If you were going to a bike event would you want to buy branded merchandise to commemorate it?
T-shirts are obvious but awkward because of all the different sizes and for something decent you are looking at it costing £15
Most cheaper stuff is pretty tacky in the main.
Bike specific water bottles are possible for less than a fiver.
We didn't do anything last year and then right royally screwed up on the t-shirts after the event (sorry but the sample sizes we were sent were different).
We don't want to shell out on stuff we will be left with lots afterwards. Any suggestions welcome.
T-Shirts and decent bottles are good.
I've still got my Sigg from the 2000 MM 24hrs and I only really wear T-shirts I've earned from riding miles while suffering a lot!
I can remember from rowing events that there were often companies selling t-shirts including commemorative stuff, which I think was quite successful. I liked the more interesting generic designs with a small reference to the event over the large logo and date stamp which will date very quickly.
I also have a collection of t-shirts that were given away free at cycling events, but I wouldn't wear them on the street!
Packets of playing cards with nudey ladies on them.
(I'm not coming, so don't feel terribly qualified to comment.)
But my 2 favourite T-shirts are Howies ones from SSUK06 and 07. Both were included in the event price I think. Buying a T-shirt to commemorate an event [i]never[/i] appeals to me, but getting one as part of the deal (as long as it's nice and it fits) is fine and I'll wear it.
🙂
Tight git!
BigDummy - We did think about that but when under 12s only cost 1p and there are a few coming it didn't work out cost effective which is why we are where we are.
Mugs
That's nice, someone goes to all the trouble of putting on an event...
So much of this stuff comes with minimum print runs of 200 - 300. So unless almost everyone and their wife buys the same thing we get left with it.
Water Bottles are looking favourites at the moment along with some VERY exclusive t-shirts (The staff ones we are getting printed as possible spares and a few we have left over from last year)
I wear/use T-shirts and mugs from events and would possibly buy them if they weren't thrown in for free (although this is untested so far) but other stuff strikes me as mostly a bit naff, like the jerseys and shorts you could get at the Dragon Ride and Dartmoor Classic.
I reckon the water bottles are useful and will be cheap enough to make sense.
Anything else that can be done cheaply but not rubbish.
I've provided water bottles at a previous event and they went down well. Provided the art work as a jpeg I think and a run of 50.
Can you presell
ie ticket = £X
ticket plus tshirt to collect at event = £Y
at least you can reduce your risk as you know that Z tshirts are paid.
Deffo.
SSWC 2007 had nice bottle openers.
Anything that is outwith the norm is good IMO.