How eBay Stood Out at Collectfest Sydney 2025 with Custom-Branded Merchandise

Thousands of collectors for Pokemon Cards, TCG, Sneakers and other collectibles poured into the ICC Sydney for Collectfest 2025, held on the 23rd and 24th August. One booth consistently drew a crowd: eBay. It wasn’t just because of the big brand name — it was because they used merchandise and “gamified” the experience for guests. I saw firsthand how businesses can transform their presence at expos and conferences by smartly choosing promotional products and hosting a fun game. eBay’s booth at Collectorfest is an excellent example of what happens when branded merchandise is done well.

 

The Scene: A Busy Sydney Expo

Collectfest brings together enthusiasts, collectors, and major brands under one roof. The atmosphere is competitive — every exhibitor wants attention, every booth wants foot traffic. In such an environment, it’s not enough to simply show up with banners. You need something tangible that people will carry, wear, and talk about. That’s where eBay’s strategy came in.

How eBay Used Custom Merchandise

Walking into the eBay booth, visitors were greeted by a colourful, interactive space. But the real pull was the branded merchandise experience:

• eBay Stamp Book: Attendees could collect stamps from different parts of the expo and redeem them for prizes at the booth. This simple mechanic drove engagement across the event and funnelled traffic back to eBay. The stamps earned the participant free merch.

• Branded Apparel (Caps & Shirts): The booth staff wore sleek eBay-branded caps and T-shirts, making them instantly recognisable. Uniformity in branding not only built credibility but also visually reinforced the eBay identity.
• Reusable eBay Bags: Everyone at the show needed something to carry their purchases and freebies. eBay’s custom-printed bags became walking billboards both outside and inside the expo hall, as well as in the hands of hundreds of influencers who post on Instagram and TikTok. It was a visual success.

Ebay primary colours with simple black and white product backdrops. The branding is brilliant.

 

Why This Approach Worked

From our perspective at Cubic Promote, the success of eBay’s booth came down to three simple factors:

1. FUN Interactivity: The stamp book wasn’t just a piece of paper — it was a tool that encouraged participation and gave people a reason to keep coming back. 10 stamps earned a free sticker, 15 earned a cap, and 20 earned a printed T-shirt.
2. Visibility: Branded apparel turned staff into living brand ambassadors, while the bags extended that reach across the venue.
3. Practical Value: Every giveaway had a use beyond the event, ensuring eBay’s logo lived on even after Collectorfest wrapped up.

So how did people get stamps? They needed to complete a series of tasks. These include Having your photo taken, finding hidden figurines on a display shopping wall as well as visiting booths that were Official Ebay members. Once these and other tasks were completed you would earn stamps. The more stamps you had on your passport book, the more prizes you win.

(can you see the hidden figurines in the images below?)

That combination of strategy and practicality is precisely what we recommend to our own clients when planning event merchandise. How successful was the promotional event? Have a look at the image below (and this was only halfway through the last day on Sunday)

What Businesses Can Learn from This

Not every company has eBay’s global recognition — but that’s the point. Custom-branded merchandise levels the playing field. Whether you’re a financial services firm in Sydney, a university in Melbourne, or a government department in Canberra, the right mix of branded items can put you at the centre of attention at any event.

Some key takeaways for our clients:

• Choose products people will actually use — bags, apparel, logoed notebooks, drinkware.
• Create an interactive mechanic (like a redemption system) to keep people engaged.
• Consider visibility: will your brand be visible throughout the expo hall, not just at your booth?

Why Businesses Trust Cubic Promote

As one of Australia’s award-winning suppliers of custom-branded merchandise, we’ve worked with companies of all sizes to create event strategies that stick. Our team knows how to source, design, and deliver merchandise that not only looks good but also works hard for your brand.

Every order is carbon-offset, our prices are designed for bulk value, and our turnaround times are among the fastest in the industry. Whether you need branded apparel, bags, or interactive giveaways, we’ll help you achieve results like eBay did at Collectfest.

How Your Event Can Be Successful

Cubic Promote can help your event be just as successful as Ebays. If you are planning an expo, trade show, or corporate event we can help you win the marketing game. Here’s how you can copy Ebays success. Buy

• Promotional tote bags,
• promotional tee shirts or
• promotional caps from our range.

Alternatively for something original, call our sales team on 1300858288 or set up a meeting with us. We would be glad to assist you.

Final Thoughts

Collectfest Sydney 2025 demonstrated once again that promotional products are more than just giveaways — they’re marketing tools that drive visibility, engagement, and brand recall. eBay’s booth proved it, and your business can do the same.

Author