Everyone loves swag bags. I mean, who wouldn’t? Everyone loves getting free stuff! I personally enjoy getting one. Swag bags are one of the things people look forward to at an event. Some would even consider it as memorabilia for an event. Others make a collection of gifts they receive from attending events.
Swag bags are important event tools that you can strategically use to engage, excite, impact and build or reinforce your brand with your attendees. But let’s face it, some swag bag items end up directly in our garbage bins.
Swag items can be so terrible that people don’t like them or find them useful. If you want your event to stand out and be remembered by your attendees, think of swag bag items that are really… well… swag. It should be something for people to show off or celebrate.
And as an event planner, it is your job to make sure that the team achieved this.
What is a swag bag?
These bags are also known as goodie bags, giveaway bags, favor bags, party favors, loot bags, welcome kits, gift bags, and so on. Historically, swag means bag according to its Scandinavian roots dating back to the 14th century. By the 18th century, swag meant goods acquired through unlawful means.
As years go by, the word swag slowly evolved. By the 1960s, swag meant goods given to people who attended or participated in an event. Today, it is the same in meaning except that the word swag became an acronym.
Swag means “Stuff We All Get”. Simply put, a swag bag is a small bag, consisting of carefully-picked items that an event attendee gets from an event. It is an event bag and giveaway that everyone grabs before entering or while going out from an event.
Swag bags from your event are not just a bag they can grab. It should be something that’ll remind your attendees of your event/organization, their experience at your events, and maybe the vendors and affiliates that were part of your event. The gifts inside a swag bag should also align with your brand.
For example, if you are an event planning business, you can include things like an event planner, cute pens, and others. High-quality and relevant items like these would help convert attendees into loyal customers.
What is IN a swag bag?
Ask yourself, “what are those items that people can’t wait to get their hands on? Or items that people would actually use?”
A swag bag represents your event and your brand. Whatever you put into your swag bag is a reflection of who you are. Therefore the quality of your swag bag affects your brand image.
You can be as extravagant as the swag bags given at the 2022 Oscars to Steven Spielberg, Will Smith, and other Oscar nominees which was worth nearly $140,000 in your giving. Or you can also be as cheap as you want to be, but still, be able to give out significant items.
There are a lot of items you can give out for under a dollar. You may check out different companies that specialize in promotional gifts. However expensive or cheap you may want your swag bag to be, keep in mind that it is best to include items that are useful and long-lasting.
How many items should be in a swag bag?
Whatever items and how many you would like to include on your swag bag are up to you. However, traditionally a swag bag contains 4 – 5 items. This is already a generous amount. Depending on the price of the ticket to attend the event, or the reputation and expectations of your attendees, you may include more or fewer gifts in the swag bag.
Why give swag bags?
Aside from giving the audience a thrilling feeling of what could be inside the swag bag, it can be an important reminder of the valuable takeaways they gained from the event. It’s also something that creates a connection of your audience to your event even after the event.
How can you benefit from swag bags?
More than expressing your thanksgiving for the audience’s presence at your event, giving out swag bags is a great way to expose and introduce your brand or the brand of related companies and services. It is an avenue to reach out to people who are not familiar with your brand to get to know it.
There are attendees at the event who came because of curiosity. There are also some who just attended because a friend or colleague invited them. By putting samples of your products or brochures of your services into your swag bags, you can convert these curious attendees into customers.
Studies have shown that consumers who get to sample a product first are most likely to do business with the company. Hence, more than showing gratitude to attendees it is a great strategy to boost brand recognition and customer acquisition.
22 Swag Bag Ideas That Attendees To Your Event Would Love To Receive
Here are 22 great swag bag ideas you can use for your conferences, seminars and workshops, trade shows, charity/fundraising events, fundraisers and reunions. Let’s get going.
Conferences
Conferences are formal in nature. It is usually a private meeting or corporate event that aims to discuss a particular matter. Since conferences (especially corporate events) are usually attended by employees and partners of a certain business, come up with a company swag that will help your attendees in their work. Here are some of the best corporate swag bag ideas.
1. Desk Supplies Swag Bag
Instead of the common items like pens and pencils, notepads, notebooks, and sticky notes, choose items that serve multiple uses. You can include see-through sticky notes, a wireless charger that is also a paperweight, or a fidget toy or slime to ease out stress when work seems stressful.
You can also add in glasses or mugs with motivational quotes, a desk lamp, blue light glasses for those who are working long hours in front of the screen, a desk organizer, a pocket calculator, a laser pen, or a coaster.
2. Active/ Wellness Swag Bag
This corporate gift is a great way to encourage professional workers to be active. Sitting down in the office for long hours can be draining. Motivate office workers to be active and healthy by giving them fitness items. These can be a yoga mat bag, sports water bottle, protein bars, resistance band, sporting apparel, a relaxing candle, sauna bath kits, hand-held massager, training socks, or fitness tracker.
3. Tech/Gadget Swag Bag
Tech savvies can be quite picky when it comes to getting gadgets. Think of something that is novel and functional for every tech-savvy office worker. Swag bag items for them may include a laptop sleeve, phone case, power banks, flash drive, headphones, adapter, wire organizers, mouse, mouse pads, Bluetooth speakers, universal cables, or phone stand.
4. New Hire Onboarding Goodie Bag
Welcoming a new hire to your company? Giving a gift bag is a grand gesture you can give to your new hire. This is also called a welcome kit. You can give out pens, notepads, notebooks, and mugs. Basically, any items connected to your nature of work that you can put your company logo to. Also, aside from the usual office supply, you can put in employee handbooks.
5. Virtual Conference Loots
Swag bags are not just limited to in-person events. Swag bags are must-haves especially if you’re hosting virtual events. It can be a great way to promote your virtual event. You may include a coupon, an e-book, an app subscription, free coaching, a voucher, and a digital gift card in your virtual swag bag. You can automate the emailing of vouchers or gift cards with the help of Event Espresso.
Seminars and Workshops
Seminars are meetings intended to discuss a specific topic or teach a specific skill. And usually, you get those specific training from workshops. It can be formal or not. There are so many swag bag ideas for these kinds of events. To name a few:
6. Toiletries
This is a thoughtful and great idea, especially if you are hosting your event at a venue where your attendees are required to travel. You may include essentials that your attendees need and most likely forgot.
These items can be; toothbrushes, pocket-sized toothpaste, deodorant, sunscreen, shaving cream, shampoo and conditioner. You may also include a pocket-sized sewing kit and safety pins in case of emergencies.
7. Planners for planners
These items will surely please event planners and event organizers. You can put items like planners with gel pens and pencils, planner stickers and labels, bullet journals, Laptop protectors, briefcase organizers, scented candles, on-the-go coffee cups, charging essentials, travel chargers, or portable projectors.
Workshop attendees
8. Travelers Swag Bag
If your event is catering to travelers and wanderlusts, find items that are lightweight and small in size. This can be a bag tag, wanderlust journal, passport case, durable water bottle, lightweight umbrella or raincoat, scratch map, waterproof cell phone case, or some travel essentials like charger adapter, travel eye cover, etc.
9. Artists Swag Bag
You can give out a small blank canvas to your attendees along with brushes, pens, pencils, a sketchbook, coloring materials, or any unique art materials. These are perfect for attendees who are passionate about arts. You can even encourage them paint or draw what they like most about your event and hold a competition about it. This will be a great post-event promotion and engagement tactic.
10. Caffeinated Swag Bag
I personally would love to receive this swag bag! For those who are coffeeholic, you may add in coffee beans or freshly ground coffee beans. A coffee-themed mug for their caffeine fix, drip coffee samplers, cup sleeves and holders, coasters, or coffee press. You can even put in jewelry or trinkets and keychains with coffee designs.
Trade shows
Also known as a trade fair, or trade exposition, a trade show is an exhibition that gives companies in specific industries an opportunity to showcase and demonstrate their products and services. For tradeshows, the best items to include in your swag bags are the following:
11. Giveaways/ Promotionals swag bag
These are promotional products that you can give out so that your target customers can try them. These promotional items should include your logo. These could be newly released products or best-sellers. A mini version of the actual product would be so lovely than the boring sachets as samples.
12. Influencers Swag Bag
Nowadays, companies and brands invite influencers to their events to reach more people. Take advantage of their huge number of followers by handing out high-quality Instagram-worthy products that are Instagram worthy. Make sure to give out your best products. Instagrammable customized wearables, ring lights, phone holders, or selfie sticks are great swag ideas.
13. Cosmetic Swag Bag
This swag bag shouldn’t be much of an agony to create. I believe everyone who gets a cosmetic swag bag would be so elated. Except of course if given to a man. Makeup brushes, mini lipsticks, makeup sets, beauty blenders, turban and scrunchies, mask sheets, skincare sets, or hair care sets are great items to include in your swag bag.
14. Conservationist Swag Bag
Modern consumers support companies that include sustainability and environmental preservation in their values. Promote sustainability by including eco-friendly items in your swags like plants, reusable straws, reusable cutlery, or produce bags. An eco bag, a recyclable bag, or any materials that encourage the conservation of the environment will surely captivate eco-warrior attendees.
Charity/ fundraising events
Swag bags are an amazing way to thank your supporters, donors and volunteers.
15. Wearables Swag Bag
This might be the easiest gift bag to come up with for an event. You can throw in anything you can think your attendee would love to wear. Anything of value of course! You may add in a tote bag, a wallet, a statement t-shirt, a phone case, a coin purse, or any adornment to an outfit. Again, anything of value.
Fundraising Event
16. Culinarian Swag Bag
A recipe book and a recipe book holder, pockets of spices, an elegant apron, a bamboo steamer, a kitchen scale, a crank steel sifter, or a kitchen accessory, these things would certainly grab the attention of every cooking enthusiast.
17. Pet Parents’ Swag Bag
Make this swag bag un-fur-gettable by pitching in these items: pet bandana, custom pet bowls, toys, custom treat bag and treats, custom pet collar, pet bag dispenser, or personalized pet food container. These items would surely charm any pet parent.
18. Plant Parents’ Swag Bag
Treat plant parents with seeds or seedlings, digging trowel, planting trowel, garden cultivator, leather gloves, sheers, succulent hand tools, indoor planters, aesthetic watering can, self-watering pots, plant mister, plant terrarium, or bonsai kit.
19. “Cheers to that” Swag Bag
Wine, wine totes, charms, cheese boards, wine bottle stoppers, drinking glass covers, cork wine openers, bottle openers, beer, beer brewing kits, drink holders, can coolers, or drink cup holder boards. Encourage cheers by giving out some of these items.
Reunions
If you’re planning a school or family reunion, treat your family or school buddies with these amazing goodie bag items.
20. “Summer is here” Swag Bag
For your summer events, use a drawstring bag as a swag bag. Make your attendees summer-ready by handing out sunscreens, sunglasses, water bottles, hair ties, towelettes, summer shirts, hats, flip flops/slides, beach balls, visors, or lip balm with SPF.
21. “Welcome (back) to school” Goodie Bags
Motivate new and old students for the new school year. Pack a swag bag with a tumbler, filler, organizer, ID cord, highlighters, bookmark, book stand, water bottle, small plastic organizer, stickers, tile mate, or printed cards of motivational quotes.
22. Kids Goodie Bags
Instead of the usual candies and chocolates, put in something that can encourage a child’s creativity such as a toy puzzle, fidget toys, coloring books with crayons, modeling clays, bubbles, playing cards, glow-in-the-dark, or musical instruments.
Conclusion
Giving gifts to your attendees and participants isn’t just an act of gratitude. Branded swag is an effective tool for brand recognition and recollection, customer retention, brand awareness and loyalty, and customer satisfaction.
It can do so much more than make your customers happy. When the event is finished, you’ll no longer be seeing them for a while but your event swag bag can. Your swag giveaway can continue to engage with your event attendees and guests when they are at home, work, school or even while doing groceries.
Every time they will be drinking coffee using the mug you’ve gifted or do groceries using your company’s eco bag, they will be reminded of your brand. Swag bags are like pieces of you. And giving them out is like leaving traces of your company behind.
There are a lot of resources that you can use to make your loot bags but deciding about swag bags is just a tiny piece in the whole pie of the event planning process. And you can’t do it on your own. You need a reliable team to back you up.
Thousands of event planners trust and partner with Event Smart. We help them do important tasks like managing online event registrations, selling tickets, collecting online payments, scheduling and sending out custom emails, arranging seating limits, setting different price options, and giving discount codes for tickets.
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