Interact simplifies swag operations for annual conferences
How a major internal communications software company turned swag from a storage-room task into a structured, event-ready system
About Interact
Interact is built to connect enterprise employees, and the team prioritizes connecting with users at live events. For a company that activates dozens of global conferences a year, swag is not a nice-to-have but an operational requirement for successful events. As Interact expanded, packing and shipping swag from the office broke down under heavier conference logistics. “Calling for help to pack things wasn’t scalable,” says Abby Anokye, events marketing manager, so the team made swag a seamless part of its event infrastructure.
Choosing quality over generic giveaways
Interact leans on its enterprise brand positioning to guide its swag. Rather than handing out disposable items in bulk, the team distributes premium, practical products it knows customers will keep, such as Moleskine notebooks and Hydro Flask water bottles.
“We want to make a splash at conferences, and having quality swag across our booth presence helps foster that,” Abby says. “It’s important to us to have products that are brand recognizable.” She adds, “We want to give people something they’ll actually use in their homes.”
Guided onboarding for one-stop swag management
Managing swag from an all-in-one platform was a new workflow for the team, so they relied on their dedicated account manager to speed up onboarding and understand the options: how ordering workflows function, narrowing product choices efficiently, and aligning swag with brand guidelines. “[Our account manager] is great at breaking down how the platform works and its features so our team is aligned,” Abby explains.
“Once I was onboarded it was pretty easy for me to do things independently—but it’s still nice to have support for special requests like sales gifting,” she says.
Watch Abby’s video testimonial
Sourcing swag with a dedicated merch manager
One of the biggest time savers for event prep is collaborating with a dedicated Swag Pro merch manager. Because Interact has clearly defined brand specs, the merch manager builds the mockups and lookbooks Abby would otherwise have to design herself for internal approval. “Otherwise those tasks would fall to me, and I’m doing so much already,” she says.
Abby also leans on her merch manager to source custom items for conference themes that draw booth traffic, such as a branded drone planned as a special giveaway for an upcoming tech conference. “[Our merch manager] found us a really cool one within our budget,” Abby says. “She’s been great at thinking of ideas and tailoring them to what our brand is looking for.”
Shipping updates that keep deliveries on schedule
Conferences require precise coordination around shipping, drop-offs, and inventory. Swag Pro’s hands-off delivery coordination keeps the team’s swag on schedule and keeps Abby informed, instead of chasing delivery contacts. “Waiting on hold and just trying to find the right number to speak to someone can be frustrating,” she explains. “Having Swag Pro as a middle ground has been really helpful.”
Interact now has a single point of contact for status updates, delays or logistics changes, specific event requests, and shipment and drop-off details. “They’re great at breaking down long shipping PDFs and only sharing what I need to know,” Abby says.
Sustainability and thoughtful consumption
Sustainability is a driving value for Abby at both the brand and personal level, so waste reduction plays a large role in her swag selection. Rather than ordering items that get discarded after events, she evaluates products for long-term use and environmental impact, helped by Swag Pro’s catalog descriptions, which include manufacturing materials and sustainability details. “It helps us be conscious of what we’re choosing and tell the right story to customers when we share items,” she says.
Swag as operational infrastructure for every event
Partnering with Swag Pro lets Interact run a high-volume event strategy without adding logistical burden. Abby’s advice: build a strong relationship with your swag partner and define priorities early. “Use the resources and the team available to you—they’re so helpful,” she says. “Let them know what your goals are so they can tailor swag to your preferences.”
- Premium, brand-recognizable items people keep
- Mockups, lookbooks and custom sourcing handled by a merch manager
- One point of contact for shipping and event logistics
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Swag Pro makes sourcing, managing, and distributing swag incredibly easy.