What Event Guests Actually Keep
After years of working events across Montréal, we've had thousands of conversations with guests about what they keep versus what they discard. Here's what we've learned, roughly ranked from most to least kept:
1) Personalized photo magnets — kept nearly always. 2) Custom photo books — kept usually. 3) Candles with custom labels — kept sometimes. 4) Chocolate or food items — consumed immediately. 5) Wine glasses — kept maybe, if they don't break. 6) Branded pens/keychains — discarded usually within weeks. 7) Potted plants — kept until they die. 8) Candy buffet bags — eaten the night of. 9) Paper fans/folding items — kept rarely. 10) Generic tote bags — depends on quality.
Why Personalization Changes Everything
The key differentiator is personalization. A photo magnet that features the guest's own face — taken at this specific event, in this specific moment — is impossible to throw away. It's a piece of that person's personal history.
The Daily Visibility Factor
Photo magnets live on the refrigerator — the most-visited surface in any home — delivering daily positive impressions year after year. That's why they remain the highest-ROI event souvenir available in Montréal.