Women in Trades NSW Department of Education
Last Updated: 28 September 2026
The Women in Trades initiative ordered branded tool pens and lip balm for the seminar attendees. This NSW Department of Education program helps women start and grow careers in trades where men are the majority. For the seminar, we wanted the merchandise to reflect the program and also be useful for attendees after the event. Our account manager, Katherine Durham, worked closely with Susie to coordinate the products, artwork, and production. Rather than picking several similar items, we chose two very different giveaways.
Why the Pairing Worked
The tool pen was a clear nod to the trades theme. The lip balm was practical and useful, even without a direct link to trades. Together, these items offered:
- a tool-themed product that reinforced the seminar topic
- an everyday item attendees could keep in a pocket or handbag
- continued visibility for the program after the seminar
Feedback from their team
We asked them how the seminar went and if their participants loved the merch. Susie said the participants loved the merch! Even the staff had to get lip balms to keep and use for themselves.
Keeping Seminar Merchandise Easy
At seminars, people usually have notebooks, phones, bags, and handouts. Large giveaway items can be hard to manage.
Both the tool pens and lip balms were small enough for attendees to take home easily. That made them a good fit for the seminar. Katherine helped choose products that matched the Women in Trades theme without being too on-the-nose. In the end, we had a simple giveaway that suited the event and gave attendees two useful items they could keep using.
