The wristband gets cut off. The lanyard ends up in a drawer. The zipper pull stays on.
If you run concerts, festivals, conferences, pop-ups, races or reunions, you already know the challenge: the night ends and so does the connection. Event merch can change that, if it’s something people actually keep.
Before the event
Hand out a ZipDrip Zipper Pull with the ticket, or make the pull part of the ticket. A dynamic QR code can open the schedule, the map or the lineup so guests have everything they need.
During the event
On the day, the same scan can show set times, session rooms, the next race wave or where to find food. Because the link is dynamic, you can update it as the day changes.
After the event
This is where most merch stops working and where a zipper pull keeps going. Switch the code to the photo gallery, the recap video or a thank-you message. Then point it at next year’s presale so past guests hear first.
Why it works
- People keep it. A premium enamel zipper pull feels like a collectible, not a giveaway.
- It travels. It rides on jackets, backpacks and bags long after the event.
- It stays useful. One small piece can serve the whole life of the event, from check-in to the next date.
Planning event merch, step by step
- Start with the date. Work backward from the event so the merch arrives with time to spare, and leave room for design approval.
- Decide how it is given out. Included with the ticket, sold at the merch table, given to VIPs or all of the above.
- Map the scan to the timeline. What should the code open before, during and after the event? Write it down so the updates are planned.
- Design for the moment. The event name, the year and a symbol people connect with turn a pull into a keepsake.
- Approve the proof. Check spelling, dates and colors closely. Event merch is the one place a typo is permanent.
Event types and how a zipper pull fits
- Concerts and festivals: stage or headliner designs, a scan for set times and an after-show link to photos or the next tour.
- Conferences and expos: attendee, speaker and sponsor designs, with the agenda during the event and recordings afterward.
- Races and tournaments: finisher pieces, a scan to results and photos, and early registration for next year.
- Pop-ups and launches: a limited design for people who were there and a scan to the product or the next drop.
- Weddings and reunions: keepsake favors with a scan to the gallery or highlight video.
Mistakes that make event merch disappear
- Printing the year on something cheap. If it is dated, it has to be worth keeping.
- Making it hard to carry. Bulky merch gets left behind. Small pieces go home.
- Letting the link die. A static code tied to an event page breaks when the page comes down. A dynamic code can be pointed somewhere new.
- No reason to scan. Tell guests what the scan opens, on the packaging, at the booth or from the stage.
How to tell if it worked
Dynamic codes we set up and manage can track scan activity, so you can see whether guests are scanning during the event and whether they come back after it. Combine that with simple signals like how fast the merch sold and how many past guests return the next year.
Making event merch pay for itself
Event merch can be a cost or a revenue line. A small, premium piece is an easy add-on at the merch table, and people who did not plan to buy a shirt will often grab something smaller. Bundles help too: include a pull with VIP tickets or premium packages, and sell a separate edition at the booth.
Sponsors can share the cost. A co-branded design puts a sponsor on a piece guests actually keep, and the scan can include a sponsor page as one stop in the experience. That is a stronger offer to a sponsor than a logo on a banner that comes down at midnight.
Finally, think about next year. Guests who keep the pull have a direct line to your presale. That makes this year’s merch part of next year’s marketing.
Quick answers
Pieces they can use right away and keep using afterward. A zipper pull goes onto a jacket or bag on the spot and stays there long after the event.
Yes. A QR zipper pull can open the schedule and map during the event, then switch to photos, a recap or next year’s presale afterward.
As early as you can. Share your date in the project form and plan the timeline backward from the event.
Event types that fit
Concerts and festivals, conferences and expos, pop-ups and product launches, races and tournaments, weddings and reunions. If people gather for it, it can be worth wearing.
Learn more on ZipDrip for Events, or start your custom drip and tell us about your next event.
Additional Posts
Event Merch That Lasts: Why the Zipper Pull Outlives the Wristband
By Trevon Bell |
Custom Zipper Pulls for Run Clubs and Communities: 7 Ideas
By Trevon Bell |
