Smart Delivery
Surprisingly, when you rent linens and other reusable event décor, your event's carbon footprint still can be quite large. To maximize green practices, be sure to pre-order everything you need so deliveries can be made in one trip, and ask the vendor to reuse the delivery accessories (such as hangers for linens). Thanks to Christine Merser, vice president of marketing and communications for Classic Party Rentals for the idea. (310-535-3660; classicpartyrentals.com)
Individual Kneads
While the members of the board are brainstorming, hire a massage therapist to circulate and offer shoulder massages to those who would like one. It's a way to pamper VIPs when they don't have the time that a full massage (or even a chair massage) requires. Sparty! can provide a therapist for $135 per hour, minimum two hours. (646) 736-1777; spa-party.com
Out of the Box
Smartboxes give attendees an experience, such as dinner for two, a spa treatment or a weekend getaway, at a choice of local establishments. The gifts, available in much of the U.S., range from $49 to $369, and they never expire. The company can customize the boxes with a logo or card (minimum 50 boxes) or a sleeve (minimum 100). (888) 846-7269; www.smartbox.com/us
Chatter Boxes
Not everyone is good at starting conversations with strangers. To help grease the wheels, spread a handful of TableTopics conversation cards on highboys and other gathering spots. The Original and Dinner Party editions are appropriate for a corporate gathering. Some companies have culled their favorite questions from the various collections and made their own to gift to employees. The full-size "Cubes" cost $25; smaller "To Go" versions cost $9. (888) 690-6001; tabletopics.com
Instant Sommelier
Wine Samplers from Tasting Room comprise six 50 ml bottles organized around a theme: wines from Napa Valley or just Pinot Noirs, for example. Each package comes with tasting notes and a coupon for purchasing full bottles of the wines at a discount -- and you could add on a gift card to make the package even more indulgent. Samplers cost between $19.99 and $29.99 each. (888) 929-2827; tastingroom.com
Food for Thought
If you're having trouble eating right and exercising while traveling, take a subscription to DailyBurn, a website and iPhone app that tracks what you eat and how much you exercise. The tools on the site, as well as the huge community of health-conscious people, will help you stick to your goals. Joining is free; additional features cost as little as $5.99 per month. dailyburn.com
Up for Bid
Auctions at events can raise a lot of money, so why not expand the audience of bidders by opening the bidding online before the event? Bidding for Good lets anyone bid on charity auctions, and the results are consistently impressive. The stapler pictured, owned by Paris Hilton, sold for more than $4,000! The service costs $595 per year, plus 9 percent of the sale price. (866) 621-0330; biddingforgood.com
Evocative Case
Katrin Reifeiss' hand-dyed silk business-card holders are a striking alternative to leather or metallic cases. Consider wrapping gift cards in them; just be sure to tell winners that they're not disposable! The Hold My Name card holders retail for $28. (917) 428-3347; katrinreifeiss.com
A Full Plate
These attractive bamboo plates are sturdy -- and they can hold a wine glass, too. Just be sure to find a composting facility to handle the refuse after the event; try findacomposter.com to locate one in your area. In New York City, Action Environmental Services (actioncarting.com) offers composting services. Cost for a pack of 96 Square Wine Plates costs $119.98. (646) 706-7726; ecocateringsupply.com
No More Docudrama
With the free Nitro PDF Reader, you can easily create and manipulate PDF files. That means you can edit, sign and return a contract without printing it out, or move text and images from one flyer to another, quickly and intuitively. nitroreader.com
Stick It to 'Em
Frustrated with having to repeat her name, company name, phone number and e-mail on forms, Cassie Clancy, manager of education and events for real-estate-listings service MRIS, suggests purchasing a custom-made rubber stamp with all that information on it, via a website such as rubberstamps.net (priced from $9.50). A few quick stamps saves her a few minutes a day. Another option: Print out all the information on mailing labels, and keep a stack handy.
It's a Wrap
Bobino Cord Wraps from The Container Store keep long, tangly wires from taking over a desk. The small version ($2.99) wraps up headphone wires, the medium one ($3.99) works on phone chargers and the large version ($4.99) tames laptop power cords. (888) 266-8246; containerstore.com