6 best types of promotional product ideas for winter events

Winter events are objectively harder to pull off – you're dealing with unpredictable weather that can tank your outdoor plans, daylight that disappears by 4:30pm, and the ongoing challenge of keeping people comfortable enough to actually mingle instead of just counting down the minutes until they can leave.

That said, there’s one thing you can control: the promotional products you hand out. Good winter swag isn't about adding logos to whatever feels seasonal, but about anticipating what people actually need when it's cold and dark.

Whether you're planning a holiday party, winter trade show, client appreciation event, or year-end team retreat, these are our top 6 types of promotional product ideas that'll do the heavy lifting when the temperature drops.

1. Beanies

What makes beanies a particularly smart promotional product idea for winter events is their universal appeal. Unlike apparel that requires dealing with complex sizing logistics, beanies fit almost everyone and work across demographics. 

They're also one of the few promotional product ideas that people genuinely need at the moment, which means they'll actually wear them during your event instead of shoving them in a tote bag to deal with later. 

Here are a few options that balance cost, quality, and wearability:

• Lightweight knit beanie: This high-volume, budget-friendly option works for milder winter days or indoor-outdoor events where people are moving between heated spaces and cold air. 
• Distressed ripped knit beanie: If your brand skews younger or leans into streetwear aesthetics, this distressed style hits differently than a standard beanie. 
• Alpaca wool blend beanie: Alpaca wool is softer, warmer, and more luxurious than standard wool, so people can feel the difference immediately. Reserve this one for VIP gifts, executive retreats, and high-touch client events.

2. Socks

Custom socks work as a promotional product idea year-round, but winter is when people actually get excited about them – nobody likes cold toes during long conference sessions. But what makes socks particularly effective is what happens later, when they've worked their way into someone's weekly laundry cycle. Every time someone gets dressed, there's your brand.

Check out a few of our favorite options:

• Jacquard knit crew socks: Jacquard knitting weaves your design directly into the fabric rather than printing on top, which means bold patterns, intricate logos, and full-color branding that won't fade or peel. 
• Cotton blend crew socks: Cotton blend socks are breathable, soft, and easy to care for. While they don't offer the same design flexibility as jacquard knit, they're perfect for simpler branding needs.
• Athletic moisture-wicking crew socks: If your winter event includes any physical activity (e.g., ski trips, winter hikes, team building exercises, outdoor activations), choose these performance socks.

3. Blankets

Few promotional product ideas deliver the same comfort-to-impact ratio as a quality blanket. At a winter event, they're immediately useful, whether attendees are sitting through outdoor ceremonies, cozying up by a fire pit during evening sessions, or just trying to survive an over-air-conditioned ballroom. 

These options work across different event types and budgets:

• Packable fleece blanket with travel bag: Fleece is soft and warm without being bulky, and the included travel bag makes this blanket easy to pack, store, and carry.
• Premium flannel fleece blanket: When you want your blanket to feel like an upgrade, not just a giveaway, this premium flannel fleece delivers.
• Wearable fleece travel blanket and poncho: This falls squarely into the category of things you've seen on late-night infomercials but would never actually buy for yourself, which is exactly what makes it perfect as event swag.

4. Mugs

Mugs have serious staying power. A good one doesn't get buried behind the fancy plates you only use twice a year; it becomes part of daily life. That kind of consistent visibility beats almost every other swag category.

Explore these Wayo bestsellers: 

• 12 oz. stainless steel coffee mug with lid: Double-wall insulation keeps drinks hot through marathon event days, and the secure lid prevents disaster when people are cramming everything into bags between sessions.
• 11 oz. two-tone ceramic mug with colored handle + interior: The interior color pop adds visual interest without fighting your logo, and the colored handle gives it personality.
• 12 oz. matte ceramic mug with wooden handle: This is the elevated, Instagrammable option – the matte finish feels expensive, and the wood handle adds design detail that standard promotional mugs lack.

6. Self-care items

Winter means more time indoors, longer nights, and a general shift toward cozying up at home. Naturally, ‘tis the season where self-care promo products hit differently than standard swag.

They signal that your brand sees people as people, not just prospects or employees to manage. And unlike stuff that gets used once and forgotten, self-care items become part of personal routines that build an emotional connection outlasting any event hashtag.

Here are three options that bring comfort and wellness home:

• Waterproof electric scalp massager: This helps relieve tension, promotes relaxation, and feels incredible after long days at a computer or back-to-back virtual meetings. 
• Flame aroma oil diffuser and humidifier: Winter air is notoriously dry; this diffuser handles the practical stuff (namely humidification) while doubling as mood lighting with the flame effect. 
• Mini massage gun: Cold weather, hunched-over-keyboard posture, and less movement make muscle soreness worse, not better. This compact massage gun delivers real relief without the bulk or sticker shock of full-sized versions.

7. Travel-related items

Travel gear makes sense for winter event swag because you're thinking past the event itself. Between holiday trips home and year-end vacations, your attendees are likely juggling stressful schedules that extend far beyond the few days they spend at your conference or retreat.

Here are four options that travel with them long after your event wraps:

• Classic vegan leather luggage tag with buckle strap: At just $1 per unit, luggage tags are one of the most cost-effective ways to travel with attendees throughout the entire holiday season and beyond. 
• Slim tech organizer pouch: This pouch solves the eternal problem of tangled cables, lost adapters, and the frantic airport search for headphones buried at the bottom of a carry-on. 
• Multi-cable mini portable power bank with flashlight: Dead phone batteries during holiday travel are basically inevitable. This power bank delivers at least one full charge, and the built-in cables mean no one's digging through their bag mid-flight looking for the right cord.

Make your winter event memorable with Wayo

At Wayo, our catalog is built around promotional product ideas that people will use beyond the event itself. And if you have a specific idea that’s not in our catalog, Nory, our AI sourcing assistant, can help bring it to life and get it delivered in time for your event.