Check Out These 20 Creative Swag Bag Ideas

Looking for creative swag bag ideas to wow your guests? If you’re planning a convention or corporate event, then the chances are that swag bags are either one of your favorite parts of event planning, or it’s the thing that keeps you up at night. Some event planners love working with local businesses to find fun gifts and giveaways, while others worry that their swag bag ideas aren’t creative enough to impress their guests. No one wants to see their swag bags end up left behind at their event center or Peerspace venue. Speaking of Peerspace, did you know it just happens to be the largest online marketplace for hourly event space rentals? It’s true!

Check out our site today to check out all the unique event venues near you. And when you book a Peerspace venue, you get support from the Concierge service. Whether you need help sourcing items for your swag bags or need other services like catering and equipment rentals, these pros can source and deliver them to you at your venue.

No matter the type of event planner you are, we’ve come up with 20 creative swag bag ideas to get you thinking outside the box. With these ideas, you can make sure that your guests appreciate their swag bag items and look forward to using them at home or in the office.

1. Start with the bag itself

swag bag ideas
Source: Peerspace

Swag bags are one of those things that you just can’t help judging by their cover. The look and feel of your swag bag will say a lot about what’s inside it. Instead of a simple tote bag, invest in a heavy-duty bag that your attendees can use again and again. Maybe it has your company’s logo on it or is made of eco-friendly materials that your guests will feel proud to show off.

2. Offer a few color options

swag bag ideas
Source: Peerspace

Whatever you do, avoid making every bag look identical. Your guests will feel less special when they have to reach for the exact same bag as everyone else, after all. Offering a few different colors will allow your guests to choose the one they like best — and remember which bag is theirs.

3. Include items that can be used right away

Brentwood Modern Farmhouse los angeles rental
Source: Peerspace

At some events, guests receive the swag bag at the end of the event, while at others, they get it as soon as they arrive and check in. We think it’s a good idea to give it away early — that way, you can include items that your guests can use on-site. Paper and pens always come in handy, and these days, power banks are useful, too. Don’t forget the hand sanitizer! It’s thoughtful, handy, and will make everyone feel just that much safer.

4. Provide weather-appropriate gear

fashion photoshoot ideas in washington dc
Source: Peerspace

If your guests are from out of town, welcome them to the event with gifts that will be useful in your climate, such as an umbrella, sunglasses, a sun hat, or sunscreen. We also love the idea of branded winter caps and scarves if it’s chilly!

5. Don’t forget some snacks!

swag bag ideas
Source: Peerspace

Your guests’ portable devices aren’t the only things that will need to be recharged during the event. Ensure your guests stay fed and hydrated by providing snacks and drink bottles. Snacks are a great swag bag gift because they can be enjoyed on the spot and don’t need to be stuffed into your guests’ luggage for the trip home.

6. Consider offering some CBD chocolates

swag bag ideas
Source: Peerspace

CBD drinks and chocolates are everywhere these days — apparently, a recent Oscars’ swag bag included some, and they’re (supposedly) legal to fly with. If they keep your guests intrigued, relaxed, and less stressed out, they may be worth a try!

8. Include icebreaker games

best rooftops in brooklyn
Source: Peerspace

For corporate events, include something that encourages your guests to get to know each other. Each bag could include a few pieces of a puzzle or clues that can only be deciphered when put together. This will get your attendees interacting one on one or in small teams.

9. Keep books near your event speakers

Uptown Art Gallery with open floor plan denver rental
Source: Peerspace

Your guests will be more likely to remember the speakers at your conference if they can take a book home with them for further reading. Your event speakers will appreciate this, too since it helps promote their work and increases their rankings on bestseller lists.

10. Throw in some virtual swag

swag bag ideas
Source: Peerspace

Virtual swag — which includes online gift cards, website subscriptions, e-books, and more — is the new low-impact alternative to physical items. Give your guests less stuff to take home with them by offering them creative virtual swag bag ideas instead.

11. Include vintage swag

swag bag ideas
Source: Peerspace

If your team is mostly made up of millennials or members of Gen Z, include some nostalgic gift items that will take them back to the ’90s and ’00s, such as classic candies or temporary tattoos that they can have fun trading on their lunch break. For holistic wellness centric or quirkier gatherings, crystals and tarot cards can be fun, too!

12. Prioritize travel items

JR warehouse in williamsburg
Source: Peerspace

International conferences provide their own set of challenges. Make it easy on your guests by giving them a set of universal power adapters, like the MOGICS Donut or Bagel. They will work anywhere in the world they go — and at the home and office, too!

13. Provide analog items

bright and elegant loft toronto
Source: Peerspace

When things go wrong with our smartphones, time stops — literally. Portable alarm clocks and calculators, and other analog devices can be lifesavers when we’re out of power or don’t have access to a 4G connection.

14. Give away Bluetooth speakers

best rooftops in brooklyn
Source: Peerspace

Get your guests to take off their noise-canceling headphones and interact with each other. With Bluetooth speakers, they can throw an impromptu dance party on their lunch break. Plus, they can use them to listen to audiobooks and podcasts on the plane home if they’re flying.

15. Gift office-friendly exercise equipment

yoga studio rental dallas
Source: Peerspace

It can be hard to find time to exercise at the office. Make it easy for your guests by providing stress balls, resistance bands, and even yoga mats. It will show that you care about their well-being, all while gifting them useful, thoughtful gear.

16. Give out business cards

office space by the hour in london
Source: Peerspace

Is this an onboarding event for new members of your team? Give them personalized business cards to ensure that they have a consistent look and feel with everyone in your company. It’s a handy welcoming gift that they’ll use more often than you may think.

17. Offer promo materials

swag bag ideas
Source: Peerspace

For a public or ticketed event, give out plenty of promo materials, such as stickers, pins, and coupons. Ensure the item is handy and features your brand name, logo, and social media handles. This way, your guests can let their friends know what a good time they had at your event.

18. Take a group photo

vintage disco jungle studio rental
Source: Peerspace

If you’re giving out your swag bags at the end of the event, then you’ll have time to sneak in a group photo or even a mini-photo book for each of your guests. Make it easy by hosting your event at a stunning Peerspace venue and hiring a professional photographer through the Concierge service to take candid photos or individual portraits. You just have to have the equipment to process and print them on site.

19. Provide some local postcards

Contemporary Downtown Event Hall with Rooftop Skyline View austin rental
Source: Peerspace

For events that take place in a new city, postcards are a great memento that your guests can take home or send to their friends and family. Don’t forget a book of stamps so they can put them in the mail right away! Your guests will remember your event fondly every time they see your thoughtful postcard.

20. Add in a handwritten note

Trendy Santa Monica Cafe los angeles rental
Source: Peerspace

If your swag bags are personalized with each guest’s name, take the time to write them a note thanking them for their attendance and inviting them back to your next event. It can go a long way toward making them feel like a part of the community. Personal touches are also effective forms of marketing, helping you develop personal relationships that are great for you, your customers, and your business.

Bonus idea: think local

snow photoshoot ideas
Source: Peerspace

Whether your guests are flying in to attend your event or live just around the block, that doesn’t mean you can’t show some love for the city hosting your event. Think local and team up with local businesses you respect to enhance your swag bags.

This could mean cutting a deal on gift cards that you give out to your attendees for local restaurants, cafes, and shops. You could also see if local shops want to donate branded merch for your swag bag. It’s a fun way to harbor cross-promotions while also kindling new relationships with members of the local business community.

Peerspace can help your swag bag ideas pop

Cheap Wedding Venues near Los Angeles
Source: Peerspace

These 20+ creative swag bag ideas should give you plenty of options for your next event. Ideally, you’ll want to pick a theme and stick with it. We have that same recommendation when it comes to choosing the perfect venue for your event, by the way! Start by looking through your local venues (or destination listings!) on Peerspace. Each space has its own listing complete with high-def photos, detailed descriptions, reviews from past renters, and upfront pricing.

From there, you’ll be able to narrow down your perfect place. Find the perfect venue, but it’s missing a little something? That’s what the Concierge service is here for! Contact them with your requests and they will source the goods and deliver them right to your venue doorstep. With your venue, add-ons, and swag bags decided, that’s a lot of the event planning logistics settled. Now you can get back to the details of creating an incredible event for you and your guests.

Find unique event venues on Peerspace

Get together somewhere better

Book thousands of unique spaces directly from local hosts.

Explore Spaces

Share your space and start earning

Join thousands of hosts renting their space for meetings, events, and photo shoots.

List Your Space