Let’s face it. Trade shows are a battlefield of branded baggage. Pens. Tote bags. Stress balls. More pens. Most of it ends up in the hotel bin before checkout. Here’s how to make sure you aren’t contributing to landfill waste.

So, if your swag doesn’t shout, “Take me home,” or better yet, is postworthy, consider skipping it.

At Digital Rain, we’ve made it our mission to help clients break out of the swag cycle. We’re talking about giveaways that feel like gifts, not afterthoughts. Stuff you actually want to show off on social media. And we’re not just talking hypotheticals — we’ve done it. The reason to create swag is to make a memorable branded expense, but as a heads-up, unique ideas typically take more time or money to craft. It's important to evaluate what your user experience means to your company. We are sharing some of our most loved ideas from over the years.

Let’s take a ride through the swag vault.

Our Greatest Hits: Swag We Actually Gave (And People Actually Kept)

Custom GoPro’s

Yes, we gave away GoPro kits. And yes, they flew off the table faster than a floor model at a car show. But here’s the twist: it wasn’t just the GoPro — it was the full experience.

Why it worked:

High perceived value
Insta-worthy packaging
Perfect for content creators

Customer Onboarding Welcome Crates

First impressions matter. We helped clients send curated welcome kits to new customers, filled with branded goodies, tech tools, and handwritten notes.

Why it worked:

Sets the tone for relationship-building
Customized to the audience
Makes clients feel like VIPs from day one

Custom Ray-Bans

Forget the cheap plastic shades. These were actual Ray-Bans with subtle branding on the case and inside the arms. Classy. Wearable. And they didn’t scream "corporate freebie."

Why it worked:

Iconic brand association
Usability beyond the event
Perfect tie-in to our theme: "See the Road Ahead."

Vegas Survival Kits

Hangover helpers, antacids, Vaseline, Dramamine, Tylenol — all bundled in a branded "No Regrets" emergency pouch. This kit was designed to rescue attendees from Vegas burnout, and it was delivered.

Why it worked:

Hyper-relevant to the Vegas location
Hilariously useful
Got shared a lot on LinkedIn and Instagram

ATI Magsafe PowerBanks

A techie favourite. These travel-friendly multi-chargers come with multiple ports, so you can enjoy your event without the hassle of finding charging stations.

Why it worked:

Every day utility that everyone needs, but hates to buy
Looks premium, costs reasonable
Easy to ship, easy to stash

Custom ClassOne Atlanta Mugs

To celebrate ClassOne Equipment’s 20th anniversary, we designed custom mugs and tumblers featuring a clean, minimalist logo on one side and a detailed map of Atlanta on the other. The design was local, elegant, and unexpected.

Why it worked:

Hyper-personalized to the city and the brand’s milestone
Understated yet thoughtful design
Practical — everyone loves a solid, clean white mug

Custom Wine Bottles

Fox's wine bottle. We got a 98-point Cabernet, private-labeled and gifted to all our clients. We made several mock-ups, but the winning design was the gold bottles. These weren’t just any bottles. We worked with clients to design custom labels and packaging for gifting during special moments or post-meeting follow-ups.

Why it worked:

Premium gift that feels personal
Perfect for client dinners and thank-yous
Instagrammable and memorable

Thank-You Champagne from Digital Rain

We packed sleek matte black suitcases with champagne and flutes for a VIP gift experience. It screamed “celebration,” and looked like something James Bond might carry to a gala. It was a mic-drop moment of gifting.

Why it worked:

Looked like something James Bond would carry
Premium packaging made it feel exclusive
Ideal for post-meeting wow-factor and client appreciation

Lapstop Skins

Why not turn your laptop into a mobile billboard? Functional and expressive. We created branded laptop skins that employees and clients actually wanted to use.

Why it worked:

Turns tech into walking branding
Stylish
Customizable for different roles or departments

Fox T-shirts

We made many custom T-shirts that highlighted our California location. One looked like a license plate. It’s not your average promo tee. We also made comfy, stylish shirts and socks with clever slogans and inside jokes tailored to automotive audiences.

Why it worked:

Comfortable and wearable beyond the show
Sparks conversation (“Where’d you get that?”)
Great for team morale

SpaceShip Humidifer

This quirky little humidifier looked like a tiny UFO and fit perfectly on office desks. It was an instant hit with staff and attendees looking to liven up their workspace.

Why it worked:

Unexpected and delightful
Bring the brand into their everyday desk space
Just the right mix of fun and functional

Phone Mounts

Universal dashboard phone mounts were practical and perfectly in tune with our automotive audience. Easy to toss in a swag bag and easier to use on the road, they were one of those items that kept us top of mind.

Why it worked:

Great for the automotive crowd
Every day use equals long-term exposure
Small enough to carry home

TruVideo Pressure Gauge

A nod to our automotive roots, this handy pressure gauge wasn’t just another promo item—it was something people tossed into their glove boxes and used. Because safety is cool, too.

Why it worked:

Relevant and practical
Useful long after the event
Adds value without feeling like a promo

Stickers

We ditched the cheap logo slaps and went for high-quality sticker packs with attitude. Clever designs, quality finishes, and useful sizes made these a surprising hit. Perfect for water bottles, toolboxes, and laptops.

Why it worked:

Adds personality
People actually use them
Light, fun, and affordable

Why Creative Swag Wins Every Time

It builds buzz: People post what they love. A clever or unexpected gift creates more online chatter than a dozen LinkedIn posts.
It sparks conversations: Attendees talk. When one booth gives away a truly cool item, word spreads.
It lasts longer: Quality swag ends up in homes, cars, and offices. That’s long-term brand presence you can’t buy with a postcard.

Don’t Just Give Things Away. Give People a Reason to Care.

Here’s the real secret: the item is only half the story. The presentation matters just as much. We custom-design displays, packaging, insert cards, and social media integrations that make your swag work harder.

Want to build a booth that breaks the mold? Need ideas that get people posting? Whether you need branded Ray-Bans or a hydration kit worthy of Coachella, we’ve got you.

Let’s talk about swag that slaps. Get in touch with Digital Rain.

P.S. If this inspired you, check out our full blog on Unique Swag Ideas from DRM for even more scroll-stopping merch magic.