Whether you’re welcoming a new employee or cultivating a customer relationship, it’s essential to do it right. One way you can get any connection started off on a good note is through the powerful act of corporate gifting. Companies that successfully maximize their brand exposure (and reputation) through gift giving are all using this tried-and-true tactic: giving away custom swag bags for events they attend (or host).
What stuff goes in event swag bags?
Think about events you’ve attended where big-name brands and smaller companies were all hustling for exposure in the same space. Think about company parties you attended or any time you felt nurtured by a brand.
- Which gifts did you hold onto or specifically look for as an attendee?
- Which companies stayed top-of-mind for you long term?
Part of the effectiveness of using swag bags for events comes from understanding your audience with the above in mind. If you:
- Keep giving the same gifts at every event you attend or host as a brand
- Fail to tweak your swag bags and gifts to cater to the event
- Don’t acknowledge the preferences of the attendees
Then your spend-to-return ratio isn’t going to be as effective when using gift giving and swag to wow your prospects.
Think about it this way: if you’re hosting a holiday party for your employees or prospects in December, you probably won’t want to give them a swag bag full of Easter-related apparel.
While the best swag bags for events share a common theme when it comes to the type of swag included—apparel, tech, or otherwise—they should include thoughtful design choices and high-quality items that people will actually want to use.
- What’s most important when building the perfect swag bag is that you choose items that make sense based on the event and the recipient.
- With thoughtful consideration regarding the items you choose, you can create memorable swag bags that elevate your brand’s street cred—and help foster meaningful relationships with your audience.
- With that in mind, the sky’s the limit: Just about anything can go in a swag bag—as long as it physically fits!
To help you get started, let’s dive into some of our favorite ideas for swag bags for events. We’ve separated them by theme and type to make it easy!
Apparel swag bags for events
Apparel as part of a swag bag is usually a safe bet—if you’ve chosen swag that people will genuinely want to wear! If you’ve been building swag bags with sweaty, 100% polyester polos for Earth Day events, there’s probably a reason the effort fell through with your audience.
Apparel as a category gives you tons of options: t-shirts, hoodies, outerwear, and more. There’s no better feeling than seeing your audience wearing your logo in public. That’s a marketing team win!
Here are some of our favorite ideas for incorporating apparel into swag bags for events.
The basics swag bag
There’s nothing wrong with sticking to the basics with your apparel swag bag.
The basics—when done right—make an excellent swag bag for events. They’re also great because you don’t have to overthink: Simply stick with high-quality t-shirts, hoodies, and other apparel, and you’ll have a memorable swag bag on your hands.
For this one, we’ve chosen some of the best basic apparel your audience will want to wear daily.
Build your swag bag with:
This Tricolor Trucker Cap
- Trucker hats are adjustable and breathable
- Features colors that match the other items in the bag
- Great way to get your logo out where everyone can see it
Our Swag.com Unisex Triblend Crew T-Shirt
- Your basic workhorse tee
- Soft and comfortable
- Available in 15 colors
This Bella Unisex Sponge Fleece Zip-Up Hoodie
- One of the coziest hoodies around
- Unmatched style and comfort
- Recipients won’t want to take it off
These Lane Seven Joggers
- Cotton/polyester construction for breathability
- Comes in inclusive sizing up to 2XL
- Pockets
Our Swag.com Socks
- Who doesn’t need more socks
- Something they’ll want to wear
- Socks can help you get a better sleep
The great outdoors swag bag
Looking for the perfect swag bag for events that focus on the great outdoors? We’ve got it here. These are some of the best outdoor apparel items on the market; together, they make an unforgettable swag bag.
Build your swag bag with:
The AS Colour Beanie
- Comes in plenty of colors
- Offers warmth in the outdoors
- Durable logo embroidery
This OGIO Unisex Pulse DriFit T-Shirt
- The best DriFit on the market
- Keep your clients and customers dry
- Comes in a ton of great color choices
The Marine Layer Men’s Quarter-Zip Pullover
- Perfect for athletic or casual settings
- ¼ Zip keeps you warm and looking stylish
- Crazy soft with inclusive sizing up to 2XL
This Columbia Men’s Rain Jacket
- Keep ‘em dry with your logo in view
- Light enough to fold into a pocket
- Awesome sizing up to 3XL
Our Custom Compression Calf Socks
- No outdoor outfit is complete without the right socks
- Compression Calf Socks keep feet warm and dry outdoors
- Completes the entire kit from head to toe
The ‘Cold Weather Starter’ swag bag
Throwing an event anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere from October to March? A cold weather essentials swag bag is a great option to remain on theme and relevant.
You want people to be reaching for your swag when the temperature drops! We’ve picked items for this bag that we’d love to receive—and your attendees will too.
Build your swag bag with:
- Cold weather winner
- Comes in three great colors
- Soft and stylish with button detailing
This Marine Layer Men’s Lined Hoodie
- Features sustainable fabric
- Heavier weight to endure colder temps
- Lined on the inside
This Carhartt Beanie
- Put your name on a product people actually want
- Adjustable fit makes beanies a great pick
- Functional yet fashionable
- Made from thick acrylic
- Ties a cold weather look together with a custom logo
- Warm and comfortable
Tech swag bags for events
We love tech swag—it’s convenient and useful to just about anyone out there. Especially if you choose the right items!
You’ve got several directions you can go with these event bags: swag for people who are constantly on their phones, music lovers, video calls, and much more. Here are our top picks for swag bags your attendees will actually want!
The swag bag for music lovers
Good news for your music-loving clients and customers—we’ve put together an amazing swag bag to help them keep the beat going!
We’ve got over-ear headphones for those who like the full range of sound, earbuds for more convenient listening, and a high-quality outdoor speaker to turn up the jams at get-togethers and other parties. This is a memorable swag bag for your music-loving clients and customers.
Build your swag bag with:
- Protect their investment with your brand
- Carabiner clip for portability and security
- Charging port access
The Asobu 17 Oz. Wireless Beat Bottle
- Water bottle and speaker—all in one
- Has an IPX4 water resistance rating
- 100% BPA-free materials
- Great for outdoor parties and events
- Small and compact
- Convenient clip-on design
These JBL Tune Headphones
- 40 hours of playback on a single charge
- Features JBL Pure Bass sound
- Wireless Bluetooth 5.0 streaming
The swag bag for phone pros
It’s 2022, and your phone is no longer a luxury—in many cases, it’s a business tool. Staying connected has never been more important for your attendees.
Whether it’s for productive reasons or not, it would be tough to find someone who wouldn’t appreciate a swag bag centered around keeping online and operational while on the go.
This is one swag bag for events that will seriously WOW your attendees, especially in spaces where they rely on their tech as an extension of themselves.
Build your swag bag with:
- Charge 2 devices at once
- Works on iPhones, Androids, and more
- Charges directly through phone cases
The Phone Soap UV-C Sterilizer
- Kills 99.99% of the nasties with UV-C light
- Multiple appealing colors
- Disinfects keys and wallets, too
The Pivo Pod
- Takes phone use for video to the next level
- Tripod ready with built-in bubble level
- Turns their smartphone into a video assistant
The swag bag for video calls
Whether your attendees are 100% work from home or adopting a hybrid model, video calls are the future of work. They’re also great for keeping in touch with relatives or family worldwide.
Attendees, clients, or employees will appreciate gear that helps them improve video call quality and the call experience. For this bag, we’ve included three of our favorite pieces of tech and tech accessories to boost video calls.
Build your swag bag with:
This Lume Cube Video Lighting Kit
- Mounts to any computer or laptop
- Illuminates background for top-notch video quality
- Includes computer mount, USB-C charging cable, tripod, and light
This Webcam Cover
- Helps prevent video “oops” moments
- Ultra-thin to allow laptops to close
- Fits computers, laptops, TVs, monitors, and more
This JBL Quantum Headset
- Boom mic for crystal-clear voice
- Wired connection never runs out of charge
- Perfect for PC or Mac video calls
The social media startup swag bag
Social media is a huge part of our daily lives—not just in business but in our free time, too. Encourage attendees to post about you after the event with this swag bag full of gifts and goodies social stars will love.
Build your swag bag with:
This Selfie Ring
- Powered by a USB cord
- Illuminates background for better selfies
- Comes in four colors
- Built-in ring holder/kickstand
- 15W wireless fast charging capability
- MagSafe case compatible
Self-care swag bags for events
Wellness incorporates a lot of different things, from the food we eat to how we take care of our skin. Your attendees will appreciate that you’ve considered their daily care routines when you give them these epic swag bags!
Here are our favorite ideas for self-care swag bags to wow attendees at events with a health focus.
Swag bags for health nuts
We all have a health nut in our lives. Some of us probably wish we could be as dedicated to fitness and wellness as they are!
This swag bag is packed with goodies that make it easier to stay in shape—including a healthy pick-me-up snack for when attendees need something quick to nosh during an event.
Build your swag bag with:
This Luna Nutrition Bar
- Made with organic ingredients
- Delicious s’mores flavor from Luna Bar
- Has a shelf life of 6+ months, so you can plan events in advance
- Provides deep muscle treatment and recovery
- Unmatched portability
- Three different settings for percussions per minute
This Resistance Band
- Can be used to work many different muscle groups
- Ideal for home-based training
- Portable design to carry with you anywhere you go
This Portable Fitness Mat
- Features a comfortable non-slip surface
- Comes with a convenient carrying bag
- Great for more than just yoga
Swag bags for safer fun in the sun
Whether you’re holding an event in the summer or prepping for summer fun in advance, give your attendees gifts they’ll be using all summer long with this epic swag bag!
This summer fun swag bag includes crucial sun protection as well as some goodies they’ll be using away from the waves, too. Building swag bags around an event theme that can still be used outside of that theme is the key to a versatile corporate gift.
Build your swag bag with:
- Powerful SPF 30 rating
- Features moisturizing ingredients
- Protects from UVA and UVB rays while enriching skin with Vitamin E
- Multiple colors to choose from
- Super soft, 100% cotton terry towel
- Plenty of room to showcase your logo
Our SPF 15 Lip Balm
- Protects lips from the sun with SPF 15 rating
- Multiple flavors to choose from
- Keeps lips hydrated
This Outdoor Speaker
- IPX6 water resistance
- Small and compact
- Convenient, clip-on design
This Tote Cooler
- Doubles as your bag to hold the event swag
- Can fit a whopping 24 cans for adventures outdoors
- Front pocket for additional storage
Office swag bags for events
Swag bags that focus on life at the office are great for just about any event. The best swag bags in this category include items your audience will find useful—no matter where (or what) they call “the office.”
Here are four of our most versatile swag bags for this theme.
The WFH swag bag
For many, working from home is the new norm. At the very least, many of us are working with some sort of hybrid model—two days in the office and three at home, or some variation on this theme.
The WFH swag bag has all the essentials your attendees need for the work-from-home grind. This one is sure to be a hit at your next event!
Build your swag bag with:
- Save desk space with this 2-in-1
- Perfect for any desk setup
- Charges iPhones, Androids, and more
This Lume Cube Video Lighting Kit
- Mounts to any computer or laptop
- Illuminates background for top-notch video quality
- Includes computer mount, USB-C charging cable, light and tripod
This Webcam Cover
- Ensures webcam privacy
- Ultra-thin and portable
- Fits computers, laptops, and more
This S’well Tumbler
- Lid prevents spills around delicate electronics
- Dishwasher safe on the top rack
- BPA-free for the morning caf fix
The inbox zero swag bag
Whether it’s a desk at home or a classy corner office, desk accessories keep your office space looking clean and put together.
With this swag bag, your attendees can create an organized desk space that mirrors their goals for their inbox. This versatile swag bag is a must-have for your events when you want to give attendees the gift of zen.
Build your swag bag with:
This Cable Organizer
- Cable management is an art and a science
- Reduce the risk of dangerous, roaming cables
- Make the IT professional in your life happy
This Thule Tech Bag
- Super portable for travel
- Pockets—so many pockets!
- Your logo on a well-known brand
This 3 Piece Desktop Set
- Includes document tray, pencil cup, and accessory tray
- Comes in a gift box
- Comes in three bold colors
This Lapgear Pro Mobile Desk Organizer
- Work from anywhere in style
- Great for laptop-based desk setups
- Built-in mousepad, wrist rest, and phone stand
Foodie swag bags for events
We can’t talk about awesome swag bag ideas without discussing some gifts for foodies. Food is something that connects people universally, and it can make a great swag idea for events that require a food-based focus.
Our swag ideas for this category cover everything from simple snacks to swag bags for the grill master.
The indulgent swag bag
Is there anyone out there who doesn’t love a good snack? Snacks prevent or reduce the impact of being hangry, which science now confirms is a real thing. That’s a win in our book.
With that in mind, it’s hard to go wrong with a snack-based swag bag for events. If you want to stand out from the crowd, though, give your attendees a swag bag they’ll remember with these indulgent treats.
Build your swag bag with:
This Flavored Popcorn
- The quintessential movie snack—with a twist
- Choose between S’mores and Chocolate Pretzel & Potato Chip Popcorn
- A great option for events around the holiday season
The S’mores Gift Box
- Includes everything you need for the S’mores experience
- Two servings of genuine Hershey’s goodness
- The ideal campfire snack for one
- A unique snack option that everyone loves
- Eight months of shelf life so you can prep for events in advance
- Great for events being held during the winter months
This 10 Piece Truffle Box
- Super classy
- Multiple truffle flavors
- Multiple box sleeve designs
The coffee lover’s swag bag
Most of us out there understand the joy of that first cup of coffee in the morning. It provides us with the energy and warmth our souls require to survive the daily grind (pun intended).
This swag bag idea celebrates all the coffee lovers out there, and makes a versatile—and memorable—gift for events of all kinds.
Build your swag bag with:
- Clip and Flip lever serves both as a carrying handle
- Made of Stainless Steel
- Only takes 60 seconds of cranking to produce ground coffee
This S’well Travel Mug
- Perfect for any commute
- Features spill protection with a leak-free top
- Made of tough, insulated 18/8 stainless steel
Our Gourmet Coffee
- Yields around 32 cups of coffee
- Has a shelf life of 1 year
- Pure Columbian
This Glass Coffee Press
- Coffee for one (or two, if you have a small mug)
- Made of resistant borosilicate glass
- Easy to use and simple to clean
The happy hour swag bag
This swag bag idea is great when you want to give attendees a corporate gift at an event that they’ll use over and over again at home.
Build your swag bag with:
These Marble & Wood Coasters
- Prevent water staining
- Laser imprinting for durability
- A classy look for any home bar
- Makes easy sipping even easier
- Laser engraving available for a classy look
- Comes with custom silicone mold for making wedges
This S’well Shaker Set
- Shaken, not stirred
- Professional look
- Won’t sweat on counter
The grill master’s swag bag
Like our other foodie swag bags, this is another fun idea when you need something versatile for multiple events in any given year. Grill-themed swag bags are great for summer events, Father’s Day events, outdoor events, state fairs, and so many more.
Build your swag bag with:
Our Grill Set
- Includes all the grill essentials: A spatula, tongs, knife, and more
- Comes in a high-quality, aluminum-accented case
- Handles are plastic with stainless steel grip to prevent heat transfer
Our Spice Rub Set
- Includes three amazing spice rubs
- Comes in fancy glass jars with your logo
- Perfect for any kind of food
This Custom Cutting Board
- High-quality bamboo board
- Your laser-engraved logo will be the star of the show
- Bamboo boards are a sustainable alternative to plastic boards
This Corduroy Apron
- Keeps BBQ stains off your dress polos
- Puts your logo front and center at parties
- Unisex sizing and colors
Eco-friendly swag bags for events
For some events, corporate gifting requires a little more thought than just giving high-quality, useful gifts. Sometimes your attendees will want you to be aware of how they feel about the impact your gifts might have on the environment.
With that in mind, we’ve put together some of our top picks for eco-friendly swag ideas. These swag bags focus on keeping your environmental impact low and wowing an eco-conscious audience!
The 100% cotton swag bag
For some, the materials used in their clothing are important. We don’t blame them—100% cotton apparel doesn’t trap heat like synthetic fabrics do. Plus, you can feel good about promoting a plastic-reducing alternative at events where an environmental message is important to attendees.
Build your swag bag with:
The Alternative 100% Cotton T-Shirt
- The ideal go-to 100% cotton t-shirt
- Perfect for a casual day at the office or a quiet movie night
- Unisex sizing and styling with tons of color options
Our Swag.com Long Sleeve T-Shirt
- A great alternative for people who prefer long-sleeve options
- Laundered for reduced shrinkage
- Made from 100% ring-spun cotton for maximum comfort
- One of the best cotton hats around
- Keeps the sun at bay
- Embroidered for long-lasting brand placement
- Why not make the bag part of the swag?
- Cotton construction for easy washing
- Reusable bag for toting essentials
The sustainable swag bag
Organic cotton is like cotton’s cooler big sister: it features all the benefits of cotton with fewer of the environmental impacts of the cotton industry. Organic cotton is also grown and harvested to higher standards than regular cotton, making it a great choice for “green” swag bags.
Increasingly, consumers are paying more attention to the choices that brands make when representing themselves. This includes the kind of environmental footprint a brand has.
Wow your attendees with these sustainable, thoughtfully curated swag bags and put the right kind of spotlight on your brand.
Build your swag bag with:
This Organic Cotton Long Sleeve T-Shirt
- Comfortable, unisex fit
- Inclusive sizing up to 2XL
- Multiple colors to choose from
- Uses nothing but organic cotton
- Comes in three stylish colors
- Large enough to share or enjoy alone
- Flexible and adjustable sizing
- No acrylic fiber in this toasty beanie
- Double-layer, sweater-knit styling
- Make the bag part of the swag!
- High-quality, organic cotton tote
- Perfect for daily use
The bamboo starter pack swag bag
Bamboo is a miracle material: it grows quickly, stores tons of carbon, and is versatile enough to make into everything from shirts to toilet paper.
Bamboo is often considered a “green” material, so if you want a swag bag idea that’s not as strict as organic with some of the same eco-friendly benefits, bamboo is a great option!
The warm, earthy, natural feel of bamboo is also appealing for building affordable, high-quality swag bags without relying on wood products.
Build your swag bag with:
This Bamboo Lunch Box
- Comes with built-in storage for utensils
- Includes utensils
- Made of 50% bamboo fiber to reduce plastic
- Spill-resistant, screw-on lid
- Condensation prevention on the outside
- Weighs less than 1.5 lbs.
This Bamboo Tote
- Eco-friendly, certified bamboo fiber fabric
- Zippered main compartment opening
- Complete the swag set with this stylish bag
This Bamboo Kitchen Set
- Four durable tools
- Great for nonstick pans
- Replaces plastic utensils
The reduce, reuse and recycle swag bag
Recycled products help your brand mitigate the amount of waste in the world and make the Earth a better place. Building swag bags for events that feature swag with recycled materials can help boost your brand’s street cred at events where your audience is paying attention to your footprint.
This swag idea features four of our favorite products made entirely from recycled materials so you can reduce your footprint and provide a corporate gift your attendees will want to reuse again and again.
Build your swag bag with:
- Made from recycled cotton collected from garment waste
- Comes in a stylish gray color
- Rugged and durable
This Slowtide Recycled Blanket
- Four fun colors
- Made of recycled plastic bottles
- Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certified
The District Unisex Re-Fleece Crew Sweatshirt
- Comes in four stylish colors
- Made from 100% recycled fabric
- Inclusive sizing up to 4XL
This Tentree Hemp Hat
- Made from durable hemp, recycled plastic, and recycled mesh
- 5-panel trucker hat with snap closure
- tentree plants ten trees for every item purchased
We make swag simple
Got your own idea for a swag bag that isn’t listed here? No problem.
Swag.com has all the amazing products you need to create custom swag bags for events.
Whether you choose one of the swag ideas we listed above or create your own swag bag for an upcoming event, you’ll be providing attendees with high-quality products that they will love using and showing off.
Want to build your own swag bags? Check out more of our products to get started! Working within a time crunch? Reach out to us or filter by production time on our products page.
