Looking for new give-away ideas

[Melon Man]

OK, We're looking for some sort of cheap, branded prize or gift to give our VIP members and as dancefloor spot prizes.

My priorities include:
- Useful (must have some reason for people to carry them around)
- Portable (can't be so bulky that people leave them behind)
- Cheap ('nuff said)
- Branded (with our name/logo)
- Unique (Actually really easy in our town - nobody does nothing new)

Ideas I have seen in action include
- Neck straps for keys &c
- Plastic beach bobble key/wallet containers
- shot glasses, test-tube shooters, shakers
- Matches, Key rings, pens, lighters, bottle-openers (yawn)
- glow lights, glow sticks, neon jewellery, disco blinkers
- Nobody seems to do swizzle sticks any more :-(

... but for some reason I'm drawing a blank on other, new ideas that I know are lurking in my subconscious.

I'm thinking "Cell phone accessory" today, but dunno where to go with that.

I also plan on printing our beer mats with a "Name, Telephone, Email, Star-sign" fill-in form on the back ;-)
Very cute gag I saw in Singapore long ago.

Rumours I've heard include:
Duck fart shot glasses
http://www.webtender.com/iforum/message.cgi?id=175
"Shark Attack" Plastic sharks (OK, "useful" is not an absolute criterion)

Our bar name/theme is "The Rock" if that helps.
http://www.rockbar.co.nz/ (I haven't done the menu page yet, and the webcam is firewalled at the mo - I'll fix it RSN)

I've tried browsing Cheryl's bar stuff pages,
http://www.miss-charming.com/products/products.htm
and couldn't find anything inspiring at Barstore.com either
... so - can anybody tell me what's new on the give-away front?

thanks,
.dan.

(Note - I am unlikely to be shipping anything halfway 'round the world from any state-side store, but appreciate inspiration nonetheless.)

[steffen]

what about...

Koozies
Frisbies
Beachballs
Visors/Hats
Bobble-Head (for like desks and such...)
Carnival Beads (personalized for the bar...)


Well, that's what I came up with in my boredum of 5 mintues... Later!

[autobot55]

you should consider giving out tshirts w/ your club name on it and website address, if people wear them outside of your club it's a great way for free advertisement and word of mouth. if you buy tshirts in bulk you should be able to get them for $4 to $5 each shirt, if not cheaper. Or talk to some of your vendors, sometimes they are willing to cover the costs of shirts as long as they can put their logo on it as well.

if you go w/ the shirts you may want to think about putting a catchy phrase on the shirts too. some off the top of my head ideas are

"I Got Rocked at Club Rock"
"We'll Rock Your World.....Club Rock"
"I'm a Rock Star at Club Rock"
"I Only Party With Rock Stars......Club Rock"

You get the idea, hope this helps and good luck.

[mix]

pound for pound... nothing beats a lighter

small

gets used several times a day

inexpensive

100% guarantee that at least 1 will make its way into every competing venue

unlike the logo bobble head...

hear me knockin ???

[Mr. Nice Guy]

Hello Everyone,

My first post...ahhh...it feels good! :)

I created a night called "Candy" and of course, we had the "Candy Bar", and "Candy Cash Giveaways" and PILLOWS that we had custom made in bright colors, or bright colored shag fur, with our logo and web address on them. They were taken very well and soon became the giveaway that everyone wanted. It seemed to work as we gave hundreds away.

Just my two cents...

Ty~

[AhaGames]

If you're looking for something new and different, perhaps I can help you. I create custom games and trading cards for businesses and organizations.

For nightclubs, I can produce branded card games and trading cards inexpensively that can be customized for various uses such as drink coupons, mixing games, trivia, specialty drinks and more.

The cards are high quality, 4 color on both sides, and each card game or series is customized for your specific club, so no two sets are alike.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have or provide quotes or samples for you. I can be contacted at 515-778-2991 or by email at info@ahagames.com

Rob Beeston
Aha! Games

[shotslinger]

The hole vendors idea is nice and all unless you find yourself with vendors that are only willing to do the absolute minimum.
We got with one of our beer distributors on some banners for a new college night- we gave them several items that we wnated on the banner. What we received were big posters with the beer brand all over - and a small area with the date (aug 25th), and the drink specials. The banners came with a sticky note that read "We left extra room so that you could write in your info." Unbelieavable. Anyway- just venting

[Melon Man]

Originally posted by shotslinger
The banners came with a sticky note that read "We left extra room so that you could write in your info." Unbelieavable. Anyway- just venting
:rolleyes:
All too easy to imagine.
I've been contract Graphic Designing on both sides of that fence on occasion, and nowadays I'm very conscious of getting our promotional stuff well balanced. I produce most of it myself, and throw the 'sponsors' logos in as big as I feel they are helping me that week.

Thanks for the ideas AhaGames , but I don't quite see how custom 'games' would work. Can you explain?

I'm planning to make some wallet-sized drinks flash-cards to give away with c0cktails. Can probably run off a good few dozen through my laminator.

Pillows actually sounds good! I'd like to see them in cars and places. Sound expensive, but I'm sure they can be run off in bulk quite well. :)
I'll keep something like that in mind.

Thanks!

P.S. My webcam is now working http://rockbar.co.nz/scene/webcam.html
... but I still need to update the menu - I took some c0cktail photos for it last Sunday....