Branded Giveaway Items

𝙈𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙨 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚’𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢. It’s not because people don’t appreciate free things. It’s because most company swag just misses the mark, especially for employees working in Oil & Gas, Energy, and Construction. Here’s what happens: Someone in HR or marketing places a big order for coffee mugs, notepads, or another set of pens with the company logo. The items get handed out at a safety meeting or a holiday lunch. Everyone smiles, says “thanks,” and then... 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘨 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬. If you want your branded gifts to actually get used (and keep your logo visible), you have to think about what really fits the day-to-day reality of folks working out in the field or on a job site. Here’s what consistently works and what always falls flat: 𝘚𝘬𝘪𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘩é “𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦” 𝘴𝘸𝘢𝘨. Coffee mugs, mouse pads, and USB sticks don’t mean much to someone working outdoors or in safety gear. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱, 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝘽𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙧: Jackets, vests, moisture-wicking shirts, or hats that are tough enough for real work and actually comfortable. If it feels good, people will wear it and your logo will go everywhere they do. 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙮-𝙙𝙪𝙩𝙮 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚: Insulated water bottles or coolers that keep drinks cold during a long shift. If it can survive being tossed around in a truck, even better. 𝙐𝙨𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙜𝙚𝙖𝙧: Tool bags, multi-tools, flashlight keychains, or gear organizers with the company logo. These become part of the daily kit. 𝙋𝙋𝙀 𝙪𝙥𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙨: Safety glasses, branded gloves, or ear protection ONLY if you can beat the standard-issue stuff. If it’s flimsy, it won’t make it past the first week. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴: 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗽 𝗴𝗮𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀: Bluetooth speakers, phone stands, or chargers that stop working after a month. The frustration isn’t worth it, and it reflects on your brand. 𝗦𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: “One size fits all” hats or shirts that never fit right. Ill-fitting gear goes straight to the donation pile. 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀: Fidget spinners, stress balls, and novelty items get a laugh once, then nobody remembers them. One thing that always helps? 𝘈𝘴𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵. Sometimes the things people use every day are the things they need most think sun protection, cooling towels, or rugged lunch bags. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: Good, branded gifts don’t just carry your logo. They show your team you pay attention to what matters to them on the job. That’s the difference between another forgotten swag item and a gift your employees will actually thank you for.

Some people say swag is fluff. I could not disagree more. When swag is done well, it becomes an event strategy that multiple other strategies can build from. I started thinking about this recently after I saw a post from Casey S. about a personalized swag activation that had people talking about their company at an industry event. And shout out to Jenny Blaschke who can personalize anything. And I do mean anything. Including hot dogs. But I digress. The point is not the personalization itself. The point is what happens when the item, the experience, the operational plan and the audience all line up. I have seen swag move mountains at events where companies I worked for were exhibiting. And by mountains, I mean outcomes. Create demand for a high value item that causes a line. Have your team work the line. Incentivize the right behaviors including capture of the conversations. Reward the people who stood in line but did not win the high value item with something lower value, but still useful, like a great t-shirt (I swear at some events people collect their entire wardrobe in a matter of days). That is strategy. That is not fluff or wasted money. And it applies just as much to a company’s own hosted events. The reason for this post is because I was reminded of the power of swag when I sat down for dinner tonight and pulled out a pair of Venetian branded wooden chopsticks. I was given them at an event more than 22 years ago. I know this because I was not yet a mom. My son is now in university. So yes, those chopsticks have been with me through babies, toddlers, teenagers, many dinners, multiple moves and a whole lot of life. The logo is barely visible now. But I still know exactly where they came from. I remember the event. I remember who gave them to me even - and although he’s long gone from the Venetian I reminded him of the chopsticks when we saw each other again in person only a few years ago. And every time I use them, there is a tiny little brand memory attached to something incredibly ordinary. Dinner. That is kind of wild when you think about it. I have another example sitting on my kitchen counter right now. A salt holder I was also given pre kids. It used to sit on a branded wooden base, which has long since disappeared, because of course it has. But the salt holder itself has survived every kitchen clean out, every move and every phase where I convinced myself I was finally going to declutter properly. It still made the cut. And I still remember who gave it to me and what company they worked for. Here’s looking at you, Jennifer Glynn. That is the power of good swag. It’s useful. It’s relevant. It creates a memory. It supports a business objective. And most importantly, it gives your team something to activate around. The best swag is not about putting your logo on something random and hoping people care. It is about understanding the audience, the moment, the memory you want to create and the behaviour you want to drive. So please, let’s stop dismissing swag as fluff. But let’s call poorly thought out swag what it actually is. A missed opportunity.

That cheap pen you handed out? It’s already in the trash. And your message is right there with it. A promotional product should be an extension of your message, not just your logo. If your brand story is about quality and sustainability, handing out a cheap plastic gadget sends the exact opposite signal. The disconnect is jarring. Instead, think about utility and longevity. A high-quality item that solves a problem—a power bank, a durable tote bag, a solid multi-tool—gets used daily. It becomes part of someone's routine, keeping your brand top of mind in a positive, helpful way. Thoughtful promotional items with a clear use are kept far longer than generic giveaways, turning a simple gift into a long-term brand ambassador. Even better, tie the item to an experience. A quality notebook given at the start of a strategy session becomes a repository for great ideas. A branded water bottle handed out for a company-wide wellness challenge becomes a symbol of a shared goal. That connection is what creates an actual memory. The right promotional product isn’t a cost—it’s an investment in message retention.

I’ve probably sent thousands of pieces of swag to events over the years. And I’ll be real...most swag doesn’t move the needle. We’ve all seen it: The $2 pens that write like sandpaper. The “unisex” t-shirts that don’t fit anyone. The weird tech gadgets no one asked for… still in plastic at the bottom of a drawer. We send this stuff because we think we’re “building brand.” But here’s what I’ve learned (the hard way): Swag only works when it’s useful. Not clever. Not flashy. Just… used. Here’s how I approach it now: ➜ If your team wouldn’t wear it, don’t send it. This sounds obvious. But I’ve made this mistake. Sent jackets with logos that were too loud. Hats no one would touch. All because we thought more exposure = more ROI. Turns out, subtle = wearable. And wearable = remembered. ➜ Match the item to the person, not just the brand. A startup CTO is not the same as a CPG sales manager. They don’t want the same hoodie. They don’t drink from the same tumbler. I’ll go narrower. Fewer sends. But every one feels like it was picked for them. Because it was. ➜ Use swag to tell a story. One of the best pieces of swag I ever sent was a branded charger. Not exciting. But I paired it with this note: “Figured your team’s burning the candle at both ends. Thought a little backup power might help.” That turned into a reply. The reply turned into a call. The call turned into a deal. That’s swag with context. That’s what works. I’ll never go back to mass-sending cheap gear with huge logos. No one wants to be a walking billboard. But if you send the right thing… at the right moment… with the right message? Swag doesn’t just get noticed. It gets remembered. (And remembered = revenue.)

Are you still trying to figure out event merchandise, gifts a.k.a swag? My hope is that we are evolving this area into something more intentional because the research says that 78% of Gen Z attendees prefer experiences to material possessions, per the WXO - World Experience Organization so it’s clear that traditional swag (T‑shirts, keyrings, branded pens and notebooks) is losing its luster—and fast. Yet the story isn't about dinosaurs (swag) going extinct—it’s about transformation. Event merchandise is shifting from "stuff to store" into purposeful, memory‑driven keepsakes. Think limited‑edition collaborations, customisable pieces, and pop‑up retail that double as immersive brand experiences. These items aren’t just bought—they’re lived and I'm here for it. It has to make sense and it has to relate to why you are this event in the first place and you shouldn't just be giving swag, to give swag because that is not going to be what makes this event go into the memory bank of the attendees. Concerts and festivals are redefining merch, turning it into fashion-forward collectibles like Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour pop‑ups and Oasis’s Adidas collab sold out—and fast. How would we try to recreate that for your typical corporate event? What can we give that ties the overarching themes of the event to what attendees physically take away? At these experiences, the swag isn’t an afterthought—it is part of the event, blurring the line between activation and retail. From mass-produced giveaways to curated, memorable mementos aligned with brand identity. From tacky freebies to touchpoints that extend the event experience in tangible, meaningful ways. What does this mean for planners? Event planners, marketers, and brand teams must think beyond logo-plastered stress balls. The swag needs to: ✳️ Reinforce the story of the experience ✳️ Offer personalization or exclusivity ✳️ Encourage social sharing and ongoing engagement ✳️ Serve as an extension—not merely an afterthought—of the event itself It's exciting because it's an invitation to rethink how we create meaningful, lasting connections through our tangible touchpoints i.e. swag. One of my most recent memorable pieces was when I was part of the 'How To Copenhagen' event and in our 'swag bag', we received a copy of 'The Little Book of Hygge' which we all know is in line with all things Danish - but the cherry on top of the cake, was that we actually got to meet and hear, the author himself, Meik Wiking talk to us about hygge at the very cool Danish Architecture Center (Dansk Arkitektur Center). Full circle moment. I'd love to hear examples of what kind of swag, merchandise and corporate gifts you have given that have been successfully intentional - drop them in the comments cause I'm looking for inspiration! #merchandise #eventprofs #eventplanning #eventswag

Here’s something we’ve learned running thousands of activations: The same old prizes? Fans stop noticing. It’s called prize staleness—and it’s rooted in how the brain works. Our minds are wired to seek novelty. Once we’ve seen something a few times—signed jerseys, BOGO offers, free tickets—we mentally group it, tune it out, and move on. You become just another contest. But introduce something unexpected? You trigger a neurological response. Dopamine kicks in. The brain perks up. Suddenly, attention is back—and so is engagement. We’ve seen this firsthand. One brand switched up how they framed their prize—same budget, totally different presentation. Participation jumped 400%. The key? Prize creativity. Not necessarily bigger. Just fresher. More fun. More you. So no—you don’t need to ditch the jersey. But maybe it’s not “Win a signed jersey.” Maybe it’s: - Jersey + Scoop, but that player picks the flavor of the scoop - Player signed shoe for a foot healthcare sponsor - A toilet mug for a sanitation company with the jersey (we did this, huge results. Fans loved the mug more than the jersey) Unexpected. Branded. Memorable. Fans don’t remember contests. They remember moments. Build those, and watch your results multiply.

Sprinto at SaaStr Ai raffled a private helicopter tour of SF as a booth prize. It happened a while back, but I still bring it up as the gold standard of swag. Everyone else at the event was handing out pens and totes (not to downgrade the utility of a tote), but Sprinto was handing out a story people will tell for months. That's what swag is supposed to do - make you memorable. Your attendees can't take a 'good' conversation home, but a genuinely memorable piece of swag will definitely keep you in their thoughts long after the event ends. Some other things that stood out to me recently: - Anthropic gave out totes and caps embroidered with "thinking," a nod to Claude's extended thinking feature. It turned into a status symbol on the AI scene. That only works because it's not a generic cap. It's an inside joke for people who actually use the product and something its users will remember. - Cursor gave its power users an oversized, fully working 'Tab' key as exclusive merch. People on Reddit treat it like a collectible. Nobody's throwing that away. - n8n runs its own branded event in Berlin and built streetwear collections with an actual fashion designer for it, not just a logo-on-a-hoodie. They are actual pieces people would wear outside the conference. Having attended 100s of events, I know a bunch of stuff ends up in hotel trash cans before it exits the venue. So here's an actual filter before you spend thousands of dollars on your gifting: will people post about it or simply accept it? #eventmarketing #swag #gtm

We need to put an end to disposable merch. You know exactly what I’m talking about: Shitty t-shirts. Flimsy hats. Cheap giveaways brands hand out at events just to say they showed up. If you’re a high-equity brand, why pass out meaningless handouts? Dan Gardner and I talked about this before Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. If you’re trying to stand out on a global stage like Stagwell's Sport Beach, the merch you hand out should reflect your brand - not contradict it. So Dan did three things: 1. Quiet quality products. No massive logos. No billboard branding. Just subtle, timeless high-end products that leaned into the upscale energy of Cannes - and actually wearable beyond the activation. 2. Functional first. Two things are predictable at Cannes - it'll be hot, and your phone is going to die. So Dan handed out sleek branded chargers and hats ready for the Mediterranean climate. Smart. Useful. Memorable. 3. A branded digital layer. Every piece was chipped and connected to a live experience - built by Code and Theory, powered by One of None. That digital layer became a touch of innovation to align with their brand ethos. But what I loved most about how Code and Theory approached digital experience: they thought like an attendee. Just like the charger solved a real-world problem, the digital experience had to deliver value right away. And with decades of experience at Cannes in mind, they knew exactly what people would be asking: “Where should we eat?” So the products themselves became resources, featuring the best local spots, curated from experience. That opened the door for another partnership - with Dorsia. Because if you’re going to recommend the right restaurants, why not help people actually get the table too? The best merch doesn’t feel like merch. It feels like product. It feels like access. When you combine utility, design, and a value-add digital experience - you don’t just make an impression at the event. You win after the event, too.

Here’s what NOT to do if you work in marketing: Send gifts that collect dust. You know the kind. A water bottle, a pen, maybe a branded notebook that ends up in a junk drawer somewhere. Miu Miu did the opposite. For their new fragrance launch, they added one simple thing to their PR kit: a branded microphone. That’s it. Nothing flashy. Just something creators would actually use. And it worked. When influencers unboxed the package, they used the mic right there in the video. Then they kept using it in GRWMs, ASMR clips, voiceovers, everything. So now, every time someone records content, that little Miu Miu mic keeps popping up in the frame. No ad spend. No forced posting. Just smart design. Because when you give people something genuinely useful, it doesn't end up in their junk drawer. Miu Miu didn’t just send a PR box. They sent a content generator. I post about marketing, connect with me (Brendan Cox) to stay in the loop. #marketing #branding #socialmedia #influencermarketing #creative #prbox

My car’s dikky was full of goodies. Literally overflowing—with bags, bottles, T-shirts, organizers, pens, and more. This was after attending a YourStory event last year. And it made me wonder… Why do businesses invest so much in giving away stuff for free? After all, none of these were paid promotions. No strings attached. Just pure brand generosity—or so it seems. But here’s the real reason: Brand recall. Think about it: 📌 That coffee mug on your desk? You see the logo every morning. 📌 The tote bag you carry for groceries? It’s a moving billboard. 📌 The notepad you scribble ideas in? You remember the brand with every page. It’s called physical touchpoint marketing—and it’s powerful. Because even in a digital world, tangible experiences stick. Here’s why it works: 1. Repetition builds memory – The more you see a brand, the more familiar it feels. 2. Association builds trust – Useful goodies create positive emotional connections. 3. Visibility multiplies reach – You’re not just using it. Others are seeing you use it. These “freebies” aren’t just about generosity. They’re a strategic investment in attention, trust, and top-of-mind recall. So the next time you attend an event and walk out with goodies- Know this: you didn’t just attend an event. You became part of a brand’s long-term marketing play. And trust me, if the goodies are useful—you won’t even mind.