# Good Promotional Give Away for a Conference **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 5, 2013, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128 "2013-03-05T22:17:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/21 "2013-03-08T06:33:36Z")
Tiny bottles of liquor. One bourbon, one scotch, and a coupon for a free beer at the hotel bar. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/22 "2013-03-08T07:40:57Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > You mean they don’t give away free pills at pharma conferences? > > I second the idea of umbrellas - they’re always useful and easy to print a logo on. Usually, though, I get tote bags. Man, do I have a lot of tote bags. I tried to sell some of my tote bags at a garage sale once. It seems everyone in Silicon Valley has a lot of tote bags. I did get a little backpack once, which was a nice change. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/23 "2013-03-08T17:59:03Z")
Can’t go wrong with [legos](http://www.funassemblyrequired.com/custom-creations/)… =) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/24 "2013-03-09T22:36:52Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Tiny bottles of liquor. One bourbon, one scotch, and a coupon for a free beer at the hotel bar. Definitely a bad idea. A lot of people don’t drink. And many people (drinkers and non) don’t really think much of anything that encourages drinking. The OP doesn’t want to create a corporate image of being a bunch of boozers. This has to be a joke, right? ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/25 "2013-03-10T01:13:46Z")
I was just at a conference where I got a tote bag which was fine since I love them, and a cool tablet case that was adjustable for any size tablet. It had the company’s logo on it. But the best thing I ever got was FOOD (and a tote bag). The company had fudge branded with their logo. It was the only time I’d ever gotten food. It’s not something I’d see every day (it lasted about 30 seconds), but I never forgot! Didn’t have to drag it home, either. I always thought if I had to figure out swag for a conference, I’d do some survival-type care package items in addition to hopefully useful branded items. I like pens since I’m always losing them. I have a life time supply of tape measures. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/26 "2013-03-10T01:54:45Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Definitely a bad idea. A lot of people don’t drink. And many people (drinkers and non) don’t really think much of anything that encourages drinking. The OP doesn’t want to create a corporate image of being a bunch of boozers. > > This has to be a joke, right? Duh. Also a not very subtle shout out to [George Thorogood](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISmgOrhELXs). ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/27 "2013-03-10T07:37:37Z")
I would go with [this](http://www.amazon.com/elago-Mobile-microSDHC-Memory-Reader/dp/B002HGFKR8/ref=dp_cp_ob_e_title_2). It’s a micro-sdhc reader that fits on the head of a nickle. You can plug it into your laptop and not worry about snapping it off. I use it as a hard drive for my car stereo. A 16 gb memory chip gives me about 6 weeks of continuous music. You’d have to buy them directly in bulk. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/29 "2013-03-25T19:42:15Z")
> [@woodie19838](#): > > Hey just came across your post on the giveaways. I have had this headache before and what the poster said about getting things through airports etc is a concern. I held an event a couple of years back in Scotland and I know its a little cliche but we gave out [personalised lanyards](http://www.mybadges.com/lanyards/) - and if I am being honest they worked a treat. We sell lanyards with logos to our exhibitors as a marketing opportunity -they get to have their name printed on the lanyard we give to everyone as a badge. As a gift not so great, because in my area anyhow we are all up to our asses in lanyards. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/30 "2013-03-25T19:47:41Z")
Never mind buying crap. Just give them the money. They’ll appreciate it more anyway. - A veteran of many of these things ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/31 "2013-03-25T21:13:20Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Never mind buying crap. Just give them the money. They’ll appreciate it more anyway. > > - A veteran of many of these things I assure you that professionals are not going to care about the tiny bit of money they’d get. The real winner though is to have fun events. Ones I remember fondly are a private dinner in front of the big tank in the Monterey Bay Aquarium (used in ST IV) and a private party at the Air and Space Museum during the Star Wars exhibit - something that was hard to get into and crowded during the day. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/32 "2013-03-25T21:39:53Z")
At a conference I attend every year, one of the regular presenters hands out custom chocolate bars wrapped in clear plastic, with his logo right on the chocolate. He says he’s had people contact his business just to ask for the chocolate. And he sends it. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/33 "2013-03-25T22:34:07Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I assure you that professionals are not going to care about the tiny bit of money they’d get. > The real winner though is to have fun events. Ones I remember fondly are a private dinner in front of the big tank in the Monterey Bay Aquarium (used in ST IV) and a private party at the Air and Space Museum during the Star Wars exhibit - something that was hard to get into and crowded during the day. Back when mrAru worked for MetLife they arranged a family day at the Museum of Natural History in New York - including parking. Now _that_ was a great idea, parking is seriously expensive for the length of time it takes to really get a good wander around a museum. I would love to do a business dinner at the Monteray Bay Aquarium. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/34 "2013-03-25T22:37:51Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Back when mrAru worked for MetLife they arranged a family day at the Museum of Natural History in New York - including parking. Now _that_ was a great idea, parking is seriously expensive for the length of time it takes to really get a good wander around a museum. I would love to do a business dinner at the Monteray Bay Aquarium. Was the dinner under the whale? I’ve seen them close that area and set tables - a great place for dinner. I’m a native New Yorker but I’ve never been there except by subway. I didn’t even know they had parking! ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/35 "2013-03-25T23:49:02Z")
We give out tons of stuff at conferences and I also receive truck loads of it, thumb drives etc are boring and people have tons! OK what we have done and gotten great feedback on, 1TB portable HD, Golf Umbrellas and proper back packs not crappy ones but something from osprey etc with your brand tastefully on it. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/36 "2013-03-26T00:17:39Z")
My favorite recent ones: For the gadget geeks: USB charger for the cigarette lighter outlet in the car. I picked up two of them recently. Universal USB charging cable (i device, samsung, blackberry, etc. tips) Mini-first aid kits (a couple of bandaids, and sample packs of aspirin, ibuprofen, stomach stuff) I always grab the deck of cards that a couple of firms give out. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/37 "2013-03-26T00:23:17Z")
Flying screeching monkeys are always a hit. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/38 "2013-03-26T06:29:58Z")
> [@fisha](#): > > Flying screeching monkeys are always a hit. Also hard to get on planes. Though I suppose if the monkeys are big enough you wouldn’t need a plane. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/39 "2013-03-26T11:55:21Z")
Swag I luke and use: -A small folding umbrella. Small enough to fit under a car seat or on my computer bag. Very handy! Still have and use mine after 12+ years. Even fits well in an overcoat pocket. -Gizmo to hold a piece of paper upright next to my computer. I had my phone list there for many years, nice and visible, not buried under crap and with a small footprint. Have it, but have not used it in a while. -Folding smartphone stand. I use this every day since I got it in the fall. I wanted to get one for my wife, but they were out the next day. -Cheap cloth grocery bags are useful, but after 1 conference I have enough for a lifetime. -Laminated business cards turned into luggage tags. Very handy! Then I changed jobs … Things I think would be cool are: -Small but bright LED flashlights. I bought one and carry it with me every day. -Bluetooth keyboard for smartphone. I got a plastic roll-up one (that’s water resistant) for $30. That’s expensive for swag, and may be outdated in the iPad era. I do like mine - much better than the on-screen keyboard. -Stuff for kids. Maybe. -Customized game app? Say, “Angry Pills”? No idea of costs, lead time, distribution, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/40 "2013-03-26T13:33:24Z")
> [@fisha](#): > > Flying screeching monkeys are always a hit. “Sorry, pal, they’re on back-order. But we can get you a volume discount on these [Annoy-A-Trons](http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/8c52/?srp=3)…” ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128/41 "2013-03-26T13:41:33Z")
> [@Algher](#): > > Universal USB charging cable (i device, samsung, blackberry, etc. tips) I was going to +1 the USB drives, until I saw this. It doesn’t even have to be a cable; just an AC-to-USB adapter. (It took me a while to find one of these at Fry’s, until I realized they aren’t limited to iPods and wouldn’t be kept with the Apple accessories.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-promotional-give-away-for-a-conference/652128.md?page=3)