Event Essentials: Gifting
One of RGI’s founding principles has always been hospitality. Creating unforgettable moments for special event attendees is at the core of what we do, down to the smallest details. Gifting for event attendees is one small moment that can create a big impact when done right, especially when you keep in mind being intentional, finding cohesion, and focusing on longevity.
Intentionality
Before anything else, when selecting a gift for your attendees, ensure that you are being intentional and maximizing your allotted budget. There are two routes you could take here:
Option one is for the gift to be relevant and have utility for your attendees. This might be playing off the theme of the event, the locations of where the event is being held, or the company’s purpose. We won’t get too ahead of ourselves here, you can read more about this below.
For option two consider going all out with something incredibly luxurious! Even when going with a luxury gift, it’s important to create a full-circle moment for your guests, and tell a story: custom Tiffany champagne flutes to toast an employee’s achievement, Apple Watches to guide employees through content, custom Ray Ban sunglasses when the future of an organization is bright, or something else high-end.
If you’re going to spend the money to gift, keep in mind that your guests have probably received hundreds of pens or notepads in the past. Finding a way to go above and beyond creatively doesn’t have to break your budget, and can go the extra mile in creating a memorable talking point for your guests.
Cohesion
Gifting is a great way to draw a theme through an event, and RGI does this in a variety of ways; for one of our clients whose event purpose was a destination trip, we utilized the theme of travel to inspire gifting. Taking this to another level, we partnered with the same artist for each gifting drop, making hand-painted luggage tags in their announcement gift box and sending them off with hand-painted frames with their photos. Curating a theme and then partnering with the same artisan craftsman throughout the process allowed guests to leave with high-end and artistic momentos of their trip, while being executed in an easy, bespoke way for the client. Keeping a specific logo or motif running through the trip, or drawing on the event’s location or purpose, is a great way to create a unique set of gifting opportunities for your guests!
Longevity
One of the most important things to consider when selecting a gift for your special event attendees is whether this is an item that they will want to keep. Ensure that this gifting moment is coming back to the messaging in a very useful way, especially when it comes to corporate swag. Will attendees get use from this item in their everyday life? Can they keep it at their desk or in their briefcase? RGI can help you think bigger than a branded stress ball; one of our favorite examples of this was for a development and health-focused non-profit, where we curated branded mini first aid kits for attendees. This item not only tied into the organization’s purpose and mission, but also was a unique gift that served a purpose.
Meaningful gifting goes beyond being a kind gesture—it’s a powerful way to connect, engage, and leave a lasting impression on your attendees. When you partner with a team that cares about the little things, every detail is handled with care and strategy. RGI’s focus on intention, cohesion, and longevity through flawless execution makes us the go-to partner for elevating every touchpoint of your event experience.