Coffee Break: Cuyana Insert

92 Comments

1. Would love the crowd’s opinion: I have to choose a variety of giveaways/logo swag for my company’s booth at upcoming conferences. What have been the most useful giveaways you’ve picked up from conference booths in the past? I have a lot of flexibility to do something more interesting than pens and stress balls – would love to find something that people like and use.

   (And before anyone suggests it: yes, I know that a lot of this stuff gets thrown away. No, not ordering anything is not an option.)

   1. Phone charger battery thingy. Chip clip.

   2. Good quality umbrellas, popsockets for phones, and depending on where you are geographically, sunscreen was a winner! A weird but wonderful one I got from a former employer (a university…we bleed swag): an eyemask that you keep in the fridge or freezer. Heavenly.

   3. Phone chargers (cords/splitters) are the most useful to me.

   4. You don’t say what audience you’re targeting. That can make a difference. I like power chargers. I’ve seen stuffed animals do well (folks wanting to pick them up for their kids) but it seems to me like too much space to get home.

   5. Company-branded Moleskin notebook, mini spray hand sanitizer, charging brick

      1. I love to get all of these.

   6. external battery

   7. I recently got a sunshade (for the car) that has been surprisingly useful this summer.

   8. I have to bring promo materials to work events a lot, sunscreen was a popular one, hand sanitizer, and a little kit with eyeglass cleaner and a wipe cloth thing.

      Personally, I think people can never have too many umbrellas, so I like that idea above.

   9. microfiber clothes for eyeglasses

   10. Phone chargers – the multi-ended cables that plug into a laptop are nice but I really like a booth that gives away both the plug piece AND a regular lightning cable.

       Reusable bags. I definitely reuse these for grocery shopping and advertise for whatever law firm or medical review or whatever is on them (i work in insurance)

       I might occasionally steal a pen because I need something to write with but I don’t need like 10 new pens. If you’re going to give away pens, my opinion is to give fewer, nicer pens.

       The guaranteed way to get me over to your booth is to have a bowl full of mini Reese’s peanut butter cups around 2PM.

       1. Another vote for reusable bags. One of my vendors specifically gets the ones that are big enough for a frozen pizza, as that is the size that is generally missing at conferences.

          1. The chip clip and reusable bags remind me of my childhood – we had both of those items in our house from conferences my mom had attended and *still do*! I don’t think we even have store-bought chip clips!

          2. I actually like the ones I think you’re thinking of as cheap. I notice the grocery store checkers like a bag that sits upright with a flat bottom so my preferred bags are the recycled material ones that weigh next to nothing and fold up like a paper grocery bag, if that description makes any sense.

             If they tear after a year, ah well, they were recycled to begin with, and I’ll be back at the conference annually anyway.

             1. Oops this comment about cheap bags was meant for Rainbow Hair below.

       2. A vendor once handed out branded pens at a pitch meeting that had all the features:
          – nice roller ball action
          – cap had a smartphone stylus
          – end was a tiny flashlight

          Our VP spent the whole meeting playing with his pen. But everyone who got one held on to those pens. They were amazing.

          1. I got that pen once!! Nice and heavy too. Which I like when I’m writing.

             There are only a handful of vendors for these things so I guess it’s not surprising that happens.

             I don’t actually use the stylus though.

          2. My company gives out those pens (or something like them) and they are so popular that we get good-natured complaints when we don’t bring them.

   11. i work in a role where i organize the types of events where swag is frequently given out. umbrellas are a favorite item by far. also like hand sanitizer. those phone pop sockets are over done. a magnetic chip clip is also great

   12. Nail file

   13. I would be thrilled to get a small umbrella. I have been thrilled to get colored sharpies! I like (good!) travel mugs. And I like the good quality nylon grocery bags (but not those awful ones that fall apart). My husband says he’s divorcing me if I bring home any more water bottles (but that might not stop me).

       I have been getting a lot of cords that are USB on one end and iphone on the other, but not the square thing to put into the wall. So that would be something I would be happy to get.

       1. My hurricane prep is going to consist of me filling up every free branded water bottle I’ve got with water tomorrow, so I’m all for water bottles. I just stick the extras in the attic until I need them for hurricane or snow storm prep. I am also a fan of external battery packs for phones and umbrellas.

          1. Be safe, Gail! Fellow Triangler here…just hunkering down with my water and books and food.

   14. A law firm gives out sunglasses at a thing I go to annually, and I love them. Would work especially well if the event is in LA/Vegas/San Diego etc.

   15. Sliding webcam covers. Super cheap, really useful, and they’ll be staring at your logo pretty much until they get a new laptop.

       1. I wish I could get the adhesive on these to actually stick. Mine only lasted about a week after the conference – sorry Aon risk solutions!

   16. Hand sanitizer, magnet clips/chip clips, nail files, flash drives, M&M in company colors. My husband likes the microfiber cloths for screens or glasses. People seem to really like those pouches that stick on the back of phones, too.

   17. Things I have and use: colored mini sharpies, umbrellas, stuffed animal (he’s very colorful and cute and sits on my bookcase in my office for some personality), reusable bags

       Things I mean to but never use: post-its, regular pens, little notepads

   18. Depending on what your company does, good quality stress balls/items that are unique. I have one that is shaped like an attorney going to court with a briefcase that is cool, and political animal ones. If you have a cool animal mascot, that could be nice. Just put the writing on the back.

       Otherwise, I like umbrellas or phone chargers

   19. A little first-aid type kit. Just a few bandaids, towelettes, and packets of first-aid cream. It’s been useful having it in my work bag.

       1. +1. I went to a conference where an insurance company gave them out. It’s a great little kit!

   20. To beat a dead horse: chip clips. Whenever I’ve done booths, we run out of chip clips the fastest, even when we have other, more expensive swag as well.
       I’ll also give a vote to gum with a custom wrapper. After lunch, everyone will come to your table if you have packs of gum.

   21. Since you have leeway to choose more expensive, could you also choose sustainable? E.g. glass or stainless steel water bottles, stainless steel smoothie straws, organic cotton or recycled reusable bags? If you could partner with a local or relevant (to your audience) producer, your company could showcase some sustainable shopping habits.

       Some things I have received and gotten use out of: quality umbrellas, flashlights, leatherman-style tools (not suitable if your audience is flying in), bottle opener, reflective snap bands, reusable bags.

       Some things I have received and would have preferred not to: bookmarks, low-quality pens, candy, chocolate, mints, anything electronic that plugs into a phone/computer (for security issues), key fobs, anti-bacterial liquid things, stress balls, t-shirts, ruck-sacks.

       Some things I would love to get: proper tweezers, a stainless steel or titanium spork, quality sleeping mask, first aid kit, sharpies, “travel kit for clothes emergencies – iron on patches, sewing stuff, etc”, RFID card protector, reflective vests/hats/earbands, condoms, carabiner, running belt, snow/ice scraper.

       1. Coaster stone things that fit in my car cup holders and absorb spills. Love them.

   22. Headphones. Moleskin notebooks. Cute stuffed animals that I can give to my kids. Post it notes. Webcam covers. Nice pens.

   23. Nice bound notebooks- Moleskine style ones. They always get used in my workplace.

2. I don’t have the insert but I have the outer bag shown in this pic (structured tote, in stone) and it is an absolute workhorse. Mine still looks great to new after I’ve been not-carefully schlepping it around every single day since I bought it in May.

   1. I can see the value of the insert, as I also have the bag and stuff would just got lost in there. But I started using make-up cases to organization my stuff and it works great. When I change bags, I don’t have tons of little things to move, and instead just have to worry about two make-up bags

      1. Yeah, that’s basically how I organize. I have a makeup bag for makeup, a makeup bag for chargers and cables, a wallet, a sunglass case, and if it’s after work also my notebook and laptop. If I didn’t put everything in cases I’d lose things in there, but I like the neat appearance of everything in their little pods.

3. Uhh, you do know that you can get a felt purse organizer on Amazon for around 30$ right

   1. I don’t think I would want felt. Sounds messy

      1. Its high quality durable felt. The fabric hairs don’t come off in your purse – I have four of these. How else would it be messy unless you spilled?

         1. I like to empty and wipe out the inside of my bag every week or so. Felt would be harder to get clean. Also why I don’t like suede-lined bags.

   2. I would welcome specific recs/links if anyone has them. I have a cheap nylon one I don’t like because it doesn’t stay open.

      1. I really like this one I bought a few years ago: https://www.amazon.com/Organizer-Insert-Handbag-Pockets-Colors/dp/B01MS493IV/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1536695256&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=purse+organizer&psc=1

   3. FWIW, I had the felt organizer from Amazon in my Cuyana bag & recently bought their insert and it makes a world of difference. Theirs fits the bag perfectly & is a lot easier to organize around. It is heavier, but not much heavier than the felt one. Personally, I’m finding it worth the extra price.

4. Ok regular poster here but just waking up to the internet rumors… did our First Lady really have cosmetic surgery rather than kidney surgery? I need to think of something scandalous today….

   1. I’m no fan of the president or the first family (the adults, that is), but what does this even matter?

      Plenty of scandalous things going on that are scandalous because they are actual scandals; I suggest checking out your local paper.

      1. +1 it’s her body, if she wants to alter it surgically I give no f*cks. I refuse to google to find out whether she did or not.

   2. Why’s it matter?

   3. OMG – I never considered this! Fascinating.

   4. You don’t have to look past the nose of the President for scandal. Obviously she’s no innocent party since she tolerates his B.S. but I feel somewhat bad for her. She entered the marriage thinking she’d be taken care of by some old rich guy and live out her golden years wealthy with play boys to entertain her after her sugar daddy dies (obviously I’m exaggerating based on model marries rich guy stereotypes). But on a serious note, she signed up to be a society wife and then later gets dragged into the **itshow that is the Presidency right now and she obviously despises the role she has to play. I’d be furious.

   5. Sorry, op here. I lost a friend 17 years ago today, and his wife, my closer friend, shortly after … just looking for some real housewives level distraction. All the social media tributes to 9/11 today mess me up.

      1. I’m sorry, OP. And I’m sorry you’re getting rude responses. I guarantee these people on their high horses also consume gossip when they want to.

      2. If you’re looking for an entertaining low-stakes conspiracy theory, Ira Madison has a long-running soap-operaesque story about Melania and her doppleganger stand in, Delphine, going on twitter if you can find it.

         I’m so sorry about your friends.

      3. Hugs.

         I have no issues with cosmetic surgery or the first lady’s privacy. But why lie and say it’s her kidney? Is it just the pro-lie administration?

      4. there’s a canadian site, I think it’s beautyeditor[dot]ca, that does amazing “was it plastic surgery” retrospectives of various celebs, and they’ve done Melania.

         Aha! found it, it’s now theskincaredit[dot]com, and all the relevant columns are labeled “before and after.” excellent for distractions.

5. Sorry this is a very remedial question. When people talk about “gardening” for hours, I am baffled. Like, are you actually gardening for hours? Or are you taking like 45 minute breaks or something? I uh, bloom, really quickly and easily and I have never gardened for a particularly extended period of time. Or is extended gardening something that most people don’t do? Am I missing out in some way?

   1. I’ve never met anyone who gardens for that long. Honestly, any longer than 30 min. and my tools get damaged and scratched. I think when people refer to gardening for hours they are including the “prep” stages that get the plants ready for planting to guarantee a good bloom.

   2. Yeah I don’t understand this either. I can’t imagine anything worse than literally gardening for hours. Who wants stuff to get chafed?

   3. I’m with you. We garden, I bloom, he blooms, we cuddle, I get up to pee, we move on with our lives.
      Sometimes I’ll refer to “oh we spent the whole afternoon gardening,” but that usually means the above progression, but instead of going and doing something else, we continue the cuddling part and after a while it turns into gardening again. It’s not like we bloom and then start over 3 minutes later.

   4. I think it’s like, you spend a lot of time picking out your seeds, aerating the soil, adding fertilizer, then a relatively small number of minutes plowing (5-15?), then you continue sitting in your flower bed admiring your handiwork, talking about your other flowers, watering other parts of the garden, and then you start the escalation again.

      /metaphor- Usually how soon you start the escalation again depends on his refractory period. But I’ve definitely stayed bed naked messing around for upwards of 5 hours. The actual PIV part is a relatively small percentage of time.

6. Its my husband birthday coming up soon. He has been above awesome spouse lately. I am pregnant and dropping all the balls and he is picking up every single one and keeping it in the air for me. I would love to do something nice for him for his birthday. We tend to give experiences rather than gifts. When he wants something, its rare, and he tends to get it for himself right away so gifts don’t really work. His birthday is on a Sunday and he already booked a birthday dinner reservation so I wouldn’t have to worry about it. And on the day before Saturday, an event is happening in town and he already asked some guy friends to go with him to it. How can I make his birthday special? Its his last birthday without kids, he is in his early 30s. Help!

   1. Can you add something onto the event with his friends? Like if it’s a concert or sporting event, arrange for them to have car service and/or dinner beforehand or upgraded seats or something?

   2. Would he enjoy a spa day? My husband loves couples massages…

7. Winter is approaching in Wisconsin and I need some new fleece or thick cable knit tights/leggings but I am SHORT. Around 5′. Every winter I have an issue of about 12″ too much leg on each leg of the tights that slowly slumps to my ankles once per hour, and I can’t scootch them up to my thighs without going to the bathroom. Does anyone actually make genuinely petite/short warm tights? Should I be buying kids’ tights? I am about a size 6, with a very round backside.

   1. Know anyone with access to a sewing machine? I would just cut them off and sew a new seam.

   2. I’m about 5’2″ and all Uniqlo pants/tights/leggings I’ve tried have been a great length for me

      1. Ha I cosign. I bought a pair of tights at Uniqlo once and they only came up to my knees! With a lot of stretching I pulled them up and after two seconds they ripped.

8. Can anyone recommend some basic all around gym shoes that I can order on Amazon? Also open to an easy access store like DSW or Target. In my area the athletic gear specific stores (a la Nike, Adidas, Sports Locker) are in outlet or suburban malls that are difficult to get to. I’m looking for a second pair to keep in my trunk for lunch time workouts and walks. I’m trying to limit under $50, since they will be my secondary pair and mostly used for power walking on the treadmill and walking to and from machines as I lift. My primary pair for hardcore workouts is higher quality and kept at home.

   1. If you have a pair you like, try looking for older versions of that shoe on Amazon or Running Warehouse. For example, I like the Kinvaras, and have had luck buying the Kinvara 5 for $60ish. The current model is the 9. They do feel a little different but I still like them and the price is right.

   2. I lift in chuck taylors – that being said anything impact related and I change to other sneakers. You are generally supposed to lift weights in flat soles though.

9. It just feels like a scam to me to sell you a $200 bag that’s not useful unless you buy a separate item that costs another $100.

   1. I find it totally useful without the insert. I use/abuse it daily and love it. The leather is really high quality.

   2. I agree with this and have used this rule in other areas before making a purchase – if the item isn’t usable without expensive “extra”, I find a better-designed alternative.

      1. But you can totally use the bag without the insert???? I mean, nobody’s making you buy the bag if you don’t want to, but this is a weird complaint to me. I use my Cuyana tote every g-d day and I don’t have an insert.

         1. Different anon here, also appreciate the ability to buy the components I like and not the ones I don’t. I don’t use the organizer either, and I think it’s silly to imply the tote is unusable without one.

            Different people like different things – what a concept!

         2. I bought the bag a few years ago as a work bag, but given there is no organizer, it’s hard to store a laptop and my other crap and not go searching around (which is how I feel about most unstructured bags in general). So I love that they created this organizer, because it’s something that didn’t even occur to me to buy off of amazon but would give me the opportunity to carry my bag much more often.

   3. I agree!

10. Since it got stuck in mod for some strange reason:

    Can anyone suggest a gym shoe from Amazon, Target, DSW or the like as a secondary pair for light workouts at my work gym? Really used for power walking and weight lifting. Below $50

    1. I’m in love with my Saucony Ride 10 shoes. A newer model is out so you should be able to get a great deal online.

    2. Saucony Originals Women’s Bullet Sneaker, although caveat I like to wear mine with an insole (the insole they come with is too thin for extended walking, IMO).

       I’ve also got pairs of Saucony Originals Women’s Jazz Low Pro Sneaker in the past that I liked.

    3. Also stuck in mod. Saucony: either Jazz Lo Pro or Bulet?

11. any hive recommendations for places order fine personal stationery online?

    1. american stationery company !!!!!! used them for decades, high quality, incl. Crane if you want that, and so many options, colors, styles, fonts.

       1. +1 to American stationers

    2. I’ve had engraved stationery from Dempsey & Carroll for years and years. I love it.

       1. +1 to Dempsey and Carroll. They also do an annual sale around the holidays/New Year, which is when I stock up.

    3. Reaves Engraving in North Carolina. Mom and pop company that’s been doing it for decades.

       And, um, depending on how Florence turns out, they might really need your order if you can wait for things to dry out…

    4. Thanks so much for all the recommendations!

12. I always learn something new from these tutorials, Great list! I’ve bookmarked it for future use

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