Event merch ideas: badges, keychains, mugs, caps and more
Apex Print Studio · · 5 min read
Sample designGood event merch does two things: it makes people feel part of something on the day, and it keeps your event (or brand) in front of them long after. The best pieces are useful, look good in photos, and fit the budget for the number of people coming. Here are ideas by type of event, and how to plan them.
Small giveaways for everyone
- Button badges: round pin badges are the classic fest and campaign giveaway. Make a few designs (the event logo, "volunteer", "organiser", fun slogans) and people will collect them.
- Acrylic keychains: full-colour and cut to custom shapes, they end up on bags and keys for years.
- Hand flags: for sports days, rallies and processions, they get the whole crowd involved.
See custom keychains and badges.
Things people wear
- Event t-shirts: for volunteers, teams, runners and organisers. Different colours for different roles make it easy to find help.
- Caps: great for outdoor events, runs and sports days; embroidered for a premium feel or printed in full colour. See custom caps.
- Polos: for organisers, staff and corporate teams who need to look smart.
Gifts people keep
- Mugs: printed in full colour with your logo, a photo or each person's name. They sit on desks for years. See custom mugs.
- Gift kits: a mug, notebook, bottle and tote in a branded box for speakers, sponsors, VIPs and new joiners. See corporate and event gifting.
Ideas by event
- College fests: volunteer tees, badges for every participant, keychains as prizes, pole flags at the gate and a stage backdrop.
- Conferences and corporate events: branded backdrop and banners, polos for the organising team, and mugs or caps for attendees.
- Runs and sports days: participant tees, caps, hand flags and badges or keychains for finishers.
- Weddings and family functions: matching tees for the bride's or groom's squad, photo mugs and keychains as favours, and "Team Bride" badges.
- Campaigns and launches: badges and keychains to hand out, tees for the team, and banners for stalls.
Planning tips
- Start from the headcount. Give everyone something small (a badge or keychain), and save bigger items for teams, winners and guests.
- Keep designs simple on small items. A badge or keychain is only a few centimetres wide, so use the logo and a word or two, not a paragraph.
- Use one look across everything. The same colours and logo on flags, tees and badges make the event look planned.
- Ask early. Tell us your event date when you ask for a quote. You'll get a free digital proof of each item before anything is made.
Planning the bigger pieces too? Read the event flags and banners guide. Send us your list on WhatsApp or through the quote form.
Common questions
What are good merch ideas for a college fest?
Volunteer and team tees, button badges, acrylic keychains, hand flags and a stage backdrop. Badges and keychains are low-cost giveaways for every participant; tees and flags make the event look unified in photos.
What's a good giveaway for a corporate event or conference?
Mugs, caps, tote bags, keychains and badges with the event or company logo. For speakers and VIPs, a curated gift kit with a printed mug, notebook and bottle works well.
Is there a minimum order for badges, keychains and mugs?
Tell us the quantity you need and we'll reply with a price. Mugs can be ordered from a single piece, and bulk orders for events get a lower price per piece.
Can you put the same design on different products?
Yes. We can use one design across tees, caps, mugs, badges, keychains and flags, adapted to each product's size and shape, and show you proofs of each.
