How to Choose the Perfect Magnet for Your Business Event

Whether you’re planning a corporate conference, a trade show appearance, or a product launch, one question keeps coming up: what should we give people to take away? 

Branded pens get lost. Notepads get recycled. Tote bags pile up in cupboards. 

But a beautifully designed fridge magnet? That ends up on the fridge, seen every single day, by everyone in the household.

Event magnets are one of the most underrated forms of corporate event merchandise, and choosing the right one can make a genuine difference to how your brand is remembered. 

Here’s everything you need to know.

Why Magnets Work So Well as Corporate Event Giveaways

Before we get into the how, let’s talk about the why.

According to a VistaPrint study, 66% of consumers already own at least one branded fridge magnet, which tells you something important: people keep them. 

Unlike disposable giveaways, a magnet earns prime real estate in a home or office. 

Research found that 79% of recipients would be more likely to do business with a company after receiving a promotional item, and magnets sit squarely in that category, practical, visible, and long-lasting.

57% of consumers who receive promotional products report keeping some for more than five years. Five years of daily brand exposure for the cost of a small giveaway. 

It’s difficult to find better value in event merchandise.

Step 1: Define the Purpose of Your Event Magnet

The first question to ask isn’t “what magnet should I get?”, it’s “what do I want this magnet to do?” 

The answer will shape every decision that follows. Here are the most common goals for business event magnets:

• Brand awareness – You want attendees to remember your company name and logo long after the event. A clean, well-designed magnet with your branding achieves this effortlessly.
• Lead generation or conversion – You want people to take an action: visit your website, book a call, follow you on social media. In this case, you need more than just a logo. You need a magnet that carries a clear message or a scannable link.
• Client retention and loyalty – You’re rewarding existing clients or partners with something thoughtful. Here, quality and personalisation matter most.
• Event commemoration – You want to mark a milestone, a conference theme, or a product launch with something collectible and meaningful.

Once you’re clear on the goal, the right type of magnet becomes much easier to identify.

Step 2: Choose the Right Type of Magnet

Not all event magnets are created equal. 

The two main categories to consider are standard custom magnets and smart magnets, and the difference is significant.

Standard Custom Magnets

These are your classic branded fridge magnets, printed with your logo, brand colours, tagline, contact details, or a custom illustration. 

They’re ideal for:

• Trade show giveaways where you need volume
• Conference goodie bags
• Client appreciation gifts
• Brand-building campaigns

Moi Magnets’ standard custom magnets are professionally designed by graphic designers to match your brand identity precisely, not a stock template in sight.

Smart Magnets

Smart Magnets look identical to a standard fridge magnet, but they carry an embedded link that can be unlocked with a simple tap of a smartphone. No app required, just tap and go. 

With a Smart Magnet, a single tap can lead to:

• Your company website or a specific landing page
• A product demo video
• A digital business card or contact page
• A curated playlist for your event
• An exclusive promotion or discount

For corporate events, this is a game-changer. 31% of organisations say event swag kits are their most engaging gift option, and a Smart Magnet transforms a passive keepsake into an active touchpoint. 

Every time someone picks up that magnet, your digital world is one tap away.

Step 3: Should You Personalise Your Event Merchandise?

Short answer: yes, always, but personalisation doesn’t have to mean putting each attendee’s name on a magnet (though that is an option for smaller, high-value events). 

For corporate events, personalisation typically means:

• Brand-aligned design – colours, fonts, and imagery that feel authentically you, not generic
• Event-specific messaging – referencing the event name, date, or theme makes the magnet a keepsake rather than just another branded item
• Audience-relevant content – if you’re attending an industry-specific trade show, lean into that niche

Understanding your audience’s preferences and tailoring the giveaway to resonate with their tastes and lifestyle enhances the perceived value and effectiveness of the item. 

A magnet designed specifically for your audience will always outperform a generic one with just a logo slapped on.

It’s also worth noting that 72% of consumers make a connection between a company’s reputation and the quality of its promotional products. 

A cheap, poorly printed magnet doesn’t just fail to impress, it can actually harm your brand perception. 

Invest in quality.

Step 4: How Many Magnets Do You Need for an Event?

This is one of the most common questions, and there’s no universal answer, but here’s a practical framework:

• Estimate your footfall, not your hope –  If 200 people are expected to pass your stand or attend your event, order for 200, not 500, not 50. Over-ordering creates waste, under-ordering means missed opportunities.
• Add a 10–15% buffer – Magnets get damaged in transit, people grab extras, and you’ll want a few for follow-up marketing after the event.
• Consider your event type – At a large trade show where you’re competing for attention with dozens of other exhibitors, you may want to order generously and make the magnet part of your hook. At a curated corporate dinner or client event, a smaller, premium run is more appropriate.
• Think beyond the event itself – Order enough to send a follow-up magnet to leads you met but couldn’t give one to on the day. A magnet that arrives in the post a week after an event is a surprisingly effective way to stay top of mind.

At Moi Magnets, orders of 200 or more qualify for a free design fee, so there’s a natural incentive to plan ahead and order in bulk.

Step 5: Think About Longevity

The best event merchandise is the kind that people keep. 

According to PPAI research, 91% of consumers have at least one promotional item in their kitchen, and the fridge is exactly where a magnet belongs.

When briefing your magnet design, think about whether someone who doesn’t know your brand would still find it visually appealing. 

The most effective corporate magnets balance strong branding with genuine aesthetic appeal. 

If it’s beautiful, people keep it. If it’s useful (a Smart Magnet with a helpful link, for instance), people use it. 

Ideally, it’s both.

Ready to Order Your Event Magnets?

Choosing the right magnet for your business event comes down to four things: knowing your goal, selecting the right format, investing in thoughtful design, and ordering the right quantity. 

Get those four things right, and your event merchandise becomes something people genuinely value, not something that gets left on a table at the end of the day. Explore Moi Magnets’ custom magnet options and find the perfect fit for your next corporate event. Whether you need a standard branded run or something smarter, we’ll bring your vision to life.