Saks of Goodies
Saks Fifth Avenue is still a place for luxury goods, but this year especially, the store has lower-priced gifts mixed in for those on a budget. For example, this attractive set of 100 monogrammed coasters (top left) costs just
$50, and a brightly colored personalized leather luggage tag (bottom
left) costs $35. If money is less of an object, check out this
brilliantly complex wine-tasting kit (bottom right) perfect for
aspiring experts, for $200. (877) 551-7257; saks.com
Pop Culture
Set up a lollipop bar featuring Lollyphile's newest
variety -- White Russian, flavored with vodka, cream and coffee liqueur
-- along with established favorites like absinthe and bourbon. Price
per pack of 36 pops, $52. (415) 690-5198; lollyphile.com
Simply Inviting
For an event for the James Beard Foundation, John Kneapler created an invitation that featured a cinnamon stick, front and center. The sticks were hand-tied onto the cards and sent in padded envelopes; The scent of cinnamon gave guests a sense of how thoughtful -- and flavorful -- the event would be. Cost, approximately $5 per invite. (212) 463-9774; johnkneaplerdesign.com
Natural Selection
Bring a fragment of David Stark's fertile imagination into your holiday event by incorporating items from his new holiday line for West Elm. The cones, stars and garlands are covered in natural-colored twine, lending a dockside elegance to a party. All the items cost less than $100, and some are just a few dollars (e.g., the $6 Star Stems that can be bent into napkin rings). Better yet, there's no waste: Guests will want to take them home for use year-round. (888) 922-4119; westelm.com
Sweet Messages
My M&Ms began as a way to write a short message on the beloved candy. Now the options are much more enticing. Customers can print up to two logos, photos or messages on a selection of 20 colors, and the packaging possibilities have expanded to tiny tins and custom-designed bags. Prices start at $3.99 per unit. (866) 290-6854; mymms.com/business
A Private Audience
Wow Toilet is a clear plastic toilet tank with a display window for a marketing piece. Sell the space to a sponsor or use it to drive home the event's message. The tank costs $89.95 and requires a simple installation. The company can custom-print the poster inserts for an additional fee. (714) 791-8124; wowtoilet.com
Second Life
Who knew recycled plastic bottles could turn into a fabric so soft and fuzzy? Museum of Robots's simple gray tote, made with this durable material, is unfussy and tasteful. Retail prices range from $30 for the Wine Bag to $50 for the Large Tote; wholesale pricing is offered for orders of 100 or more. (415) 721-0525; museumofrobots.com
Tiny Powerhouse
Baggu's colorful nylon reusable bags can be carried in a pocket but hold up to 50 pounds. The bags, which come in dozens of colors and patterns, cost between $4 to $8, based on the number purchased; for orders of 200 or more, the company can screen-print the bags for an additional fee. (858) 952-1032; baggubag.com
Fine Prints
These sturdy totes come in a variety of old-school patterns. For the right meeting -- perhaps a VIP women's event -- they'll make a major splash. The Simple Tote shown here costs $9. (818) 240-9793; kitschnglam.com
Work the Network
With eventSocial software from BDMetrics, confirmed attendees of large events can search their social networks -- Facebook and LinkedIn, for example -- to see which of their colleagues are registered and encourage the others to sign on. The Direct Marketing Association tried it for a convention in October, and within three days, 687 attendees sent out 3,265 invitations to attend. Cost: $5,000. bdmetrics.com
Get in Shipshape
Adventure travel can bring executives together like nothing else, but not everyone is in good enough cardiovascular shape to brave daylong hikes. Fit For Trips is a company that specializes in improving people's fitness before the plane leaves. A minimum four-week online regime costs $169; discounts are available on multiple orders. (888) 318-1742; www.fitfortrips.com
Write On
Planning a serious brainstorming meeting? Try laying out these triangular pencils from Faber-Castell. They're made of high-quality Jelutong wood, they won't roll off a table and their gray color looks great in sleek, fashionable spaces. Cost, $18 for a box of 12. faber-castell.us