I spent ages planning my conference. A lot of my planning time was spent in meetings making sure that our swag merchandise was beautifully designed. 

But, on conference day…my greatest fear came true. 

All the conferencing details flew out the window when I saw full bags left at chairs, littering the office park, and filling trash cans. 

Then and there, I thought, “never again.” 

Now, my priorities when it comes to promotional items are usefulness, eco-friendliness, and keeping in mind what my attendees will want and not forget. 

1. Think about Swag Merchandise in a Post-COVID-19 World

Let’s talk remote swag and merchandise post-COVID. 

Like all industries, promotional marketing has been completely changed by the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

It’s cheaper and more useful to make custom-logo face masks than t-shirts.

2. Prioritize the Home Office

We should also prioritize the home office where we would normally focus on a traditional work setting. 

Flashdrives and mouse-pads are a lot less important with most people working from home. Instead, clients will want items they can use in their homes. Think aesthetically pleasing desk items, even snack boxes, or blankets. 

3. Source Eco-Friendly Options

Your clients will notice! If you don’t want your SWAG bag filling our landfills, this is an important lesson–one I learned the hard way. 

Instead of coffee mugs, focus on re-usable travel mugs. 

Maybe send out some bamboo silverware. 

These items are not only terrific because they serve up a higher-class aesthetic The multi-use function pretty much guarantees that clients won’t push you aside. 

4. When in Doubt…Food and Water

I know that there are no sure-things in business. But, it seems like the thing we can always count on is snacks. 

In many ways, it seems swag merchandise only goes as far as its usefulness. But food? Always useful. 

Clients are much less likely to throw something away that they will use and enjoy. So, if you can send them a snack box at home–they’ll love it. 

These days, it’s hard to remember to stay hydrated. Luckily, bottled water never goes out of style. 

Keep them hydrated, keep them happy.

5. Cozy is Always Key

Today’s offices, whether traditional or at home, are more casual than they once were. 

Swag bags don’t need to be full of formal goodies. Instead, throw in a zip-up jacket. 

When looking at merchandising trends for marketing, one item comes up again and again: plants. They’re in! And, their popularity is all in the name of making space cozier.

If you are looking for a bit of swag that will last a lifetime–you can’t go wrong with plants, blankets, and everything cozy.

Get your Bag Ready

The workforce and the workplace may look different than they did even three years ago. But, we still want to give promotional merchandise that is unforgettable. 

We do this by:

  • Thinking about how COVID-19 has changed what merchandise is valuable. 
  • Remembering to prioritize the home office.
  • Putting eco-friendliness in the bag. 
  • Providing snacks and custom bottled water.
  • Making sure our clients are cozy.

The only thing left to do is to get started by building your swag merchandise bag.