Gamified event merch: from AR to an online swag store

Standing out at events isn’t easy—it often feels like everything’s already been invented. But don’t worry: we’ve got some fresh event merch ideas, like setting up a digital swag store, to amaze your booth visitors.

Custom-branded hoodies, t-shirts, backpacks, and tote bags are time-proven items people want and sometimes even hunt for at events. But there’s a catch: event merch often comes with challenges like heavy boxes and coming up with new ideas to impress your customers.

Is there a way to make the experience easier for event managers and more exciting for customers? Absolutely!

We’ve already told you about NFC tags and QR codes integrated into merchandise to create a bridge between physical items and digital content. You can also add interactive and dynamic AR filters to your merch.  

But today I want to dig into an an online bonus points swag store. We at Swag42 use swag stores ourselves. For example, at ICE Barcelona, we distributed merch digitally through a custom swag store. It was super convenient to us and offered a unique experience for event attendees. Many of our clients use our Swag42 platform to create their own swag stores for events and employee gift-giving campaigns.

Keep reading to discover how to gamify merchandise giveaways during events and grab everyone’s attention.

How we aced ICE Barcelona with a swag store

Traveling light to the event

This year, instead of bringing hundreds of branded items to the event, we made some changes:

1. We set up an online swag shop using our Swag42 platform
2. We carefully selected conference swag from our stock and segmented it for different lead-generation initiatives
3. We assigned points to each swag item

This way, we skipped bringing physical merch to the conference, which relieved us of all logistical headaches like order tracking, shipping, and pulling heavy boxes to the booth.

Adding gamification

We wanted to make the swag giveaway a fun and memorable experience. Therefore, we gave attendees points and shared a link to our company swag store. Using those points, they could pick out the branded merchandise they wanted.

This little game got people excited. And since they could choose the swag of their preference, it was a much more rewarding experience.

Swag delivery to the door

To make things even easier, we delivered the swag directly to attendees’ homes after the event. So, they could skip carrying it around the conference for hours. (Believe us, it was worth it since our premium merch is made from dense, high-quality materials that add a bit of weight 🙂).

This also benefitted us since attendees interacted with our brand several times: at the event and later at the pick-up.

So, how can a swag store enhance your event experience?

More attention to your booth

• Attract more people to your booth through a gamified experience (e.g., set up challenges or competitions for attendees to earn points and use them to grab their favorite merch)
• Create meaningful connections by allowing attendees to choose swag and feel valued

Several touches with your brand

• Engage with attendees through fun, interactive moments during the event
• Keep your brand top of mind when they receive swag after the event

Simplified logistics

• Say goodbye to bulky event merch boxes
• Swag42 will deliver merch conveniently to your clients’ homes after the event so they can enjoy the event hands-free

All in one hub

• No more order info scattered across emails and chats: all order data is available on your dashboard 
• Get ready for next conferences in no time: refill your event merch stock in a few clicks

How to create an online swag store

We offer a free platform on which you can manage everything related to merch—designs, orders, payments, and delivery—all in one place.

Once you register, create a custom swag store in just 60 seconds (yes, really!)

Step 0. Order merchandise with Swag42

To create a swag shop, order merch through the Swag42 Platform. This is where everything begins.

We’ll handle the design and production and keep your merch stored in our warehouse until you need it (the storage is free of charge). After that, you can start creating your shop.

Here’s how easy it is:

• Step 1. Provide swag shop info: URL, name, a short description, and company logo. 
• Step 2. Choose swag items designed for your company to display in your shop and add points to each of them. 
• Step 3. Invite users to your shop with a magic email link. 

Many of our clients are creating their shops on our platform. For example, CoinsPaid, a leading European cryptocurrency payment provider, created two swag stores. The first shop helps HR managers easily manage employee packs and gifts, while the second supports event managers in preparing and handling event swag. For CoinsPaid, our team produced 420 merch products redeemed for points during the event. Used from event to event, the shop became a universal tool for boosting event managers’ productivity.

Engage merch owners with NFC

By integrating NFC tags into your event swag, you can turn each item into an interactive experience. Here’s how it works: attendees scan a QR code with their mobile phones and are redirected to a webpage with engaging content.

Here’s what you can include in your event swag:

• Merch details and care instructions
• Share your company’s story
• Exclusive content and special discounts
• Engaging activations like competitions, quests, etc.

Make event merch alive with AR

Add interactive digital content to your event swag with AR technology. For example, add flowers blooming right out of your branded T-shirt or your corporate mascot sitting on the shoulder of a sweatshirt—whatever animation you like. People will line up at your booth — verified by Swag42!

Want to stand out at your next conference with custom merch? Reach out to us, and we’ll help you make a splash!