I'm trying to think of some good registration gifts and prizes that will help make this tournament stand out. I want to give away things that bridge players will actually want and use; not just random crap with our logo stamped on. We joked that the Hunt Valley Regional gave away body bags this year -- actually they were travel bags for dresses and coats, but then I can't really see how these are useful gifts. People who need them already have them, don'tcha think?
So some ideas I've had for registration gifts:
- Pens or pencils -- boring, I know, but definitely useful.
- Pencil extenders -- don't know what these are actually called, but they're basically little things you can stick the ACBL golf pencils into to make them easier to hold, and they have erasers, too. Not sure they'd be a huge hit or anything, but I think a lot of people would use them.
- Discounts at the booksellers' table -- say, a $2 off coupon for section tops. Now, I know not everyone would use these, but even if they don't want to buy books, they could buy pencils or convention card holders and such. This would help the bookseller, too, who is a friend of ours.
- $2 bills -- not really original, but definitely a Charlottesville prize.
I'm interested in some feedback here. What's the best registration gift you've ever received at a tournament? What do you think makes the best section top prizes (not overall prizes -- those are handled by the MABC and are usually just free plays)? Remember, these prizes and gifts need to be something I can get for ~$2 apiece, or less.
Leave your suggestions in the comments here, or email me at Meg@DoubleSqueeze.com. I'm looking forward to your ideas!
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4 comments:
They gave away $2 bills in Gatlinburg one year and they were a *huge* hit.
I have to say, I use my suit bag from Pittsburgh Nationals a lot for when I travel with dresses. That being said, since I already have one from Pittsburgh nationals, I don't need another one (didn't end up registering at Hunt Valley this year). I do use the bags the most often from the various regionals/nationals I've been to. I have too many tote bags now, though they're all filled with stuff anyway. My favorite was the small duffel bag I got in NY. I see Charlie using that bag a lot as well. It's a great size and the quality stands up to abuse.
I really love your idea with the bookseller for the section top prize. You're right about the mugs and glasses though. As college students, we would collect them just because we didn't have enough glasses and were too cheap to buy any (and didn't care what they said on them), but most of your players won't be college students and I can't imagine using them now that I have an income.
How about coasters with the logo instead of a picture (I have no clue if that's any more useful than the glasses though), candles (though not sure how to get the logo there unless you just put a sticker on the box or something), or lemonade mix (maybe the "Life is Good" design with the name as the regional name and the date as the dates of the regional)? Okay I cheated and using a wedding favors site. But they're all under $2!
Good luck!
http://www.myweddingfavors.com/playingcards.html
Get a quantity discount from the bookseller on coupons, and offer the section top winners a $2 bill or $2.50 off at the bookseller's. Bookseller will still make $$ on it, your cost should be $1.95 or less per discount coupon (ask bookseller for a price for $2.50 off coupons and then negotiate it down).
-- Kevin
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