Photo Buttons and Magnets Ottawa: The Branded Keepsake That Keeps Working

Corporate swag has a half-life problem.

A branded pen lasts a week before it ends up in someone else’s pencil cup. A tote bag gets used twice and forgotten. A water bottle survives if it’s good quality, otherwise it joins the cupboard of shame.

Photo buttons and magnets are different. Because they’re personalized to the guest, they don’t get thrown away.

Custom photo buttons and magnets in Ottawa are quietly becoming the highest-retention swag option at corporate events.

Why They Work

Personalization Beats Promotion

A magnet with your logo: discarded. A magnet with the guest’s face AND your logo: stuck to the fridge for years.

Daily Brand Impressions

Once that magnet hits the fridge, the guest sees your brand every time they grab a drink. Multiply by months. Now multiply by everyone who visits their home.

Cost Per Impression Beats Almost Everything

Compared to digital ads, billboards, or sponsorships, the cost per brand impression on a fridge magnet that lives for 2 years is incredibly efficient.

Best Use Cases

Trade Show Booths

Attendees walk away with a personalized magnet featuring themselves and your booth branding. Trade show activations use buttons as instant lead magnets — literally and figuratively.

Conference Welcome Receptions

Set up the button station as part of registration. Attendees collect a button with their photo and the conference branding on day one.

Charity Walks and Fundraising Events

“Team” buttons featuring participants with the charity logo. Worn during the event, kept after.

Holiday Parties

Photo magnets featuring the team or family. Hits the fridge that night.

Sports and Community Events

Fan buttons featuring guests in team gear. Worn proudly, kept forever.

Buttons vs. Magnets: Which to Pick

Buttons

• Best for wearable moments (events, conferences, walks)
• Lower per-unit cost
• Lives on jackets, bags, lanyards

Magnets

• Best for home use (fridge, file cabinet, locker)
• Slightly higher cost but longer lifespan
• Better for branded promotional use

Why Not Both?

Many of our clients offer both as part of the same activation. Guests can pick or take both.

Volume Considerations

Buttons and magnets are high-throughput. We can produce them at 60-100 per hour with a single station. For higher volume, we run multiple stations.

Pairing With Other Activations

• Pair with a photo booth so the photo from the booth becomes the magnet
• Pair with roaming photography for events without a fixed booth
• Use as a “exit gift” at the end of a longer activation

Investment

Button and magnet stations typically run $1,500-$3,000 for 3-4 hours, depending on volume and customization. Per-unit cost scales well with quantity.

Planning an event where you need real take-home value? Visit our photo buttons and magnets page.