Top of Mind | Strategic Swag & Ethical Gifts
- Barbara Hutniak
- Nov 21, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 6
When attending an event or conference, one of the biggest challenges is figuring out how to attract your ideal clients and build lasting relationships. A well-designed booth, eye-catching marketing assets, and coordinated team outfits all help raise brand awareness. But what truly keeps your company top of mind after the event, when attendees return to their offices and share what they’ve learned? Often, it’s the combination of your sales pitch or demo—and the strategic swag and ethical gifts you provide. Offering attention and gratitude towards clients can also be a year long enterprise; holiday or “just because” acknowledgements are just as essential.
Whether it’s a thoughtfully selected gift for your ideal clients or a branded giveaway for all attendees, the right swag can leave a lasting impression. But with so many options available, choosing the right items that will resonate with your audience and stand out can be tricky.
To maximize your impact, take a strategic approach to event participation. Start by identifying the attendees whose companies align with your ideal customer profile (ICP). Cross-reference the attendee list with your target market, and build a list of top prospects. Then, reach out to these key contacts to schedule meetings during or around the event.
Once you've identified your top 25 target brands, show your appreciation for their time by sending a thoughtful gift as a token of gratitude for connecting with you. This can be done either before the event to pique their interest or after the meeting as a follow-up. Either way, it’s a perfect opportunity to share a piece of your company and create a meaningful connection.
If sending a gift before the event feels like a good strategy, consider leveraging a digital gifting option—something like what Butterfly Ethical Gifting offers. They have a great way of curating meaningful, sustainable gifts that can be delivered virtually, creating a memorable first impression.
Here’s how they do it:
Why Digital Gifts?
Global reach.
The gift of choice. Varied budgets, interests, and quantities.
Personalized to the recipient and branded with your logo, colours and messaging.
Experiential & no waste options.
Increase survey and marketing campaign engagement.
Starting at $1 ($1 = tree planted or 3+ meals for food-insecure persons).
Give the gift of choice to the recipient.
Hybrid campaigns with physical and digital options.
When it's time to wrap up your meeting with a top client or prospect, a thoughtful gift can leave a lasting impression. Ethical swag is a great way to showcase your company values, stand out from the competition, and stay top of mind. Consider putting together 25 gift packs that are easy to ship and practical for attendees who are traveling. Make sure the items are something they will appreciate and use regularly—along with your logo, so they continue to think of you long after the event.
End your meeting on a high note:
Butterfly boxes are full of thoughtfully curated products that have been carefully selected by our team to make each box an experience. All of our products are sourced from small businesses with an emphasis on diversity and sustainability. They are sustainable, beautiful and delicious!
Create meaningful connections with your clients and employees with an Ethical Gift Box for your next meeting, celebration, wellness program, or employee recognition.
Our selection of corporate gifts, client gifts, and employee gifts ensures that you can tailor your gifting experience to the occasion and the recipient.
We will help you create a branded experience with custom technology for your activation, eco packaging, cards and added details.
When it comes to larger giveaways, you’ll want to select items that are both affordable and easy to distribute. Think branded hats, pens, notebooks, or other practical items that are useful in daily life. These items don’t have to break the bank—especially when purchased in bulk—and they’re a great way to keep your brand visible without overwhelming attendees with high-cost items. If you’re looking to save money and space, consider doing one larger giveaway at the end of the event to a selected winner. This creates excitement and gives attendees something to look forward to.
Looking for gift ideas that will make your employees and clients feel truly valued?
Create engagement, recognition, and rewards for your employees and clients with intentional and meaningful branded merchandise and swag.
Choose unique items from small businesses that are not mass-produced overseas and shipped across the globe.
Gift with purpose to align with your corporate goals and vote with your dollars.
By selecting gifts that are meaningful, sustainable, and aligned with your corporate goals, you can show your clients and employees that you care, while reinforcing the values that set your brand apart. Whether through ethical swag, customized experiences, or thoughtful tokens of appreciation, your gifting strategy can leave a lasting impact and strengthen your brand’s connection with the people who matter most.
Butterfly Ethical Gifting specializes in sourcing unique and memorable swag and gifts from small, diverse, and eco-conscious businesses. Their mission is to provide brands with distinctive, high-quality items that align with corporate goals while minimizing environmental impact. By carefully selecting consumable, practical, and sustainable gifts, they help reduce the amount of swag that ends up in landfills.
Their curated gifts are designed to resonate with clients at every stage of the customer journey, fostering deeper connections and helping brands stand out in a thoughtful, impactful way. Whether for events or client engagements, Butterfly Ethical Gifting offers creative, sustainable solutions that leave a lasting impression. Visit their website for more information and ideas for your next initiative.
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