through the Contact page with the event date, audience, and format.
Where can I find a speaker bio and headshot?
The About page carries Dr. Shari Simpson's full bio and credentials, and the Speaking page has the topic list and formats. Downloadable bios and headshots are available on request through the Contact page.