A Buying Guide for Custom Destination Souvenirs

What an attraction or tourism board should decide before asking for a souvenir quotation, and which construction fits which price point.

Decide the Price Points First

A working souvenir shelf usually needs three: an impulse item, a gift item and a display item. Our Ark range is a clear example of the same principle inside one design family, running from a 203g mini at souvenir price to a 2500g display model. Decide the three price points, then choose constructions that land on them, rather than designing one item and hoping it fits everywhere.

Choose Constructions That Get Kept

Souvenirs that do a job stay visible. A bottle opener magnet is used and then goes back on the fridge. A Christmas ornament is stored and rehung every year, which is why year dating makes an annual programme work. A flat printed magnet gets replaced. Function is what buys the years of brand exposure.

Get the Landmark Silhouette Right

Recognition is the whole product. Cast relief conveys lattice, structure and depth that flat printing cannot, which is why a die-cast tower still reads as that tower at 60mm while a printed one does not. Send photographs from several angles when you brief a landmark.

Budget for Tooling and Order Accordingly

Custom tooled designs generally start at 1,000 pieces. If your annual volume for a single design is below that, consider adapting an existing design with custom content, or consolidating several planned items onto one tooling family with different finishes.

Ask for Retail-Ready Packing

A souvenir that has to be boxed by the retailer before it can be gifted loses sales. Our landmark models ship in a gift box; other items can be packed in poly bag, gift bag or your own printed packaging. Specify this at quotation stage, not after the first delivery.