CASE STUDY: How One Thoughtful Dinner Replaced a $50K Booth—and Drove $20M in Deals

When our client came to us, they were gearing up for a major industry conference—the first big one post-pandemic. The stakes were high, the competition was fierce, and they were up against much larger players with much deeper pockets.

Their initial plan? Secure a booth on the tradeshow floor. The price tag? Over $50,000 just to show up in the same space as their competitors.

But here’s the thing: booths don’t build relationships. People do.

So we asked the question that changed everything:

“What if we ditch the booth—and do something unforgettable instead?”

The Problem

As one of the smaller companies in the space, the client knew they needed to make a big impression. But with limited budget and limited brand recognition, a standard booth would have left them lost in the noise.

They didn’t just want visibility. They wanted connection—real conversations with the right people.

The Strategy

We designed an experience—not just an activation.

Instead of competing for attention on the tradeshow floor, we helped the client host an exclusive dinner party on the first night of the conference—strategically timed before the event calendar got packed.

Here’s what we did:

• Secured a private suite at a fun, upscale sports bar near the venue

• Curated the guest list with targeted prospects the sales team wanted to engage

• Created a relaxed, stylish atmosphere with great food, great music, and zero pressure

• Equipped each attendee with a custom “conference survival kit”—a sleek backpack filled with thoughtful items to help them get through the week (and carry all the swag they’d collect)

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This wasn’t a forced networking event or salesy dinner—it was a space for real dialogue.

Prospects were relaxed, open, and genuinely enjoying themselves. The sales team had room for longer, more meaningful conversations—ones that turned into real opportunities.

The Results

One dinner. No tradeshow booth. Just strategy, intention, and care.

The entire experience—including the private venue, dinner, drinks, ambiance, and curated giveaway backpacks—cost approximately $15,000. A fraction of what a tradeshow booth would have cost.

And the result?

• Over $20 million in acquisition deals directly attributed to relationships built at that dinner

• A brand that went from unknown to unforgettable in one night

• A sales team that skipped the stress—and built real momentum instead

The Takeaway

You don’t have to spend big to make a big impact. You just need the right strategy.

Intentional gifting and experience design isn’t about flashy gestures or fancy branding—it’s about creating moments that make people feel seen, valued, and connected. And when you do that? The ROI takes care of itself.

Ready to reimagine how you show up? Let’s skip the swag bags and build something that actually moves the needle.

🡲 Book a discovery call and let’s talk strategy.