The Art of Swag: How to Choose Event Swag That Attendees Keep, Love, and Talk About

At Unusually Unusual, we’ve seen both. The throwaway trinkets that get left behind… and the thoughtful, useful items people keep for months. The difference isn’t budget — it’s intention.

Here are five strategies we use to choose swag people actually want: 

1. Make It Useful
If people can use it immediately, you’ve already won. Notebooks, pens, portable chargers — and surprisingly for one audience, reader glasses — all became long-term brand reminders.

2. Match the Environment
The best swag feels relevant in the moment. Branded vests at a chilly fall event, ping-pong paddles at a venue built for it — when the item fits the setting, people actually use it.

3. Use Raffles to Add Energy
Raffles create natural foot traffic and reinforce your message. One of our most successful themes centered around “being noticed,” featuring blue-light glasses as the giveaway and RayBan Meta glasses as the hero prize.

4. Think Beyond the Bag
Some of the most memorable swag is experiential: bourbon tastings, chef-led dinners, live music. These become the stories attendees tell long after the event.

5. Choose Swag With Staying Power

Ask: “Will people still be using or talking about this a month from now?” Longevity turns swag into a strategic touchpoint.

At Unusually Unusual, we focus on thoughtful, intentional choices that elevate the attendee experience and reinforce your message long after the event ends.