Sustainability can carry over from one event to another. Intel created 400 messenger bags from large vinyl banners that had been used at a 2010 conference. The bags became giveaways at future Intel events and some were donated to schools, saving 5,500 square feet of material from landfills. "We do re-purpose other signage. The trick is to not date your material," says Lou Cozzo, Intel's corporate event marketing manager.
Hosted by Restaurant: Impossible star Robert Irvine, Thrillist's Barbecue & the Blues event took place on Friday at Good Units inside the Hudson Hotel. Guests could pick up containers with logos holding toothpicks and breath mints—must-haves for any food tasting event.
It’s every wedding guest’s worst nightmare: sitting next to complete strangers at an assigned reception table. Guesterly, a new publishing company helmed by a former editor at Oprah’s O magazine, aims to alleviate that anxiety by helping guests connect in a fun, unforced way. Through the service, couples can create a custom magazine-style “yearbook” filled with photos and fun facts about guests, along with how they know the bride or groom. Then, the mini magazines are mailed to guests before the wedding or distributed at the ceremony. “It helps breaks the ice and allows for meaningful interaction among guests,” Grinnals says.
Pictured: At the Engage!13 wedding conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, guests were given a custom booklet by Guesterly containing photos and brief bios of each attendee.
On December 9, PR firm BWR hosted its in-office holiday preview. At the event, Starring Fragrances set up a make-your-own bath salts bar with holiday-appropriate ingredients that followed the red and white theme.
Desserts emporium Popbar offers a do-it-yourself drink dubbed hot chocolate on a stick. Available in dark, milk, or vanilla chocolate, the sticks are intended to be stirred into a mug of steamed milk. The New York-based business caters events, but also offers the treats in gift boxes ($17.99 for a pack of six).
With Event Farm's Digital Gifting Wall, guests can have offers emailed to them by tapping a badge. Gifts include coupon codes, music files, and digital content.
Through SugarWish, the sender picks a SugarWish gift and e-card, and the recipient picks four candies from options that include sugar-free gummy peaches and regular M&M’s. The boxes, from $16.50 to $95, are then immediately shipped out and can be sent throughout the United States and Canada. The company recently launched a corporate platform where companies can send customized e-cards with logos and personalized messages.
GCI is a digital gifting company that has a dedicated "Gift Card Shop." The site allows users to "wrap" gift cards, which are redeemable online, with personalized photos, videos, text, music, and sounds. Cards can be redeemed at retailers such as the Gap and Lowes; they can also be redeemed at spas.
