As you work out event ticketing, you should consider a platform that can handle multiple types of sales seamlessly. Event ticketing software like SimpleTix allows you to streamline merchandise, concessions, and ticketing sales in one centrally located and easy to use platform.

While ticket sales will fund most of your event, offering merchandise and concessions helps generate revenue and cover expenses. Regardless of your event’s size, selling branded merchandise presents an incredible opportunity to make some extra money, offer your guests mementos, and advertise for your group’s next venture.

Table of Contents:

1. Facilitate Versatile Transactions with Event Ticketing Software
2. Choosing Merchandise for Your Event
3. Learn from Your Attendees

Facilitate Versatile Transactions with Event Ticketing Software

Since not all event ticketing software facilitates merchandise or concessions sales, event organizers often have to implement several different point-of-sale systems to complete these various transactions. This can be difficult and frustrating to manage, as attendees must visit different areas to complete separate transactions or staff must cycle through various programs with one customer.

With a platform that can sell tickets, merchandise, and concessions, both attendees and staff can easily complete multiple types of transactions at once. This provides a better experience for attendees and makes them more likely to spend more money. Staff will only have to learn one system and have more flexibility throughout the event to perform different types of transactions.

SimpleTix also offers a partnership with Square, which means event staff and attendees won’t have to contend with the complications of cash transactions. Square also facilitates various payment types, such as ApplePay, AndroidPay, and contactless payments. More flexibility means you can accommodate more customers.

With event ticketing software like SimpleTix, you can even sell merchandise online when attendees buy their tickets. This is beneficial as attendees can wear their merchandise at the event if they buy a t-shirt or hat, and if they buy a cumbersome item like a framed poster, they can pick it up as they are leaving the event.

Online merchandise sales are also helpful for event organizers. Since you have a good idea of what people are buying online before the event, you can offer similar quantities the day of. For some events, you may even offer food reservations online to limit food waste.

Choosing Merchandise for Your Event

Endless branding opportunities abound for your event’s merchandise and concessions. Be creative and have fun thinking about your event’s message, the audience, and what types of items will satisfy both equally.

T-shirts and posters will always be around, but signature items unique to your event can be the most fun and sought after mementos. It’s necessary to offer items appropriate to the event as well. Beanies and hot chocolate will sell better at a winter event while sunglasses and ice cream will sell better outside in the summer.

Concessions

Concessions comprise a valuable portion of event revenue. Attendees will always want to buy bottled water and snacks to have on hand as they enjoy the event.

With event ticketing software, all sales go through one system and into one account. It’s easier for attendees to make one transaction, and it’s also effortless for event organizers to access revenue. SimpleTix even offers instant payouts, so you can receive your money immediately.

Apparel

T-shirts are ubiquitous as event merchandise because of their simple and comfortable versatility. Designing unique t-shirts that represent your event are both a fashion statement for attendees and a treasured memory. For annual events, repeat attendees will look forward to collecting each year’s installment.

You don’t have to limit yourself to t-shirts, however. Seasonal apparel like sweatshirts or tank tops can complement the weather at your event and even help out attendees who didn’t dress accordingly. Accessories like hats, beanies, and tote bags can similarly help out the unprepared.

Masks for the face and eyes are other accessories to consider branding for your event. Branded face masks for the health conscious can offer attendees a festive way to enjoy the event safely. Eye masks can take attendees home on a plane in style. Both masks will offer free promotion for your organization’s future events.

Art

You’ll probably work with a local artist to design the logo and aesthetic for your event, so you could also have them create vibrant art prints to visually tell your event’s story. Offering different mediums, including postcards, posters, and archival prints, will allow attendees to remember the event and decorate their homes at the level they are comfortable with.

For events like a music festival, offering small batches of prints signed by various performers will definitely be in demand by your most dedicated attendees. You can also offer high quality, framed official photography from past events.

Stickers are the easiest way to distribute art from your event, as they are small and cost-efficient. Plus, they are great advertising for future events.

Trinkets and Home Goods

Small items like magnets, buttons, and keychains are inexpensive yet fun ways for event goers to carry a little memory of your event with them. Chapstick and hand sanitizer are useful small items that can easily be branded.  These are also easy to mass produce and transport to the festival. Plus, as they are inexpensive, it’s possible to sell a higher volume.

High quality items for home decoration and use are popular items at events as well. Favorite mugs are often chosen for sentimental value. For food and drink festivals, commemorative glasses or cups can be an appropriate souvenir. Items like branded candles and blankets create a cozy atmosphere in the home while serving as memorabilia.

Learn from Your Attendees

Use event ticketing software to track your sales and analyze the popularity of and profit margins from your concessions and merchandise. This process will help you develop a more informed strategy for your next event.

Communicating with your attendees after the event offers your team valuable wisdom. Part of your event’s post-attendance survey can ask attendees for their thoughts on the merchandise and concession offerings. This offers your attendees a chance to offer feedback and helps your future planning.

Whichever direction you choose for your event, make sure your event ticketing software supports seamless customer interactions and ticket sales. Selling merchandise at your event has never been easier with SimpleTix.

SimpleTix has offered an affordable, premium event ticketing platform that outperforms Eventbrite and similar apps for over 12 years. Compared to the competition, SimpleTix offers better options at a better price point. To learn more, call us at +1 (855) 550-3670 or email us here.