Convention/Special Event/SWAG

[Senusret I]

So.... this may not be the precise place this should go, but it's still Greek related.

As you may know, I am the anniversary chairman for my APO chapter. I am planning a few surprises for the Brothers and I'm working hard at good deals, discounts, and corporate sponsorships.

One thing I would like to do is have giveaways at our banquet. I have some ideas on what I'd like to get (as well as what I think I'd be able to secure), but what I am asking you, dear GreekChat, is:

If you were attending a conference or special event for your GLO, what kind of SWAG* would you want to walk away with? Assume that money and budget is no object.




*Stuff We All Get

[RaggedyAnn]

I always like reusable items that don't have the specific event listed, unless it's a T-shirt. One of the best lanyards I received has just my letters and holds money and IDs. I reuse it every time I go to an event where I am staying at a hotel, so I don't have to carry a purse. Last convention our Foundation gave us all history books. That was a great gift too.

[Senusret I]

^^^ Thanks for responding! I am definitely all about reusable items!

[PhoenixAzul]

I just came back from a massive conference for my field that was held in LA. We all got re-usable shopping bags with all the conference info in there (programs of sessions etc), other packets from the sponsors, and then little things of snacks, like a juicebox and some trail mix. I thought that was a nice touch because the conference was a LOT of walking and a bit of food is nice. The sturdy bag was useful because I picked up a ton of packets on grants, services and vendors (and I could put my flipflops in there for my walk back to my hotel).

I guess most importantly, a list of nearby restaurants and an approximation of their cost/style, along with the numbers of any local busses to local attractions and a list of phone numbers for taxi companies.

[agzg]

My sister mother got a music box at our Centennial Convention and I was super jealous.

I would say coffee mugs, particularly the travel kind. That's the #1 thing field employees ask about/try to get when the come into the home office at work (all home office employees have one because there are no paper cups in our office). Notepads are nice too, with a pen attached.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by PhoenixAzul

I just came back from a massive conference for my field that was held in LA. We all got re-usable shopping bags with all the conference info in there (programs of sessions etc), other packets from the sponsors, and then little things of snacks, like a juicebox and some trail mix. I thought that was a nice touch because the conference was a LOT of walking and a bit of food is nice. The sturdy bag was useful because I picked up a ton of packets on grants, services and vendors (and I could put my flipflops in there for my walk back to my hotel).

I guess most importantly, a list of nearby restaurants and an approximation of their cost/style, along with the numbers of any local busses to local attractions and a list of phone numbers for taxi companies.

I hadn't considered reusable shopping bags -- my mind was trained on totebags. That's definitely a more economical option that people are likely to use when they get home. Thanks for the idea!

Originally Posted by agzg

My sister mother got a music box at our Centennial Convention and I was super jealous.

I would say coffee mugs, particularly the travel kind. That's the #1 thing field employees ask about/try to get when the come into the home office at work (all home office employees have one because there are no paper cups in our office). Notepads are nice too, with a pen attached.

A music box? DAMN! I guess a centennial is pretty special, but still.... wish my centennial was that ballin.

Not being a coffee drinker, I also hadn't thought about coffee mugs. Good idea, thanks!

[agzg]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

A music box? DAMN! I guess a centennial is pretty special, but still.... wish my centennial was that ballin.

I'm still jealous over that, and upset that I didn't go, and it was 6 years ago. It was a gorgeous box that played our centennial song, I think.

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Not being a coffee drinker, I also hadn't thought about coffee mugs. Good idea, thanks!

It's acutally an insulated hot/cold tumbler, I just use it the most for coffee.

It's kindof like this:

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by agzg

My sister mother got a music box at our Centennial Convention and I was super jealous.

I would say coffee mugs, particularly the travel kind. That's the #1 thing field employees ask about/try to get when the come into the home office at work (all home office employees have one because there are no paper cups in our office). Notepads are nice too, with a pen attached.

I have one of the coveted centennial music boxes. It does play the centennial song. It's amazing. I keep my badge in it now.

Other very cool things we have received as "favors": every year at the epsilon pi banquet we get a gold charm. Many women now have charm bracelets with all their convention charms on them. One year, they made incredible centerpieces out of Vera Bradley coin purses and we each got a coin purse. I know that sounds crazy, but the centerpieces looked like a flower pot with flowers, but there were really coin purses. So creative.

Key chains with pen lights go over well, so do notepads and pens (you can never have enough of those), jewelry goes great with us (we also got a centennial bracelet that was gorgeous). We do always get a tote bag but I really like the idea of the reusable grocery sack. Lanyards are nice. I like refrigerator magnets, but that's just me I think. Picture frames can be nice, they can put a photo from the event in it.

I still can't believe Convention is going on right now and I'm not there.

[PhoenixAzul]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I hadn't considered reusable shopping bags -- my mind was trained on totebags. That's definitely a more economical option that people are likely to use when they get home. Thanks for the idea!

Hey, no problem! I just looked at the bag (since I use it not only for grocery shopping but to take my lunch to work too), here's the company that makes them: http://www.bagmakersinc.com/nonwoven.html . Looks like it is easy to customize the bag too, so if you wanted to put a logo/letters on there...easy peasy.

[thetygerlily]

I like the shopping bag idea. I use shopping bags all the time for groceries and subsititute tote.... so that'd be a great way to give something useful and "be green". Great idea. And packed with a mini survival kit is just awesome & thoughtful.

A convention pin would also be great. Something nice, classy, & elegant that someone can wear to both represent the org and remember the event.

A nice keychain... I technically would consider mine to be a piece of crap plastic keychain, but I love it because when my heavy keys sink to the bottom of my purse, the plastic floats up and I can find my keys. It's awesome. Completely beat up, but awesome.

I think shirts are hard because it seems like there are only extra small and extra larges left at the end of the day. Ignoring that challenge, a hoodie would be awesome. I would also use a hat, but I know not everyone's a hat person. Here in Seattle you never know if it's going to be rainy or sunny throughout the day, and a hat protects me (and my glasses) from both!

Oh- one of the few formal favors I still use is a small jar like this. We store our dogs' training treats in there to keep them fresh & accessible They're relatively cheap, too.

[KSUViolet06]

When is your event?

I'm headed to our Convention on July 8 and I can report back with SWAG ideas after that if you want.

[DiamondAthena]

I like the snack idea, to have trail mix, pretzels, cookies, candy, water, juice ect... will keep ppl happy in between meals. Conference goers always seem starved between provided meals or being allowed to break to get something on their own. Plus it keeps folks alert.

Now for SWAG (if money was no object) I'd like a really nice pen/pencil set, the kind that comes in a box lined with velvet..

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Other very cool things we have received as "favors": every year at the epsilon pi banquet we get a gold charm. Many women now have charm bracelets with all their convention charms on them.

Cute!

Originally Posted by PhoenixAzul

Hey, no problem! I just looked at the bag (since I use it not only for grocery shopping but to take my lunch to work too), here's the company that makes them: http://www.bagmakersinc.com/nonwoven.html . Looks like it is easy to customize the bag too, so if you wanted to put a logo/letters on there...easy peasy.

Thanks for the link....very helpful.

Originally Posted by thetygerlily

A convention pin would also be great. Something nice, classy, & elegant that someone can wear to both represent the org and remember the event.

Oh- one of the few formal favors I still use is a small jar like this. We store our dogs' training treats in there to keep them fresh & accessible They're relatively cheap, too.

I like the pin idea. I also like the jar -- I have given candy jars with jelly beans in the colors of the fraternity before.

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

When is your event?

I'm headed to our Convention on July 8 and I can report back with SWAG ideas after that if you want.

Please do! Our event is not until Spring 2011.

Originally Posted by DiamondAthena

I like the snack idea, to have trail mix, pretzels, cookies, candy, water, juice ect... will keep ppl happy in between meals. Conference goers always seem starved between provided meals or being allowed to break to get something on their own. Plus it keeps folks alert.

Now for SWAG (if money was no object) I'd like a really nice pen/pencil set, the kind that comes in a box lined with velvet..

That would be cute. Your sorority gave me a mug and a snow globe the year that I came to speak

[BluPhire]

Messenger bag with the Shield on it.

[Gusteau]

I second the jar idea - fill it with appropriately colored candy, and once that's gone the guest can use it forever.

How about umbrellas? One of the nicest favors I received at an organizational banquet was an umbrella with the org's logo on it. I also have a bad habit of losing umbrellas, so I would totally covet umbrella swag.

And since we have time, I will also report back after convention in August!