What kind of products should you order?
The first rule here is: Get items that people actually want to keep. The last thing you want is someone throwing away the giveaway you worked hard on creating, sourcing, and ordering. If your give away doesn’t fit well, falls apart, or doesn’t serve a real purpose for them, you might as well not do anything. If you give people things they will actually hold onto, that does a couple of things: one, it helps cement your brand and two its free advertising for years to come. That makes me think about what kind of design you should have on your product. If your giveaway will be highly visible (like a water bottle, mug, backpack, clothing, or mouse pad) then make your brand prominent and make it look good.
Think about your design?
If you’re getting custom mouse pads, does your ideal customer want to have a huge logo plastered on it? If you are getting t-shirts, maybe think about hiring a designer to incorporate your logo into a cool design. Think about what your customer would want to wear. Do they want to wear a shirt with a big logo or something simple and with a rad design? Sometimes making your logo smaller and less intrusive actually can increase the shelf life of your giveaway for years down the road. Think about what retail companies do. Does Starbucks always have a huge logo on their mugs? No. Does every athletic brand maximize the size of their logo on every piece of apparel? No. It all comes down to who you are marketing towards. If your brand is big, bold and energetic, then bring on the big graphics. If your company is more calm, maybe tone it down a bit.
What are realistic timelines for ordering, proofing, and delivery?
In short, timelines vary, so get ahead of the details so when the event arrives, you can be handling more pressing needs. Depending on what you order for your event, the timelines change, but be sure to get timeline information UP FRONT. You do not want your event to be on Tuesday and your items to show up the following Monday. For our water bottles, delivery typically happens about 10-15 business days after the proof is approved and invoice is paid. Part of the process that can take the longest is the design process. Finding the right bottle and lid colors for your order can be challenging. The more of the design work and product decision making you can do before starting your order, will bring your overall timeline down. When in doubt, give your self more time than you need. To be safe, ordering bottles from us two months out from your event is a safe bet.
Do I need a physical proof?
We try to get our digital mockups as close to the real thing as possible. That being said, if you have a big order (typically 500 or more bottles) and specific brand colors, it can be reassuring to order a proof.
Five steps to planning a great event
- Define the purpose and goals of the event. This will help you determine the type of event, audience, and overall theme.
- Create a budget and identify potential sources of funding. Knowing how much money you have to work with will help you make important decisions about venue, food and beverages, and entertainment.
- Choose a date and location for the event. Consider factors such as availability, accessibility, and potential attendance when making your decision.
- Plan the logistics and details of the event. This includes things like transportation, parking, registration, and signage.
- Promote and market the event. Use a combination of traditional and digital marketing methods to reach your target audience and encourage them to attend.
Event Planning Checklist
Pre-event:
- Define the purpose and goals of the event
- Create a budget and identify potential sources of funding
- Choose a date and location for the event
- Set a theme and select a color scheme
- Plan the logistics and details of the event
- Schedule vendors and service providers
- Create a marketing plan to promote the event
Event Day:
- Coordinate with vendors and service providers
- Set up registration and check-in area
- Coordinate with venue staff for setup and cleanup
- Ensure that all signage and decorations are in place
- Coordinate with security and first aid personnel
- Manage the audio-visual equipment
- Coordinate with the vendors for food and beverages
- Coordinate with the entertainment
- Manage the registration process
- Ensure that all emergency procedures are in place
- Manage the program and event schedule
Post-event:
- Collect feedback from attendees and vendors
- Prepare and submit invoices to sponsors
- Create a detailed report of the event, including attendance, expenses, and revenue
- Follow up with attendees and sponsors
- Evaluate the event’s success and identify areas for improvement.