8 Best Merchandise Ideas for Small Events and Conventions

Small events run on two things: energy and margins. Good merch can fuel both, but only if you pick the right mix of products and price them smartly. The real key is stocking items that fit in a backpack, sell at a glance, and don’t wreck your cash flow.

In 2025, the promotional products industry is still growing, live experiences are booming, and superfans are more willing than ever to spend money on physical goods. Here’s a field-tested guide to building a small but mighty merch table that actually moves units.

What to Sell

Think light, flat, and useful. Below are eight product categories with clear use cases, low transport weight, and proven staying power.

1. Stickers and Mini-Packs

How to Execute

• Offer a simple menu by size or bundle: 1 for $3, 2 for $5, 5 for $10.
• Use kiss-cut or die-cut for clean edges.
• Print-on-demand (POD) suppliers can fulfill small runs if you don’t want to stock inventory.

2. Buttons, Enamel Pins, and Small Badges

Collectible behavior plus easy tiering with limited colorways. Many small vendors source their custom acrylic pins from trusted online manufacturers to offer show-exclusive variants without big upfront costs.

How to Execute

• One “core” pin all year plus a show-exclusive variant.
• Place both on the same card to anchor value and drive upsell.

3. Lanyards, Badge Ribbons, and Key Fobs

They’re the perfect fit for conventions because people already wear badges and want to personalize them.

How to Execute

• Pre-pack popular sayings or colorways.
• Offer a build-your-own bundle at a small discount.

4. Drinkware That Fits Carry Bags

Long retention and high impressions per ASI.

How to Execute

• Favor lightweight bottles or collapsible cups to minimize haul weight.
• Keep one premium option and one budget option to appeal to different buyers.

5. Notepads, Writing Instruments, and Desk Accessories

Writing instruments deliver thousands of impressions over their lifetime.

How to Execute

• Bundle a pocket notebook with a pen and a sticker for a tidy $15 set.
• Keep designs clean and functional for mass appeal.

6. Tees in Tight Size Runs

Tees still generate massive impressions and remain a merch staple.

How to Execute

• Bring S to XL in your top colorway and push less common sizes to preorder or ship-to-home.
• Consider POD for post-event fulfillment to avoid returns.

7. Limited Mini-Prints

Art forward, flat packable, frames easily.

How to Execute

• Offer 5×7 and 8×10 only.
• Sell loose in a clear sleeve with a backing board, plus a two-pack discount.

8. Digital Codes with a Physical Carrier

No inventory risk and instant delivery.

How to Execute

• Sell a QR card that unlocks a digital wallpaper pack, an audio bonus, or a tutorial PDF.
• Use Square to take payment on the spot from a small device.

Sustainable and Ethical Options That Buyers Want

ASI’s study shows that about 46 to 50 percent of consumers would feel more favorable toward an advertiser if the promo product is eco-friendly, and more than half feel the same for Made in USA items.

PPAI data also shows sustainable products growing steadily in market share.

Practical Moves for Small Events

• Choose recycled or responsibly sourced materials for at least one anchor product.
• Offer refills or replacement parts for higher-end items like reusable bottles or planners.
• Add a small placard explaining the material choice and care instructions.
• List end-of-life tips on your product card (e.g., “paper sleeve is curbside recyclable”).

Simple Math and Real Inputs

Profit margins for POD sellers often sit in the 20 to 40 percent range. On-site, you can price a bit higher because of immediacy, limited supply, and the in-person experience.

Combine base cost, event fees, and processing fees to set the sticker price.

Know Your Fees

Popular on-site processing like Square charges about 2.6 percent plus 15 cents per in-person transaction, and the core POS app is free to use. Hardware is inexpensive and portable.

Example: Tee Pricing

• Base cost from a POD supplier for a soft-style tee: low teens.
• Add packaging and card reader fees.
• If your all-in cost is $15.50 and your target margin is 55 percent, price at $34. Round to an even $35 for simple cash handling.

Example: Sticker 3×3

• POD unit cost can start at a couple of dollars, depending on size and quantity.
• With table space at a premium, set a ladder like 1 for $3, 2 for $5, 5 for $10. That moves volume and keeps math fast.

Blended Margin Math

Carry at least one low-cost impulse item to offset slower-moving, higher-priced goods. If your sticker margin is 70 percent and your tee margin is 45 percent, your blended take can still land near 55 percent on a typical basket.

Inventory Planning for Small Spaces

@ratasenzelo How do you set up yours?? Usually we bring lamps but this space didnt need to #merchtable #newyorkpunks #newyorkpunkscene ♬ Condena – Las Ratapunks

Even the best merch lineup can stall without a clear plan for how much to bring. A tight, thoughtful inventory strategy helps you travel lighter, stock smarter, and still meet demand on the floor.

Start with 80–20

Expect 20 percent of your designs to produce 80 percent of sales. Pack deep on two to three designs. Bring shallow quantities of the rest and capture demand with ship-to-home QR cards.

Pilot Runs

Bring 12 to 24 units per SKU for a first-time event unless you have reserved preorders. For tees, bias sizes toward M and L. Offer QR preorder for XS, 2XL, and 3XL so no one gets left out.

Sell Before You Arrive

Offer a “pick up at booth” preorder that closes one week before the show. Use your ticketing or store platform to estimate sizes and quantities.

Eventbrite data shows strong attendee enthusiasm for live experiences in 2025, which supports pre-commitments for limited runs.

Table Layout That Sells

POS, Fulfillment, and Receipts

Running a smooth checkout matters just as much as having great merch. A simple setup for payments, fulfillment, and receipts keeps your line moving, your team relaxed, and your customers happy.

Payments

Use one phone with Square’s contactless and chip reader. Processing is straightforward, and the fee structure is predictable.

If you expect lines, look at a handheld POS. Square’s compact handheld launched in 2025 and supports tap-to-pay and barcode scanning, which is handy for barcoded price cards.

Receipts

Offer email or text receipts only. It speeds the queue and keeps your bag light.

Post-Event Shipping

For sold-out sizes, take paid orders on the spot and fulfill through a POD partner when you get home. Shopify’s print-on-demand guide is a solid primer if you’re new to that flow.

Legal and Tax Basics You Should Not Skip

Sales tax rules apply even for weekend gigs. Requirements vary by state:

• Texas: Out-of-state and temporary sellers must hold a Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit and collect and report tax for local jurisdictions when operating in Texas. The Comptroller’s site provides the rules and registration.
• California: Temporary sellers usually need a temporary seller’s permit. Event planners and pop-up vendors are directed to register, and some venues require a sub-permit for the event location.

If you sell in multiple states, create a simple spreadsheet with permit numbers, filing frequency, and due dates. That one habit saves headaches later.

Bundles and Price Ladders That Actually Move Units

Bundling is a way to boost value for attendees while increasing your average order size.

A few smartly planned bundles and clear price ladders can make buying faster, easier, and more tempting on a crowded show floor.

Good, Better, Best

Show Exclusive

Offer one colorway or one foil finish that is only available at that event. Limit to 50 or 100 units and display a visible counter card showing what’s left. Scarcity drives decisions when attendees have limited time on the floor.

Two-Fer Tees

A “2 for $60” board can lift units per transaction and clear sizes before you head home.

Make It Custom Without Bringing a Print Shop

You can add personalization without lugging heavy gear.

• Name cards: Sell small cards with printed art on the front and write the attendee’s name by hand on the back with a paint marker.
• Badge add-ons: Offer a custom ribbon with printed first name or call sign. Simple, fast, and lines stay short.
• On-site digital unlocks: A QR card that links to a personalized wallpaper or a signed digital mini-print. Zero inventory weight.

Event-Fit Picks by Audience Type

A quick look at your audience’s habits and priorities can guide which products deserve a spot on your table.

Artist Alley or Indie Creator Table

• Stickers, pins, postcard prints, a single tee.
• One exclusive mini-print per day.
• Digital wallpaper pack cards for fans who fly home with only a personal item.

Workshop or Training Day

• Branded notebook and pen sets.
• USB-C cable keepers, cord wraps, or cable labels.
• A reference card tied to the curriculum, unlocked via QR at purchase.

Community Fan Meetups

• Badge ribbons, lanyards, key fobs, and a sticker multi-pack tied to inside jokes.
• One comfy tee and one soft dad cap if your crowd likes wearable souvenirs.

Local Business Expo

• Useful desk items with a single, clean logo. ASI data suggests desk accessories and writing instruments are kept and used for a year or more, which keeps your brand in view.

Small-Event Merchandising Checklist

Here’s a quick roadmap to prep before, during, and after the show so every sale:

Before the Show

• Set a 6 to 8 SKU lineup with 2 to 3 depth items.
• Pre-sell for pickup.
• Prepare one page of sales tax notes and your permit copies for staff.
• Test your POS and charge every device.

At the Table

• Price board with round numbers.
• Top three items up front.
• Show an exclusive sign with the remaining count.
• Offer a bundle just under $25 for impulse buyers and another around $50 for committed fans.

After the Show

• List leftover units online the same night.
• Send a thank-you email with a limited window for post-event orders.
• Log sell-through rates by SKU and size to trim your next pack list.

What the Data Suggests

Sample SKU List and Target Price Ladder

Use local tax and card fees to fine-tune the final sticker number. Keep the board simple so buyers decide fast.

Final Tips from the Field

Closing Thoughts

Merch at small events and conventions isn’t about stuffing as many SKUs as possible onto your table. It’s about curating items that travel light, fit your audience, and hold their value long after the event ends.

In 2025, the data is clear: attendees are spending, superfans are buying, and practical, well-designed products still win. If you plan your inventory carefully, price it with real margins, and present it cleanly, you’ll leave with lighter bags and a healthier bottom line.