Event Giveaway Keepers

I just got my nth USB flash drive at a press conference today. How did I get x number of flash drives (when I was just planning to get one 3 months ago)? It was the giveaway. It is the giveaway du jour at events, media launches, and conferences. Here are some:

flippers. Simple metal, or
encased in leather for some elegance

shaped  like a their product

ball point pen and laser pointer, too

I've received really funny, inane, useless, and creative stuff, but I'm liking the current trend. We've at least moved on from mugs, and for that alone, I do not complain. Here are my top 5 fave giveaway items, so far.

1. USB flash drive 
2. iPod (who wouldn't appreciate that)
3. Notebook (the paper kind, double points for unlined ones)
4. Pen or umbrella (at the rate I lose them)
5. Coffee

There's always a reusable tote or even gift certificate, which is a hit whenever it's part of the swag bag, but where's the fun in those? For a PR person like me, who also gets the chance to be at the receiving end when covering a story for a publication, I'd say go for an item that will work double-duty. The item should:

1. make an impact. "So cute!!!" is ok. It's an impact.
2. be useful. Otherwise, it'd get thrown into the same hole as those glass swans or even mugs. The iPod... no-brainer, but what made it work? The organization's video and playlist were already in it. Smart! Same with flash drive; these were loaded with the press kits.
3. be related to the product, service, organization being promoted or introduced. I mean, why give a paper fan if the product is an ISP?
4. be the product itself, if a product or bunch of products are the focal point of the event or launch. Let the receivers get a whiff, taste, experience... you know? Hit two birds with one stone.
5. be branded. Put a stamp on it as a reminder. Make it a mini something like that USB flash drive shaped like a tire from this tire company; branded, of course. 

I'm looking at this latest addition to my growing collection of USB flash drives. It's different, and it's a USB flash drive, and these days, one can't get enough of these handy-dandy items. The uniqueness factor is icing on the cake or a piece of string the organization that gave it away just tied around my finger to remember them. For those two reasons alone, they're keepers. But I still want the Hello Kitty one I saw recently.