If you buy swag for races, festivals or city events, you already know the drill. You spend a chunk of your budget on stuff, hand it out, and then find half of it under the bleachers when the event’s over. Painful.
I’m Julie Austin, and I invented Swiggies, a wrist water bottle you wear like a sweatband. I took it from a clay prototype to factories overseas w/ no outside investors. We’ve sold over a million of them in 25+ countries, mostly to marathons and outdoor events. So yeah, I’ve thought a lot about what makes outdoor giveaways actually work.
What Makes Outdoor Swag Worth the Money?
The best promo items for outdoor events check three boxes:
- People use it right there on the spot. If it helps them during the event, your logo gets seen all day instead of sitting in a car trunk.
- It solves a real problem. Heat, thirst and full hands are the big three at any outdoor event, especially here in Texas where July feels like the surface of the sun.
- It’s different. If it looks like every other freebie on the table, it’ll get treated like every other freebie on the table.
Most branded bottles fail number three. Most koozies fail number two unless there’s beer involved. Swiggies hit all three.
Why a Wrist Water Bottle Works So Well
A Swiggie slips onto your wrist, so you’ve got hydration on you but your hands stay free. Runners love it. Walkers love it. Parents chasing toddlers at a festival really love it.
And here’s the marketing bonus: your logo is on someone’s arm, moving around a crowd all day long. That’s a walking billboard you only paid for once.
We make an adult size and a kid size, so you can cover a family fun run, a school field day or a city festival with the same product. The design is patented and the look is protected by a registered trade dress, so you won’t see knockoffs at the booth next to you.
Swiggies have also picked up a few awards along the way, including a NASDAQ award, the Toyman Award of Excellence, a Family Choice Award and a Creative Child magazine award. Not bad for something that started as a lump of clay.
Great Places to Hand Out Swiggies
If your event happens outside and people get sweaty, it’s probably a fit. A few of my favorites:
- 5Ks, marathons and fun runs. Our original sweet spot. Race directors and sponsors use them in packets or at the finish line.
- City events and festivals. Parks, public safety, police and fire departments use them for community outreach.
- Schools and youth sports. The kid version is great for field days, booster clubs and summer camps.
- Corporate outdoor events. Company picnics, charity walks, golf tournaments and team building days.
- Amusement parks and attractions. Hands free hydration while you stand in line for 45 minutes.
The real test? Folks keep wearing them long after the event. A Swiggie goes home and gets used again on the next walk, run or trip to the park. That’s the kind of shelf life a branded pen can only dream about. And those aren’t seen by very many people sitting on your desk.
Easy Ordering, No Surprise Fees
I print logos in house here in the Dallas area, which lets me keep things simple:
- Low minimums. Orders start at just 50 pieces, so a small race or local nonprofit can still get custom gear.
- No setup fee. Since I do the printing myself, I don’t charge one.
- Free mockups. See your logo on the bottle before you commit.
- Custom colors on big orders. On 5,000+ units, we can match bottle colors to your brand’s PMS colors.
- Colored bands. Want to coordinate with your team colors? Ask about custom colored bands.
Plus Swiggies is a WBENC certified, woman owned business. If your company or city tracks supplier diversity spending, buying from us can help you hit those numbers while getting something people actually want.
How to Get the Most From Your Giveaway
A few tips I’ve picked up from years of working events:
- Hand them out early. Give them at packet pickup or the entrance, not the exit. The more hours they’re worn, the more eyeballs see your logo.
- Fill them up. Set up a water station and let people refill. It makes the bottle instantly useful and gets folks talking.
- Pair it w/ a photo op. Ask attendees to snap a pic flexing their Swiggie and tag your brand. Free social content.
- Think beyond one day. Use them for a whole race series or summer program so your brand shows up over and over.
Ready to Stand Out at Your Next Event?
If you’re done paying for swag that gets left behind, let’s chat.
Email info@hydrosport.com or call 310-444-7788.
Quick Answers About Swiggies
What are Swiggies? Patented wrist water bottles that let people stay hydrated hands free, made in adult and kid sizes and customizable with your logo.
What’s the minimum order? 50 pieces, with no setup fee.
What events are they best for? Races, festivals, city events, school activities, corporate picnics and pretty much anything outdoors where people get thirsty.
Is Swiggies a woman owned business? Yes. Swiggies is WBENC certified and run by inventor and speaker Julie Austin in Dallas, TX.