Best small work gift / conference giveaway

[Deleted]

I just joined the committee for the Employee Recognition Night - it's an annual dinner thing for all the employees of my agency. They give every employee that attends a gift, as well as a free meal, and then they do the long service awards and all that sort of thing.

Last year, we got headphones with the company logo on the side.

Not sure what they've done in the past (I've only been here a year, and my group is newly added on to this bigger agency). Budget is ~$16/person. Leaning toward non-electronic.

Do you have any random logoed giveaway items you actually use or like?

[Pilsy]

Everyone in my office carries a big cooler cup everywhere. Not a sports water bottle, but a big cup with a lid and sturdy straw.


Or a beach towel?

Lots of ideas here: www.staplespromotionalproducts.com

[Susie]

My firm gave away those cloths for wiping electronics screens once; they were pretty useful and inexpensive.

[Deleted]

Yeah, I've looked at catalogs, but they sell a lot of crap. Just curious what people had that they actually used - I actually use the headphones, but I have plenty of other things (USB keys, mugs) that are never touched or instantly put in the out-box.

[Deleted]

I like stainless steel, well-insulated coffee mugs, reusable water bottles, good pens, beach towels (great idea)...

Nice, thin golf shirts.

Golf umbrellas.

Good notebooks

Beach balls

Staples promo products mentioned above is a great site. I've used it before as well.

[Deleted]

LOL, now that I think about it, the last thing we got was a car escape tool (the thing that cuts your seatbelt and busts your window) for safety week.

I have not used that, but it was a good giveaway.

[Deleted]

I also have a small logoed gym bag that I use regularly, and have had it for 13 years.

[tcu2003]

My company has done Nalgene bottles and Camelback water bottles, and both were extremely popular. We haven't done Tervis tumblers with our logo, but those would be awesome as well.

Other giveaways have been small Nike duffel bags, backpacks with the laptop padding, reusable grocery sacks, Nike workout shorts, and small cooler bags - all with our logo.

[patbutcher]

I go to a ton of conferences and get loads of freebies. Ones that I have used to death are:

stainless steel water bottles
beach towels (the only beach towels we own are from conferences/events)
Travel mugs

My colleague went to an event and got a Canada Goose jacket!

[Deleted]

Two things I wouldn't want:
baseball cap
cheap plastic cup

[delawarejen]

I wish you could give stuff that doesn't have the company logo on it. I get a lot of things with my company's logo, and then if I don't like it or don't need it (or they've given me the same thing multiple times), it's harder to give away.

Things I actually use or would like to get:
Reusable grocery bags
Towels
Throw blankets
Water bottles that don't leak (preferably with a place to write your name using a Sharpie)
Travel coffee mugs that don't leak (ditto the name issue)
Mini mag flashlights
Umbrellas

Caution - stay away from anything like clothing. Trust me on this. The sizing issues cause way too much drama.

[mbcdefg]

People in our office are always using the tumbler mugs with the straw, and a fleece jacket.

Stuff from conferences I like:

Shopping bags, thumb drive, really good pen, USB charger for the car, flashlight, drawstring backpack, small notepad, metal water bottle, coffee mug

[patbutcher]

I will go against the grain and say absolutely no to reusuable shipping bags. OMG I have milions of the things.

Throw blanket would be nice.

My ILs got a free towel set from the casino but that might be expensive.

[Deleted]

May 25, 2015 14:41:29 GMT -5 delawarejen said:

I wish you could give stuff that doesn't have the company logo on it. I get a lot of things with my company's logo, and then if I don't like it or don't need it (or they've given me the same thing multiple times), it's harder to give away.

Things I actually use or would like to get:
Reusable grocery bags
Towels
Throw blankets
Water bottles that don't leak (preferably with a place to write your name using a Sharpie)
Travel coffee mugs that don't leak (ditto the name issue)
Mini mag flashlights
Umbrellas

Caution - stay away from anything like clothing. Trust me on this. The sizing issues cause way too much drama.

LOL, yes, I've got a men's large tee at home from Water Week that is totally useless. At a minimum, if we do clothing, I'm demanding that we allow people to request a size. 

I can see a mag lite being good. Definitely a male-heavy organization, so needs to appeal to both genders. 

[kathybela]

we've ordered a lot from 4imprint.ca and recently purchased these roll up car blankets and are happy with the quality www.4imprint.ca/search/blanket

ETA I also like the look of some of their coolers but haven't seen them. One good thing about this company is they will send a sample of most of their items to check out before placing an order.

[Deleted]

That's who I've ordered from in the past kathybela! They send you flyers and samples for years after you order anything... I'm eyeing up tire pressure gauges, various flashlights, toques, hoodies (but ugh to dealing with sizing, plus I hate that generally you can't get a proper piece of women's clothing through such things), contigo mugs (but probably out of price range)...

[Deleted]

May 25, 2015 15:07:35 GMT -5 @foodielicious said:

@tokenhoser found this poking around

www.go-promo.com/Contigo-Custom-Drinkware-s/1869.htm

You can get the mid range contigo for $17

$17 american = $21 canadian, plus international shipping. We'd have to find a local-ish supplier, or just find someone that would print on Costco contigos.  

[mbcdefg]

An emergency phone charger would be awesome, if you can find them for the right price.

This is the one I have: www.amazon.com/Anker-Lipstick-Sized-Portable-External-Technology/dp/B005NF5NTK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1432584521&sr=8-2&keywords=emergency+charger

[irene adler]

Throw blankets and beach towels are my favorites

[leancuisine]

My company gave us full-sized umbrellas last year. I keep it in my car and it has come in handy on rainy days!


A nice lunch bag or gym bag would be nice too.

[hurricanedrunk]

May 25, 2015 14:44:42 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

May 25, 2015 14:41:29 GMT -5 delawarejen said:

I wish you could give stuff that doesn't have the company logo on it. I get a lot of things with my company's logo, and then if I don't like it or don't need it (or they've given me the same thing multiple times), it's harder to give away.

Things I actually use or would like to get:
Reusable grocery bags
Towels
Throw blankets
Water bottles that don't leak (preferably with a place to write your name using a Sharpie)
Travel coffee mugs that don't leak (ditto the name issue)
Mini mag flashlights
Umbrellas

Caution - stay away from anything like clothing. Trust me on this. The sizing issues cause way too much drama.

LOL, yes, I've got a men's large tee at home from Water Week that is totally useless. At a minimum, if we do clothing, I'm demanding that we allow people to request a size. 

I can see a mag lite being good. Definitely a male-heavy organization, so needs to appeal to both genders. 

To expand on the clothing idea a bit thought I would share what my company did a year or so ago. All employees got to pick one item of clothing from the "catalog" for free. I ended up with a nice tech jacket with my company's name on it that I wear a lot for casual Friday's and when traveling for work. There was a nice variety of things to choose from including the jacket I mentioned to sweatshirts to nice button down shirts with the company logo in both men's and women's sizes. To make it work as a giveaway have employees order beforehand and give them the item of clothing they picked at the dinner. Much better than a random t-shirt! 

[Deleted]

May 25, 2015 15:27:52 GMT -5 hurricanedrunk said:

May 25, 2015 14:44:42 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

LOL, yes, I've got a men's large tee at home from Water Week that is totally useless. At a minimum, if we do clothing, I'm demanding that we allow people to request a size. 

I can see a mag lite being good. Definitely a male-heavy organization, so needs to appeal to both genders. 

To expand on the clothing idea a bit thought I would share what my company did a year or so ago. All employees got to pick one item of clothing from the "catalog" for free. I ended up with a nice tech jacket with my company's name on it that I wear a lot for casual Friday's and when traveling for work. There was a nice variety of things to choose from including the jacket I mentioned to sweatshirts to nice button down shirts with the company logo in both men's and women's sizes. To make it work as a giveaway have employees order beforehand and give them the item of clothing they picked at the dinner. Much better than a random t-shirt! 

Yeah, I have a couple jackets from my old job I still wear because they 1) fit  2)are women's clothing, not unisex  3)are not heinously ugly  4)are pretty high quality.

So if we can do that in the budget, or better yet offer a few choices (say shirt, or jacket,or winter hat/gloves set), that would be great. 

Now I'm also scouting out entertainment/event options that might get people to show up, lol. My vote is casino night with food truck catering. 

[BeagleMama]

I just got a portable/emergency phone charger from a bank at an event and it's awesome.

Kinda like this: www.epromos.com/product/10001564/power-bank-custom-cell-phone-charger.html

[jinkies]

I really like the golf umbrella idea.

I also like towels and totes.

I went to a conference a few years ago where one booth was giving away ice packs in kid-friendly shapes (I got a starfish one and a regular fish one). They were a popular giveaway, and I've used them a lot.

I really don't like clothing as giveaways.

[iheartbanjos]

Things I have liked: duffle bag, nice travel mug, camelback water bottle, phone charger (Moonstone was the brand).

Things I haven't liked: fleece coat, golf shirts, cheap iPad keyboard

[Deleted]

I attend a TON of conferences and the things I search out...

-Beach towels
-Battery Packs (for charging cell phones)
-Coffee mugs
-Notebooks (prefer with a strap that keeps it closed)
-USB drives
-Tumbler with straw (the size that fits into a cup holder in the car)
-Car phone chargers (the ones that go into a lighter thing)
-Totes (I love a good quality tote... They are great for grocery bags, laundry bags, lunch bags, etc)
-Pens
-Bottle Opener (wine key / beer)

[moolarkey]

2 year ago at our yacht club bal we got throw blankets, single color imprint in one corner. We ordered one per boat, they were around $7.00 each.

Last year we got really nice sized zippered totebags, have inside zippered pocked, hook inside for keys. They are also a single color imprtng of our logo. The bags are the same color of as the throws so you can fold the throw up and store it in the tote. The tote is li large enough I use it to haul my clothes for the weekend back and forth. It holds a lot. They were something under $10 each.

The throws are made of sweatshirt material, the more you use it the softer it gets.

Everyone loves both gifts.

[justjen]

The best we got were warm hoodies with the company logo, which everyone kept on the back of their chair for when the office was cold. It was nice because when I had a "work sweater," I would forget and wear it home sometimes, and then have nothing the next day. But there was no danger of my wearing that home

[v]

The really nice umbrellas I have get a lot of use.

The men in my office wear logoed polo shirts ALL THE TIME. As does my dad. I wear company t-shirts to bed?

I have a ton of other stuff -- a TON -- that doesn't get used or only gets used because it has the logo of a company I've worked at on it. Things I can think of:

At least 4 beach towels
At least 6 water bottles
Luggage tags
Innumerable pens
USB micro mouse
Golf ball marker
Apron
Measuring cups
Luggage tags
Stylus for iPad
Stress ball
Tiffany letter opener (that one was nice)
Mouse pads
Portfolios
Notebooks
Flashlights
So many duffle bags

I'd go for something consumable like a pad or if you have a lot of the 50+ year old man set, a shirt.

A cell phone charger would probably be nice too.

[imojoebunny]

DH has gotten polarized sunglasses a couple of times. I appreciate them. They buy 1,000 or more, so get a pretty good deal on them. I also like the notebooks, with hardcovers and a strap to keep it closed. We just got some kind bars and a book from his last meeting. Beach towels and umbrellas are also good. LL bean style totes. His latest was a leather carry on. Out of your budget though :-)

We have also gotten a cheese board, with knives, Rabbit style wine opener, fleeces, t-shirts, music cd (from entertainment from meeting), coffee mugs, luggage tags, magazine subscription, Cheryl's cookies, tool kit, manicure kit, and other stuff I can't think of. . A lot of the stuff we get come from HSN. They must have a corporate gift service.