Swag

Swag is optional. Plenty of good meetups run for years without it. That said, it can add something to the experience and serve a practical purpose beyond just looking nice.

Starting small

Stickers are a natural first step: low cost, easy to produce, and people actually use them. A first run can be self-funded by the organizer or covered by a sponsor looking for another way to contribute.

Swag as a safety net

One underrated use of swag is fundraising. Selling branded items builds a small fund that lets you run at least one event without a sponsor if you need to. It’s not a long-term funding strategy, but it buys you flexibility when a sponsorship falls through at the last minute.

Some companies bring their own branded items to hand out at events. This works well: attendees leave with something from a company they just heard from, and the sponsor gets an extra touchpoint without any effort from the organizer. If a sponsor offers to bring swag, take them up on it.