Didn't this go out of fashion after the first bubble burst, leaving warehouses full of branded swag that no-one wanted? Unless you are engaging with your targe

Didn't this go out of fashion after the first bubble burst, leaving warehouses full of branded swag that no-one wanted? Unless you are engaging with your target market, this is probably not the most efficient marketing technique. I could see it working in some cases though (e.g. outside a competitors conference, where you know 90% of the people who pass will be interested in your startup).