Event date: July 14–15, 2026 · Published: July 28, 2026
A tote designed in two stages
The Esri UC activation used a two-sided premium canvas tote. One full-color side was produced before the event; the second side became the live guest experience. Attendees chose from 16 designs, and the selected artwork was heat pressed on-site at the San Diego Convention Center.
Why preprinting one side helped
The preprinted side guaranteed consistent event branding on every bag. Reserving the second side for guest choice created the customization moment without asking the live team to build both sides under conference traffic. That hybrid model is useful when a sponsor needs guaranteed brand visibility and attendees still expect a personal decision.
Two long conference days
The station ran from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on July 14 and 15. Including setup and teardown, the operating plan covered 19 hours. Long days make replenishment and organization important: designs need fixed labeled locations, blank totes need to stay clean and flat, and finished pieces need a separate cooling and handoff zone.
What a 16-design menu requires
More artwork does not have to mean a slower line. Show the complete menu before the order point, assign each design a simple number, and store transfers in the same sequence behind the counter. Guests decide while waiting, then communicate one code to the operator. See other conference formats on our conference merch printing page.
Planning a similar activation?
Send Merch Troop your event date, city, guest count, product, and live window. We will translate the brief into a station count, power plan, staffing plan, and production schedule. Request a live event printing quote.
Recap prepared by the Merch Troop event production team from completed-event production records and original on-site photography.