Most of the time, when people think of event revenue, they picture the big generators such as the registration, or the VIP experience, not merchandise tables.
Event merchandise can be the cash cow that brands your event for years. Imagine thousands of your registrants sporting their “Peak Performance Summit 2023” shirts for the rest of the year.
Not just any merch table is successful, though. If you want to learn how to use your merch table to drive revenue, read on, and we’ll teach you how.
1. Start Selling Early
Ideally, by the time your registrants arrive at your event, they have already seen some of the merch on the registrationing page and website. Early exposure to the available options helps build desire and gives people more time to reach a decision.
Just because someone felt uninterested in adding a branded water bottle Sunday when they purchased their registrations, doesn’t mean they won’t be in the mood while they're getting ready to take their seats on the Monday morning of the event.
2: Offer Unique Items and Limited Editions
Instead of creating generic merchandise that is the same year over year, try to create limited edition and limited quantities of your merch that is unique to each event or season.
Perhaps it is a collaboration with a partner that takes the design to a whole new level or maybe some merch is autographed by notable guests of the event.
Today’s event registrants are looking to obtain merch and swag that will not be eternally available to everyone. Often, they would rather get something that commemorates the moment for the time they attended the event.
3. Utilize Games and Prizes
Whether it’s a cornhole competition at a summer camp, or a trivia contest at a conference, contests add more fun and the potential rush of a win.
The prizes provide positive brand promotion and happier registrants. Not to mention, when contestants and their friends linger around the table cheering each other on, they’ll naturally check out the rest of the merch.
4. Provide Company Information for Later
Not all registrants are ready to purchase on the spot. Some want to do more research, others want to make bigger orders.
Offer registrants a business card or a website and let them explore and purchase on their own time.
5. Don’t Neglect Visual Aesthetics
This is especially important at large events. When herds of registrants make their way through dozens of vendor tables, something has to catch their attention enough to warrant a stop.
Your merch booth should be appealing, and your signage should make it clear what you are selling.
6. Utilize Your Most Enthusiastic People
From the shy introverts to the bubbly extroverts, there are roles for every type of willing volunteer. Place your most enthusiastic people at the merch tables.
Finally, if you put these tips into practice, your merchandise will fly off the tables!
Here to help you host your most successful event ever!
