Looking for something to grab the attention of people attending your conference? Why not surprise them with a bag full of goodies!
Where do I start?
There are many sizes, styles and materials that are used for bags, and choosing the right one to impress everyone can be an extremely overwhelming exercise. Here are some tips that I can provide when choosing the right bag for your event.
Size
The size of the bag is without a doubt the most important factor. As you can see in the picture, there are multiple sizes and styles, and this is just a small selection. Firstly, you need to ensure that the bag is big enough to fit everything you want to include. Event booklet, promotional documentation, stationery and certificate are just some items to mention, so getting the fine balance of just right is difficult. Finding a company that is able to supply you with samples of bags is a huge bonus because it allows you to create a mock up of what you expect to put into the bag. I have found that longer shorter bags (right side of photo) works better because the bag looks fuller quicker. Normally, I would have A5 documents in this bag, because A4 documents don’t fit as well.
Material and Style
The material of your bags will always be based on your budget. The budget allows you to determine the bag material whether it be plastic, cardboard, mesh, paper, etc and all the extras to dress them up. Your event should have a theme, such as colour or topic you should based everything around. Once you have chosen the bag, complete the strength test. Your bags need to hold everything comfortably without breaking and have handles that won’t tear or snap.
Colour
A choice of a white bag compared to a coloured bag is more than likely to be the cheaper option. It gives you the freedom to dress it up using stickers, ribbon, coloured handles and/or swing tags. I have found that bags with rope handles give you the potential to dismantle the handles and thread through a customised ‘branded’ swing tag. I think what has worked best in the past for me, is to pick two colours and try to match all items in and out of the bag to those colours.
Be brave!
Be confident in your choice! A ‘wow’ bag will make your event a hit from the get go. If you are tight on budget, there are always different ways to make a standout bag without a big bill. Think of ways the attendee can reuse the bag after the event because you don’t want your hard work to be thrown out.