Events are expensive. With accommodation, exhibition costs, and travel, it could set you back thousands per employee. Yet, on arrival, you’re just one voice trying to be heard in a concert of noise.
Event swag could be the megaphone that makes your voice heard, but only if it’s good enough to be remembered and unique enough to leave an impact. That’s where these unique event swag ideas for events come in.
Not sure if a giveaway or some swag bag merchandise will work for your brand? Here are a few reasons to consider it:
The offer of quality swag will attract attendees better than any well-executed promotional pitch. The higher the quality, the more likely they are to drop by.
You then have the attendees right where you want them and can engage in discussions that eventually lead to business opportunities.
There’s also an element of reciprocity. It’s a “you scratch my back; I’ll scratch yours” deal. In this case, however, it’s more like, “You gave me something, now I feel obliged to return the favor”. It might be an exchange of information, a recommendation, a new lead, or even just throwing some positive sentiment your way.
The average event attendee will interact with dozens of individuals and brands. They’ll hear all the usual marketing spiel, and most of it will be forgotten by the time they retire to their hotel.
Nothing makes a memorable impact better than a free gift. And as they’ll be wearing or carrying your brand with them, they won’t forget about you any time soon.
Low-quality branded apparel rarely makes it beyond the event. If it does, those tees often end up repurposed as cleaning rags or stuffed into the back of closets.
Good-quality swag has a habit of sticking around, though. If industry professionals are out there wearing your branded sweats or accessories, they become walking billboards for your company.
Let’s be honest, you’re not going to be the only brand with event swag. But you might be the only one offering a specific product, and that differentiates you from the crowd.
The more unique it is, the more memorable you become.
Let’s dispense with the traditional for a moment. No one needs another branded pen that stops working before it finishes writing its first sentence. Cheap, low-quality swag isn’t just forgettable; it’s detrimental to your brand image.
You need something different. Something meaningful.
Here are some of the best swag ideas for events:
When we say “practical”, we’re not just talking about the office or home. We’re talking about the event itself. Think about the products that attendees will need during a multi-day event, such as:
Tailor it to your industry and event, but try to think outside of the box. For example, headphones and chargers might seem like a great idea at a tech event, but you’re probably not the only one to have that idea. Attendees will likely be well-equipped in that department. Instead, consider trackers they can use to prevent the loss of high-value items, as well as bags for laptops and devices.
Counter-intuitively, the secret to good, branded apparel is to minimize the branding. You want attendees to be a walking billboard, but that’s not what they want. If they don’t like it, they won’t wear it.
Keep branding noticeable, but subtle. Focus on quality and comfort. It’s better to invest in one hoodie that an attendee will wear for a lifetime than a hundred tees that will be trashed before the event is over.
A tech goody bag offers a little bit of everything, with branded tech that’s suitable both during and after the event.
Portable power banks, cable organizers, wireless earbuds, webcam covers—the only thing better than a free gift is a goody bag full of them.
Attendees are much more likely to be impressed by high-quality name-brand goods. They’re also more likely to continue using them long after the event is over.
Find the most recognizable brands in any given category—Nike and Adidas for sportswear, Anker for power banks, The North Face for jackets. You can still customize them, but that brand is a sign of quality that few attendees can resist.
As an attendee, you want to engage with as many people as possible and leave your mark on all of them. At the same time, your space may be limited, and you’ll have to work harder to make connections.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
As noted above, cheap trinkets are commonplace at events. You could probably rebuild the venue with the amount of unwanted plastics passed around over the course of those two or three days.
Even if your brand isn’t focused on sustainability, your swag should be. Use sustainable packaging for swag bags, hand out eco-friendly promotional products, and focus more on durable, long-lasting merchandise than disposable gifts.
The best event swag ideas are items that attendees will actually use, both at the event and at home. They include quality apparel, reusable bags, and drinkware.
Functional tech like power banks, branded stationery, and drinkware work best.
Companies can work with marketing and branding experts like Foxtrot Marketing to find the best event swag ideas, while also sourcing the products and applying the branding.