From delight to disappointment, convention present baggage can encourage a spread of feelings relying on the kind of swag and goodies included.
As an occasion planner, you wish to shock your attendees (in a great way!) with convention swag baggage stuffed with intelligent, considerate, and sensible items. Simpler stated than achieved, proper?
So, what must you embrace in your present baggage to wow your attendees? Though the reply varies based mostly on the kind of convention you’re internet hosting, who your viewers is, and who your sponsors are, there are some basic guidelines of thumb to observe.
On this article, we’ll present tips about finest practices (together with dos and don’ts for convention swag!) and supply 37 particular convention present bag concepts to encourage you when planning your subsequent occasion!
What Is a Swag Bag Precisely?
Swag baggage (AKA goodie baggage or present baggage) include items to your convention attendees and supply them one thing to recollect the occasion by.
“Swag” would possibly embrace sponsored gadgets or branded merch and might vary from snacks and attire to present playing cards, stationery, and extra! In a convention atmosphere, swag baggage are a good way to welcome your attendees, develop model recognition, and promote your sponsors.
Because the identify suggests, convention swag usually is available in baggage—paper, plastic, canvas, or tote. Nevertheless, you’ve got the pliability to customise your swag bag to replicate the values of your group.
For instance, in case your model prioritizes sustainability, an eco-friendly swag bag produced from recycled materials is an ideal place to uphold that mission. Or you possibly can go digital with absolutely digital packages stuffed with present playing cards, downloadable gadgets, or subscriptions!
Methods to Come Up with Artistic Convention Reward Bag Concepts
The worth and contents of what needs to be included in your convention goodie baggage can range extensively between occasions. On the Oscars, the present baggage are value as much as $148,000–however you don’t essentially want a giant funds to make a big effect.
Unsure what to place in your convention welcome bag? Listed here are a couple of intelligent and inventive methods to generate contemporary convention present bag concepts your attendees will love:
Survey your attendees—earlier than and after your occasion!
Probably the most dependable supply for what’s invaluable to your attendees? Your attendees themselves!
Reap the benefits of occasion administration software program to succeed in out to registered company forward of time, ask about their pursuits and priorities, after which tailor your occasion present bag based mostly on their solutions.
For instance, you possibly can ask attendees particular questions, like:
Do you favor espresso, tea, or vitality drinks?
Are you extra more likely to community at a restaurant, bar, or restaurant?
What’s the one factor you’re most certainly to overlook to pack while you journey to a convention?
It’s also possible to run post-event surveys to get suggestions out of your company. A retrospective survey can present useful hints on enhance your occasion for subsequent time–together with any in-demand convention goodie bag concepts you might have missed! As a bonus, a post-event survey might help you perceive your occasion ROI.
Attend competing conferences
One other nice technique to study convention present baggage is to see what’s being supplied at different occasions inside your {industry}. A litmus check for the success of a goodie bag is how probably you’re to make use of what’s inside—and which gadgets you’re extra more likely to go away untouched!
Try unrelated occasions
Caught on brainstorming? Discover inventive concepts for convention swag by attending conferences outdoors of your subject. Seeing what different sorts of organizations supply might provide you with concepts you’d by no means have considered in any other case.
Discover unbiased suppliers
Earlier than you’ll be able to hand out swag, you’ll need to supply it—and likelihood is, your suppliers could be joyful to counsel further concepts to your convention present bag! They may even have insights into what’s in style or which choices go finest collectively.
Impartial suppliers could possibly be particularly inventive sources of concepts, so think about reaching out and asking suppliers for recommendation. You by no means know—they may have one thing in thoughts from prior expertise that may make your tote bag additional particular.
Go to native artwork markets
Artwork markets convey collectively creatives and makers of all kinds. Browse native artist’s stalls and chat with them about their course of. You would possibly stroll away with a contemporary perspective, new concepts, and a few distinctive native wares to incorporate in your convention present baggage–whether or not that’s enamel pins, authentic posters, or hand-made ceramics or clothes.
Attend festivals
Festivals share many options with conferences–together with swag baggage! Try the swag supplied at various kinds of festivals—music, open air, or athletics—for concepts on what to supply teams of individuals introduced collectively by frequent pursuits.
Comply with Instagram hashtags like #swagbag
Social media of all types might help encourage inventive #swag concepts, however hashtags are particularly helpful. Why? As a result of when somebody goes to the hassle of tagging their swag, it means they’re excited sufficient about their haul to brag about it to the world!
Advisable Useful resource: Planning your subsequent convention? Prioritize your attendee expertise through the use of our Expertise Design Information to fulfill all of your occasion targets! 🎯
What Ought to Not Go in Your Convention Swag Bag?
After some brainstorming, you would possibly end up overrun by concepts for what to incorporate in your convention tote baggage. So, earlier than finalizing any of your convention swag concepts, transcend the advantages of every merchandise to think about why sure sorts of swag may not make a fascinating present for attendees.
Listed here are some examples of things which may not be an excellent match to your swag bag (and why it issues):
Keep away from something that may soften
Snacks are a good way to construct goodwill with convention attendees in a rush, however any meals that relies on climate situations to remain intact is finest averted!
Don’t embrace “items” your attendees need to pay to make use of
Whereas present playing cards to cafés or eating places could also be welcome networking aids, asking attendees to spend to reap the benefits of your swag makes it plain previous promoting—not a present!
Skip low-quality gadgets
Go for high quality over amount! Something that breaks in a day or is noticeably low high quality received’t do a lot to make attendees really feel appreciated or broaden model consciousness.
Miss something troublesome to pack
Preserve airport safety in thoughts: What would possibly individuals need to take away from carry-ons earlier than boarding their flight? What else isn’t a good suggestion to pack in a suitcase?
Keep away from overly branded items
Branding is vital, but when the emblem is crucial factor concerning the merchandise, odds are it’s not very helpful! We’ve assembled some tips about creating branded merch beneath.
Suggestions for Nailing Branded Merch
Branded merch is a superb technique to construct model recognition. That stated, we encourage you to present items your attendees will respect no matter branding.
Offering gadgets attendees will really use of their every day lives—and that conjures up others to ask, “Hey, the place’d you get that?”—is the trick to profitable swag branding.
So, except your branding is central to your group’s mission—in case your aesthetic is particularly attractive, for instance; otherwise you’ve developed a powerful relationship with the group and wish to showcase your involvement—restrict your branding footprint by:
Minimizing focus in your emblem
Preserve your emblem to an inexpensive measurement. Consider your favourite athletic jacket. Most probably, the emblem is a smaller element in a nook–reasonably than an apparent, dominating presence.
Putting the emblem to the aspect of an merchandise, for instance, maintains your branding with out making it the central focus.
Selecting constant branding colours
Manufacturers are extra than simply logos! A coherent coloration scheme is one other efficient technique to convey your branding with out emphasizing your emblem.
Utilizing high-quality supplies
Bear in mind, these objects are representing your group. You need individuals to affiliate your identify with high quality!
37 Convention Reward Bag Concepts for Your Attendees
Now that you understand what to not put in your baggage, let’s discuss what does belong in your goodie baggage!
Bear in mind to customise every thing that goes into your swag bag to your convention expertise–and don’t hesitate to get inventive! If potential, think about working along with your sponsors to raise your convention present baggage.
Listed here are 37 particular present bag concepts for conferences to think about to your subsequent occasion:
Stationery & workplace provides
These sensible staples are at all times a welcome addition to any present bag:
Excessive-quality pens. Everyone wants a pen, however maybe by no means extra urgently than at a convention. Make sure the pen is top quality so attendees can depend on its efficiency all through the occasion.
Highlighters. Assist convey your attendees’ note-taking to the following degree.
Notebooks or notepads. These are additionally excellent for convention environments. Go simple on the customization to make sure the pocket book can later be used for different functions!
Tech gizmos & devices
You don’t want to interrupt the funds to incorporate a couple of cool tech equipment, similar to:
Flash drives or moveable onerous drives. Digital storage is at all times helpful! For an added bonus, supply safety or portability for the machine—for instance, a fabric bag for onerous drives or a keychain for flash drives.
Chargers and energy banks. Together with cords, wi-fi charging ports, and every thing in between in your convention bag has big potential to save lots of conference-goers numerous frustration.
Smartphone printer. Transportable and high quality are key phrases right here!
Headphones or earbuds. A spare pair of earbuds stashed in somebody’s backpack may save their workflow—and their sanity.
Pen gentle. You by no means know when a flashlight keychain would possibly turn out to be useful.
Ornamental gadgets
Contemplate these eye-catching present concepts so as to add persona (and a flash of coloration) to your swag baggage:
Stickers or decals. Contact native artists to design these for an added increase to their desirability. Stickers are particularly nice choices for reasonable convention baggage.
Posters or prints by native artists. Convention items for attendees profit from a private contact. Attempt commissioning an illustration of a neighborhood landmark to supply aesthetic memorabilia of attendees’ journey to the convention!
Enamel pins. Pins make a enjoyable memento for attendees. Contemplate a slogan or enjoyable saying that’s related to your convention or subject.
Foods and drinks
Embrace consumable items paired with sensible swag (like a bag of locally-roasted espresso beans and a mug to take pleasure in them in!):
Customized mugs or teacups. These may be branded for the convention, your subject, or simply enjoyable collectibles. Journey mugs are at all times helpful. You might additionally contact a neighborhood ceramics artist for a very distinctive and unforgettable providing.
Espresso from native roasters. Provide decaf or sizzling chocolate choices for non-coffee drinkers. Encourage attendees to commerce amongst themselves!
Unfastened leaf tea + infuser. Your attendees will respect this for consolation and unwinding after the convention.
Personalized path combine. Convention snacks are a fast and straightforward technique to construct goodwill with attendees. Bear allergic reactions in thoughts by providing varied snack choices!
Bottle openers. Helpful for these after-conference mixers—connect a keychain for bonus factors.
Water bottles. Whether or not recyclable or reusable, any attendee will be pleased about the hydration assist.
Life-style items
These are sensible swag bag concepts that company will really use–both on the highway, as soon as they get dwelling, or each!
Mini first-aid equipment. This may be so simple as a pack of band-aids or a extra elaborate equipment for the outdoorsy explorer.
Lip balm, hand cream, or sunscreen. Defend attendees from the weather! This can be particularly helpful if the climate is harsh throughout the season you’re internet hosting the convention.
Toothbrush. For additional utility, make it a miniature measurement for journey.
Sleep masks or earplugs. Lodge sleeping is rarely simple. Assist make it simpler by blocking out gentle and sound!
Incense. Spice issues up with a memorable scent. That is one other nice alternative to contact native crafters for added worth.
Handheld massager. Though it’s a bit pricier than different items, a handheld massager will assist attendees calm down after an extended day at your convention.
Fidget toys. These are nice gadgets that may assist sign your occasion’s willingness to accommodate attendees’ various wants.
Throw blanket. Cozy and sensible—particularly for these with an extended journey dwelling forward of them!
Cooler baggage. Your attendees will keep in mind you each time they pack a selfmade lunch or head to the seaside.
Bookmarks. Particularly nice for tutorial conferences or different occasions geared towards avid readers. These low-cost swag choices are simple to customise–so you’ll be able to create variations for attendees to swap and evaluate!
Seasonal clothes and attire
Preserve your attendees snug with season-appropriate gear and attire, similar to:
T-shirts, hoodies, or sweatpants. These staple clothes can—and can—be worn repeatedly. Throw a enjoyable, industry-relevant slogan on so as to add some persona!
Heat or athletic socks. Encourage attendees to discover the world by giving them the help of snug footwear.
Sun shades. Many attendees might have forgotten to pack these!
Slippers. For padding across the resort after classes.
Scarves, toques, or baseball caps. You’ll want to customise the headgear relying on the season your convention is held in
Flip flops. Each informal and helpful! Contemplate discovering a technique to match sizing to your attendees.
Umbrellas. One other nice thought for defense in opposition to the weather in your occasion’s host metropolis. Use a compact design for straightforward journey!
Evergreen swag for any bag
These present concepts by no means exit of favor—and provides you a chance to indicate your attendees what you care about:
Reward playing cards. As evergreen convention swag bag concepts, café and restaurant present playing cards encourage networking between conference-goers and help native companies. For added goodwill, go for present playing cards from Black-, Indigenous-, LGBTQ-, or women-owned manufacturers or companies.
Map of town or a vacationer information. In-person occasions imply a possibility for attendees to discover. Recommending locations to eat or seize espresso may be particularly helpful for networking classes! You might even get inventive and embrace strolling excursions, or guides to native natural world.
Swag for charitable causes. Some companies promote swag particularly to lift cash for a specific trigger. Let your recipients know what trigger their present bag helps!
What Will You Embrace in Your Subsequent Convention Swag Bag?
We hope you’re feeling impressed to place collectively an superior swag bag to your subsequent convention! When unsure, keep in mind to select gadgets that replicate your viewers’s pursuits, serve a sensible want, or tie into your org’s mission or {industry}.
In our expertise, the most effective convention swag baggage usually include one thing sudden or enjoyable that attendees will keep in mind and wish to use—so don’t be afraid to suppose outdoors the field (or bag!).
For those who go the route of branded swag, follow sensible items to make sure your convention attendees have one thing to recollect your occasion by that they’ll be joyful to make use of after they get dwelling.
Prioritize high quality and utility when contemplating what to place in a convention welcome bag, so your attendees will look again fondly in your occasion each time they use your swag!
Advisable Useful resource: 📺 Are you searching for cost-effective, simpler methods to construct and handle your occasions? Watch 8 quick movies to learn to ship occasions in any format that have interaction attendees and supply sponsors extra worth—regardless of your group measurement or funds!
