Branded event gifts make the most of the moment 

Deliver an experience that stays with them 

By Stephanie Lamie

In the always-evolving quest for attention, experiential marketing opens in new window has emerged as a pow­erful way for brands to stand out from the competition. By creating engaging and im­mersive brand moments, experiential marketing invites people to interact with your brand instead of walking or scrolling past it. One in two companies increased their experiential marketing budgets opens in new window from 2024-2026, a clear signal these strategies drive real impact. For 4imprint customers Abell & Son opens in new window and the Department of Economic Development for DeSoto County opens in new window, that impact comes from creating experiences people remember. By pairing these interactions with branded event gifts, you don’t just reinforce your message—you position your brand as an essential part of the experience.

Abell & Son employees cook up something special

Branded items help attendees savor the experience

Plenty of organizations take part in commu­nity gatherings in hopes of making connec­tions and building brand awareness. But not all have a secret crawfish boil recipe ready to roll when the time is right. In spring, Abell & Son was one of more than a dozen local businesses participating in the annual McVey’s Seafood Crawfish Boil-Off, a com­munity celebration of Cajun culture that in­cludes live music and a cooking competition.

A family-owned farm and equipment deal­ership with more than 100 years of history in southwest Louisiana, the team at Abell & Son participates in this and similar events to foster relationships and boost visibili­ty. It’s a popular strategy for brands of all types, and two-thirds of people feel more positively about a brand following opens in new window an inter­action at a live event.

66%

of people feel more positive about a brand following an interaction at a live event

The crawfish boil-off featured more than a dozen local organizations serving up their best dishes. Event attendees were invited to move from booth to booth to sample the seafood and vote on their favorites. Those who stopped to taste Abell & Son’s crawfish received branded bamboo spatulas to taste their serving.

Stir up brand impressions

The spatulas were a perfect match for the experience, as wood or bamboo utensils are preferred for dishes that involve frequent stirring over hot temperatures. While at­tendees waited to receive their spoon and sample, the Abell & Son team had an oppor­tunity to engage them about the company’s equipment sales, rentals and services. “We didn’t win the boil-off, but we got some great compliments from the people who tried it,” said Brittany Trychta, marketing coordinator.

The booth offered other experiential marketing giveaways, including caps and can coolers, plus an outdoor cooler was raffled off. “We love giving out merch to get our name out there,” Trychta said. “It becomes an advertisement when people use the items, and it gets us more attention at these events. People want to come to our booth to see what we have.”

Florida county herds attention in its direction

Themed event gifts offer repeated reminders

Florida’s DeSoto County is another organiza­tion using experiential marketing to shine. It’s one of about 30 largely rural counties in the Sunshine State. These municipalities—which don’t include the beaches and amuse­ment parks Florida is known for—often work harder for resources and attention.

Sondra Guffey, economic development director for DeSoto County Board of County Commissioners, is taking on that challenge. The organization works to grow the business community and attract tourists. “We’re a rural area,” Guffey said. “We really do have more cows than we have people.”

In early 2026, representatives from Flori­da’s rural counties—including Guffey and a colleague, together representing DeSoto County—gathered at the Capitol in Talla­hassee for Rural Counties Day. The annual event brings together rural county employ­ees, organizations and residents to high­light their contributions and advocate for shared priorities.

About 150 rural county employees set up booths to engage lawmakers and state officials. In the spirit of friendly competition, each booth leaned into a distinct theme to draw visitors. Those who stopped by Guffey’s booth checked out historic displays and artifacts, like cattle whips and cowhides, and received cowbells imprinted with DeSoto County’s “Florida Wild” branding. With every clonk and rattle of a cowbell, attendees were further immersed in the experience.

More cowbell. More engagement. More brand awareness.

“We’re promoting an authentic Florida, and the cowbells were perfect,” Guffey said. “We want legislators to think about us, our cattle industry, our culture and our history. We want to remind them we’re here and to remember us when they’re putting together their budgets.”

A festive gathering with well-chosen branded event gifts is a prime example of experiential marketing—a strategy one-third of brands employ to improve their brand awareness opens in new window. Guffey chose cowbells to stand out from more traditional promos, and the strategy worked. “They were unique and everybody who saw them wanted one. They were a big, big hit,” Guffey said. “And now they’re sitting on the desks in legislative offices in Tallahassee.”

Provide an experience that stays with them

From crawfish boils to capitol-grounds advocacy events, experiential marketing works best when paired with tangible takeaways. As Abell & Son and the Department of Economic Development for DeSoto County show, the right branded event gifts can maximize an experience—turning your interactions into moments that resonate.

All marks are the property of 4imprint or their respective owners.

All marks are the property of 4imprint or their respective owners.