Companies need to invigorate new ideas to bring a little spark back from the pandemic’s horrors. Branded merchandise for conference swag is an excellent way to start since things are finally normalising. A swag gift or merchandise is a free item you get at any event with the brand logo, and it is mainly done to generate goodwill between brands and their potential customers. Now that the companies can open large but controlled gatherings, they can refocus on getting new and top-notch quality items to welcome their consumer base. Giving out free stuff will also make the conference attendees feel personalised and valued.
Best Merchandise Ideas for Conference Swags
We have prepared a list of branded merchandise that will create a whole other level of swag for your company conferences. Here is a list of ideas about the items:
- Water bottles
- Coffee mugs
- Coasters
- Supporting T-shirts
- Umbrellas
- Hats
- Tote bags
- Toiletries
- Diffusers
- Backpacks
- Duffle bags
- Luggage tags
- Branded click pens and other stationery.
- Gift cards
- Foods and snacks
Phone chargers or power banks, micro-USBs and USBs, phone stands, earbuds, Bluetooth speakers, notebooks, keychains, and slippers are also some of the creative approaches some companies take with their swag giveaways. Some fitness companies give great yoga mats, step counters, and stress balls in their swag merchandise giveaways.
There can be many other items that can come on the list. These are some of the trendiest ones, and given how fresh every social interaction feels, these fundamental merchandise ideas would do wonders for brand awareness and marketing.
The “Don’ts” of Swag Merchandise
Swag merchandise often comes under fire because companies invest in cheap quality products constantly, and it does not permanently settle with the consumers. Environmental concerns are another facet of the problem that often goes out the window.
With the new start of social interactions, we recommend that you do not try to do the following when trying to set up a branded swag merchandise giveaway. These include three things primarily:
- Do not invest in items that are not eco-friendly. If you are giving out hats and umbrellas, make sure that their plastic parts are appropriately disposed of or produced from biodegradable materials.
- Do not just get a piece of item for the sake of giveaway. Try to put some thought into it before labelling it a company swag item. You must think about the audience that would get the gifts, what demographic they are, what your company policies might reflect as merchandise, etc.
- Try to ensure that the items are trendy and current. You might have to scourge social media to see what kind of thing is getting popularised by the youth and whether it excites your audience.
- Do not invest in the wrong quality product, e.g., if you are handing out bags, then make sure that they do not rip open after a day’s use.
Overall
Now you know what to hand out in a conference without coming off as an inconsiderate corporate machine. You can also get creative with your conference merchandise and develop new and exciting ideas. The bottom line is to give off enough energy to pull many new customers for your product or service. There is no other way to do that than being smart about your marketing strategies, such as conference swag item giving.