The challenge
An exhibitor at a McCormick Place trade show booked a patch bar for three afternoons, August 3 to 5, 2026. The goods were the client's own: trucker hats and travel bags. The bar ran in afternoon sessions, a different length each day, and the booking was sized for one Merch Troop staffer.
The activation
The plan was generic patches only: random designs, mixed and matched however the guest liked. Guests picked their patches and Merch Troop applied them on site. The hours shifted day to day: 1 to 4 p.m. on the 3rd, 1:45 to 6:15 p.m. on the 4th, and 1:45 to 4:45 p.m. on the 5th. That's ten and a half live hours across the three days, with setup and teardown on top.
The result
Because every patch was generic stock, nothing custom had to be designed or approved for this client. The job's whole prep list was one line, the generic patch order. Guests chose their own mix, so no two hats or bags had to match.