12 Best Swag Items for Conferences

So you’re in charge of choosing the best swag for conferences. Capturing your audience’s attention at events is great for engagement, so choosing products that stand out for their quality, creativity, and practicality double as incredibly powerful marketing tools.

Conference swag could take the form of bag stuffers, speaker gifts, giveaways, and more. Regardless of what kind of products you choose, you must choose things people will actually take home with them and keep.

Our Imprint Engine team has delivered on seemingly impossible missions to create merchandise that arrives on time and stands out regardless of its destination. That’s why we’re a trusted partner for high-quality merch production by some of the world’s largest companies. You’re about to read our top products for conferences from some of our favorite vendors, so if anything piques your interest, we can easily bring it to life. If you don’t see your favorite brand on this list, no problem! There’s a good chance we can get our hands on that, too.

Table of Contents

1. Hot Commodity Giveaways and Raffle Items
2. Smaller Conference Swag Items
3. Gifts for Conference Speakers
4. Conference Swag to Rock Your Logo

Hot Commodity Giveaways and Raffle Items

When it comes to giveaways and raffles, you want to choose products that are enticing enough to influence participation. Offering hot commodity items that attendees may not own or be willing to purchase themselves is a sure way to boost engagement with your brand.

Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones

We love these wireless noise canceling headphones by our partner, Sony, because not only are they a unisex, premium option, they’re fitting for any working professional. Practical and tangible items like headphones make productive gifts because with every use, the recipient is reminded of their positive interaction with your brand.

Read more about how we create brand experiences that people want to be a part of.

Tile Tracker

One thing most people at the conference will have in common: they occasionally (or frequently) lose track of their keys or wallet. We’re all guilty of it! Trackers like this one from Tile Mate are ideal promotional gifts that solve the universal issue of belongings disappearing into thin air.

Bluetooth Speaker

We’ve been partnered with JBL for a long time because frankly, their speakers are the best and so easy to customize. Last year, Bluetooth speakers were one of the most popular holiday gifts, so who wouldn’t want to walk away from a conference with a speaker like the award-winning Flip 6?

Smaller Conference Swag Items

Small items work well as conference swag because they’re easy to slip into a tote bag and carry around. We selected a few lightweight, eco-friendly products from our environmentally-conscious partners that promote your brand while encouraging attendees to embrace a greener lifestyle. 

Plantable Pencils

We are proudly partnered with SproutWorld for their commitment to reducing waste and boosting biodiversity. They make plantable pencils that can be engraved with your branding and come in traditional graphite or colored options. You can also choose which herbs, flowers, or trees will blossom when the pencil is used up and planted into the ground. 

Reusable Storage Bags

Reusable bags like this silicone one from w&p are free from chemicals, glues, or adhesives to safely store snacks or essentials. They’re dishwasher safe and infinitely reusable, proving that sustainability can be effortless.

Reusable Cups

Our friends at Frank Green make the chicest reusable cups that are as stylish and portable as they are sustainable. Reusable drinkware makes the perfect conference companion and encourages attendees to stay hydrated (and stay engaged with your brand).

Gifts for Conference Speakers

Gifts for speakers at the conference warrant a little more effort than the typical swag item. Giving speakers products that are unique and higher-end will stand out as a considerate gesture rather than an afterthought. Curious how to optimize your promotional budget? Read our blog post about planning your marketing spend.

Brew Bottle

Soma is one of our vendors renowned for innovative drinkware. With their Brew Bottle, users can pour hot water right over ground coffee or loose leaf tea to enjoy hydration and caffeination on the go. (They can also leave their pour-over coffee in the fridge overnight for a fresh and delicious cold brew!)

Scented Candle

A candle is a universally-enjoyed luxury that makes the perfect gift. We love this light and herbal 8oz Chamomile candle by Open Spaces, one of our valued partners for all things home goods.

Reading Tablet

You can’t go wrong gifting a tablet like the Kindle Paperwhite. It’s thin, lasts 10 weeks on a single battery charge, and travels easily so that book lovers can get through their reading list on the go. 

Conference Swag to Rock Your Logo

Apparel and accessories are so much more than something you can wear. They’re blank canvases where your logo and branding can shine. The key to creating custom swag that effectively advertises your brand is choosing products that are on-trend and high-quality so that attendees wear and keep them for a long time.

Read about how our merch services differ from our competitors.

Durable Tote

When it comes to practicality, totes are about as good as it gets. Totes and conferences go hand-in-hand because attendees have a lot of stuff to lug around! Alpaka is one of our premium bag vendors and their Elements Tote is compartmentalized, durable, and easily customizable so your brand can stay on display wherever the bag goes. 

Trendy Hat

Hats are trendier than ever these days, especially ones that are great quality and immaculately designed. Our friends at Weld are known for creating hats that stand out from the rest, like this Corduroy Dad Hat. With their unique colorways and vintage flair, your branded hat could easily become a wardrobe staple.

Tapered Sweatpants

Comfort is important to everybody, and sweatpants are an essential we can all get behind (or slip into). We love these recycled fleece tapered sweatpants by RicherPoorer not only for their trendy yet cozy fit, but for the fact that each pair saves approximately 40 plastic water bottles from landfills! 

Let’s Make Swag That Makes a Splash

Conferences are valuable opportunities to boost brand awareness and foster connections with those in your network and beyond. Don’t let another opportunity go to waste; let’s get to work creating memorable merchandise for your next conference.