At Merchgirls, we believe that great event merch isn’t just a giveaway, it’s an experience. That’s why we were beyond excited to collaborate with and sponsor The Social Summit, Australia’s first-ever conference dedicated to content creators and brand builders.

As a creative agency that does corporate merch differently, this partnership was the perfect opportunity to showcase the real impact of promotional merchandise done right - merch that people actually want to keep, use, and share.

The Brief: Making a statement with merch

The Social Summit is all about inspiration, education, and connection. With an incredible lineup of speakers from brands including TikTok, Spotify, Luxury Escapes, and Boss Hunting, the event needed merch that would match the energy and ambition of its audience - creatives, marketers, and savvy brand leaders who know good design when they see it.

This wasn’t just about slapping a logo on a tote bag. It was about creating something that people would be excited to receive and proud to use long after the event was over.

The Merchgirls Approach: What makes event merch work?

From the start, our goal was to design premium, purposeful, and on-brand merch that would elevate the attendee experience and create hype. 

Our focus for this merch pack:

• Design That Resonates – We ensured that the merch aligned with The Social Summit’s bold and euro-summer  branding. The look and feel of the products needed to reflect the modern, forward-thinking energy of the event.

• Sustainability & Longevity – We said no way to throw away merch. Every piece was designed to be used, loved, and kept, reinforcing The Social Summit’s commitment to meaningful engagement over meaningless waste.

• The VIP Experience – The first 300 attendees received exclusive, limited-edition Merchgirls-designed event merch - a tangible reminder of The Summit that would continue to spark conversations beyond the event itself. Attendees scored  The Milano water bottle, Metro Tote Tote and our new style, p Celeste Cap - all with the exclusive branding we created for the event.

The Impact: Merch that made a difference

The results? A resounding success.

•  Increased Registrations: When the merch was promoted prior to the event, registrations increased by 30% (hello ROI). 

• High Engagement: Attendees actively shared their merch on social media, organically amplifying the event’s reach.

• Brand Love: The merch wasn’t just “free stuff” it was coveted, appreciated, and genuinely used by guests. We have already seen this through the sharing of content on socials - and it makes our merch hearts sing. 

• Sustainability in Action: Thoughtfully designed event merch reinforced The Social Summit’s commitment to quality over quantity.

• Lasting Brand Impressions: The right merch means your brand doesn’t just make an impact on the day, it lives on in the hands (and minds) of your audience.

Hannah Chipkin Takes the Stage: From concept to cult brand

Beyond sponsoring the event, Merchgirls’ Co-Founder & Creative Director, Hannah Chipkin, took the stage as a featured speaker in the panel discussion “Concept to Cult Brand”, mediated by Merchgirls CEO, Di Laws (tag all panelists)

Hannah shared the Merchgirls journey, from the simple idea of creating merch that people actually wanted to become Australia’s leading creative merchandise agency. Speaking to a captivated audience, she broke down what it takes to turn a creative concept into a brand people love - emphasising the importance of quality, design, and a brand-first approach to merchandise.

It was an inspiring moment to see the Merchgirls brand story come full circle, being shared with an audience of like-minded creators, marketers, and brand builders looking to make an impact in their industries.

What The Social Summit Had to Say

"Working with Merchgirls on our event merch was an excellent experience from start to finish. The team’s attention to detail and genuine passion for creating bespoke products translated into stunning event merch that attendees were literally fighting over!

The team was always available, super responsive, and genuinely invested in bringing our vision to life. They understood our brand's vibe perfectly, nailing the brief and creating merch that not only looked incredible but also felt premium in quality. The print, the logo, and the overall design is nothing short of iconic. Our attendees were obsessed!

Merchgirls didn’t just deliver products; they delivered an experience. If you’re looking for a team that truly gets it and produces high-quality, statement-making merch, they’re the ones.

Can’t wait to work with Merchgirls again!"   — Amy Dickinson, The Social Summit

Bringing the Vision to Life

Partnering with sisters Amy and Hannah Dickinson, founders of The Social Summit was an absolute dream for us at Merchgirls. From the very first conversation, their passion for creating an unforgettable event experience was clear and we knew the merch needed to match that energy.

Working collaboratively, we developed statement pieces that embodied the essence of The Social Summit, ensuring they were as functional as they were swoon worthy. The best part? Seeing attendees light up when they received their merch and the buzz it created throughout the event.

We love collaborating with brands and event teams that understand the power of good merch, and this partnership was proof that when done right, promotional merchandise can be a game-changer for engagement, brand visibility, and audience experience.

Images: @encove.co & @studio____sage

Why Event Merch Matters

Done well, promotional merch can be one of the most powerful brand touchpoints at an event. It’s more than a giveaway, it’s a tool for connection, brand storytelling, and audience engagement. It colours the crowd and creates a buzz! It can also be a powerful reason for attendees to attend the event in the first place! 

At Merchgirls, we’re passionate about working with brands and events that want to create merch with meaning, merch that people actually want to keep.

Planning an event? Let’s make your merch unforgettable. Get in touch with us to create something that truly represents your brand and keeps your event top of mind long after the curtain closes. Merch that works.