Swag
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@JaredBusch said:
One thing you have to remember is that useful to one person is not to another and all that.
Some hate t-shirts, some need them. Some do not need flashlights while others do.
There is always a reason (aside from cheap to purchase in bulk) that certain things are common. They are things a larger quantity of people like and can use. Even is some others cannot or do not.
Yes, a variety of different things is good. I think vendors having very different things and more "pick and choose" rather than "cheap crap free for all bin diving" is the way to go. Get a few awesome items that you love and want to use, not necessarily the same ones that other people decided to get.
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Gift card for a choice of specific items + free shipping from the vendors online shop.
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An actual swag would be great. Super awkward to carry round all day too but tops to sleep in.
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Tennis balls, Golf Balls, Footballs (AFL, NFL, Soccer), Rugby Balls -
I basically echo everyone else's sentiments here. The only swag I've ever found useful were USB sticks (of a USABLE size >8 GB), maybe pens, portable rechargers, and higher quality t-shirts (for example, the Adtran shirt at SW this year was of excellent quality I thought). At the end of every SW I've been to, most of it goes in the garbage (which is a shame on many levels).
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Quality >> Quantity
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@AVI-NetworkGuy said:
I basically echo everyone else's sentiments here. The only swag I've ever found useful were USB sticks (of a USABLE size >8 GB), maybe pens, portable rechargers, and higher quality t-shirts (for example, the Adtran shirt at SW this year was of excellent quality I thought). At the end of every SW I've been to, most of it goes in the garbage (which is a shame on many levels).
Yes, it bothers me both that so much money is wasted and that so much stuff is going into a landfill. In many cases I actually feel like people are shoving garbage into my hands as I walk around. I never ask for it, people insist that I take it. It is the rare exception that I am like "oh, can I have one of those?" And people should be thrilled if I ask because I am planning on using it and will remember who they are when that situation comes up.
I hate being a pack horse for vendor trash during conventions.
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@scottalanmiller said:
In many cases I actually feel like people are shoving garbage into my hands as I walk around. I never ask for it, people insist that I take it. It is the rare exception that I am like "oh, can I have one of those?"
Like a giant block of Limburger cheese?
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@AVI-NetworkGuy said:
@scottalanmiller said:
In many cases I actually feel like people are shoving garbage into my hands as I walk around. I never ask for it, people insist that I take it. It is the rare exception that I am like "oh, can I have one of those?"
Like a giant block of Limburger cheese?
Ugh, don't even get me started.
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@AVI-NetworkGuy said:
@scottalanmiller said:
In many cases I actually feel like people are shoving garbage into my hands as I walk around. I never ask for it, people insist that I take it. It is the rare exception that I am like "oh, can I have one of those?"
Like a giant block of Limburger cheese?
Ugh.... NEVER happening at MangoCon. Cheese hand outs are forbidden!
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@Minion-Queen said:
@AVI-NetworkGuy said:
@scottalanmiller said:
In many cases I actually feel like people are shoving garbage into my hands as I walk around. I never ask for it, people insist that I take it. It is the rare exception that I am like "oh, can I have one of those?"
Like a giant block of Limburger cheese?
Ugh.... NEVER happening at MangoCon. Cheese hand outs are forbidden!
You need a written policy.
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I also think this a moot point. You have a better chance hitting a long range target with a rifle vs a shotgun. IMO small events should focus on the meat, not the sides dishes.
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@IRJ said:
I also think this a moot point. You have a better chance hitting a long range target with a rifle vs a shotgun. IMO small events should focus on the meat, not the sides dishes.
You'd be surprised how much it is the side dishes that attract people.
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The thing that I have ran into is to get any Vendors to participate and actually spend money to be there they want to see at least 150 people there to bother.
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@Minion-Queen said:
The thing that I have ran into is to get any Vendors to participate and actually spend money to be there they want to see at least 150 people there to bother.
Are you saying that people come for the swag?
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@scottalanmiller said:
@IRJ said:
I also think this a moot point. You have a better chance hitting a long range target with a rifle vs a shotgun. IMO small events should focus on the meat, not the sides dishes.
You'd be surprised how much it is the side dishes that attract people.
Do those type of people truly create value? As you mentioned earlier they punk out vendors for free swag, and rarely look for useful IT information. They rarely make decisions for their business and are just there for the party.
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20 people that learn valuable IT skills may be better than a shotgun approach for 50 people just grabbing free stuff and not learning much. You won't be able to compete with other conferences with swag or extras. It's better to do one thing really good, then fall short in 5 different areas.
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@IRJ said:
20 people that learn valuable IT skills may be better than a shotgun approach for 50 people just grabbing free stuff and not learning much. You won't be able to compete with other conferences with swag or extras. It's better to do one thing really good, then fall short in 5 different areas.
But, only if it happens at all.
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@IRJ said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@IRJ said:
I also think this a moot point. You have a better chance hitting a long range target with a rifle vs a shotgun. IMO small events should focus on the meat, not the sides dishes.
You'd be surprised how much it is the side dishes that attract people.
Do those type of people truly create value? As you mentioned earlier they punk out vendors for free swag, and rarely look for useful IT information. They rarely make decisions for their business and are just there for the party.
If the value is "being able to have a conference."
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@scottalanmiller said:
@IRJ said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@IRJ said:
I also think this a moot point. You have a better chance hitting a long range target with a rifle vs a shotgun. IMO small events should focus on the meat, not the sides dishes.
You'd be surprised how much it is the side dishes that attract people.
Do those type of people truly create value? As you mentioned earlier they punk out vendors for free swag, and rarely look for useful IT information. They rarely make decisions for their business and are just there for the party.
If the value is "being able to have a conference."
Maybe IT training is better than a "conference"
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Having the Vendor swag isn't even part of it really. It's the having them pay for a place to have it.... and to keep hotel room costs down for all of you and and and and....
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@Minion-Queen said:
Having the Vendor swag isn't even part of it really. It's the having them pay for a place to have it.... and to keep hotel room costs down for all of you and and and and....
I understand that, but instead of a basic sales pitch these vendors could offer more technical workshops. We have some real brainiacs here on ML. I am more interested in hearing from them then getting a tshirt that doesn't fit me or a USB drive that sits in my junk drawer.
