Traveling to a trade show sounds fun… until you start packing. A suitcase entirely crammed with event swag, no space for personal items, overweight baggage fees – there has to be a better way to handle it all, right?
Imagine packing for a new event, needing to bring 100 promotional T-shirts. A good-quality T-shirt typically weighs between 200 and 300 grams, meaning 100 collectively weigh between 20 kg and 30 kg.
Standard checked baggage allowances usually range from 23 to 30 kg, so your suitcase is already full. Just with T-shirts! Now, add personal belongings, brochures, and other swag. It’s easy to see how your packing turns into a nightmare.
As event managers, we’re often stuck lugging around suitcases full of swag — whether it’s 100 promo T-shirts, 40 branded gift sets, or other giveaways for booth visitors and key clients. You’re trying to squeeze in your clothes alongside piles of merch, paying for extra luggage or overweight fees, and silently praying your suitcase makes it to the event.
People underestimate just how inconvenient this is. It’s not just about packing — it’s about carrying all that weight through airports, dealing with customs officials who raise an eyebrow when they see a bag full of identical items, and stressing over whether your merch will arrive on time or get lost in transit.
Anna Yanchenko,
Event Manager at Swag42
So, here’s your solution: launch a digital swag shop and forget the baggage claim stress, logistics headaches, and carrying bulky boxes to the venue. All you need to pack for booth is the laptop. That’s it.
Getting ready for the event: set up a swag shop
Register on the Swag42 Platform if you haven’t done it yet.
Order your event merch in advance through the intuitive interface.
We’ll store it in our warehouse free of charge as long as you need it.
On the platform, go to the Swag Shop tab to set up your shop.
You’ll need around 60 seconds to create your shop (yes, we timed it 🙂).
1. Set up general settings: Specify the shop name, URL, and short description. Then, upload your company’s logo.
2. Select and give points to/evaluate swag items: Choose the items you want to display for event attendees. Then, assign points to each item.
3. Invite users to the shop: Enter the emails of the event attendees or VIP guests you wish to invite, and assign points to each user. Or, if you meet a promising lead on the spot, simply send them a magic link to your swag shop with bonus points, instantly capturing their contact information.
During the event: maximum networking
Once the event begins, you focus on networking instead of carrying heavy swag to your venue, managing inventory on-site, or worrying about shipping.
See a swag shop in action:
The Swag42 Shop is a total game-changer. Instead of physically transporting everything yourself, you curate a gift selection online. Your leads, clients, or partners pick what they like and get it delivered straight to their home or office — no extra bags, no border delays, no sore shoulders.
Plus, it makes the whole experience more personal. You’re giving people the choice to receive something they actually want, instead of handing out the same generic item to everyone. It’s a smarter, more scalable, and sustainable way to give away merch — both for your logistics and sanity.
Anna Yanchenko,
Event Manager at Swag42
After the event: one more touch with your brand
Attendees use your shop to choose the swag they want to redeem with their points and fill in their delivery addresses. There are no extra steps for you — we handle all the logistics and delivery.
When attendees receive their event swag at their door, it’s a powerful reminder of your brand, long after the event has ended. This doubles your chances of standing out among competitors.
If you have questions or need a platform demo, fill in the contact form or email our consultants at sales@swag42.com.