Pinterest? Industry articles? Attending so many events that you know what *not* to do? How do you stay on top of industry trends?
Our Gifting Gurus are meeting and event planners by trade, so they know just how important it is to keep meetings and events exciting and fresh. To do this, you must have your pulse on what’s hot and what’s not.
Here are some of the latest trends we’re seeing in the industry:
Virtual Meeting Support – It comes as no surprise that virtual meetings are everywhere…and our experts think they aren’t going away any time soon. Virtual meetings are effective, in part, because they offer wonderful opportunities to include more of your team in the meeting or event itself. Even when we’re back to face-to-face meetings and events, a virtual component will continue to open the door for more attendance and interaction from those who can’t travel.
Gifting Trend: Asking your attendees to participate in a virtual meeting or event is one thing. Actually keeping them engaged is another. That’s where gift boxes come in. How do you want your team to feel when they open their special box? Celebrated? Educated? Appreciated? If you select the elements of your gift boxes wisely, these gifts can become a natural extension of your brand and your event. Check out our BYOB options here.
Snacks – We all agree, you can’t go wrong with snacks. Even in face-to-face meetings, there’s so much time and attention spent planning the perfect food and beverage that will contribute to important elements of your meeting or enhance the local culture. Attendees need fuel to stay focused, which is why incorporating food and beverage into your gifting solution is a fantastic way to keep your audiences engaged throughout any type of meeting.
Gifting Trend: Think about the type of event you’re planning and the overall theme. How can you carry your theme through in a gift box? Are you celebrating your team? Consider adding a mocktail with a bottle of TÖST. Do you need your team to focus on a new product launch? How about brain food like jerky or nuts? You can still put the same level of attention into the food and beverage for a virtual meeting as you do for a face-to-face meeting.
Small Business Support – As we transitioned to virtual events throughout the pandemic, supporting our local communities has taken on greater importance. Meeting planners have looked for ways to amplify the voices of small business owners across the country, and your event can be a powerful way to shine light on small businesses in your community.
Gifting Trend: This support for small businesses can shine through your gift boxes, too. Look for local businesses or diverse vendors who have unique gift items for your meeting or event attendees. Are you worried they won’t work with you because you’ll have such a large order? Don’t be! We haven’t had that problem, and we’ve packed more than 7,000 boxes.
Socially Responsible – Corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives have always been popular at meetings and events. In the absence of gathering in person to take part in CSR, you can highlight your organization’s CSR goals with the power of your pocketbook. Choose meeting and event vendors carefully. Take the time to research a company to determine just how socially responsible they really are. We all want to do our part to make our communities and world a better place, and this vision can be reflected in your meeting and event.
Gifting Trend: Look for brands that offer a giveback, support a cause, or are environmentally friendly. For ideas, take a look at our list of responsible brands who care.
Staying on top of the latest trends is just one more thing to worry about. But that’s where we come in. Let our Gifting Gurus handle your gift box needs. We have more than 25 years of experience as meeting planners, so we know what goes into a successful event (and how much work you have to do). Contact our team to get started designing a unique gift box for your meeting or event.