BlogHer09: Day 1 - Swag Bags, Big Brands, Networking & More!

BlogHer '09 is the premiere conference for women bloggers. Bastille Marketing is here for the first time and so far, it is all its cracked up to be. While I have missed the majority of today's sessions because I have been hanging out on the Exhibit floor networking like a madwoman, the feedback overheard and the tweets indicate that people are pleased with the content.

There is swag galore! My BlogHer '09 roommie and former NMS colleague, Leslie Bradshaw, has unboxed in full digital glory all of the goodies we've received so far. Check it out - from Mr. Potato Head, to a vibrator (?!) and a female urination device, to yummy Ragu recipes, to numerous thumb drives creatively concealed in cute boxes and even bracelets.

I have been thoroughly impressed with the big brand response at BlogHer. Not only have major brands come out in a huge way to support (and woo!) the bloggers here, they have also been totally creative in how they have done it. PepsiCo has several brands represented in an impressively large booth at the entrance of the Exhibit Hall. What strikes me about PepsiCo - a brand I am quite familiar with - is that they took a philanthropic approach to their brand presence. Each area of the booth has a product line, but also promotes a philanthropy - for example, a book donation drop-off, green energy, etc.

Bissell is located in the back corner and I had to go remind them how much I adore the Steam Mop that I just purchased. Ann Taylor has a great booth with their lead stylist present and several outfits from their new fall line debuting here in Chicago at their Michigan Avenue store on Sunday morning for BlogHer attendees. Mary Kay has two booths and a great presentation as well with their virtual makeover tool. Hanes wowed me with their foot massage booth, and the adorable set-up of the booth - the wall was covered in t-shirt wallpaper, the benches were made from t-shirts with embroidered tees and undies. Their swag was a t-shirt bag - see Leslie's pic of it! Super cute.

While so many booths were amazingly creative with the design as well as their give-aways, the homerun goes to PepsiCo's Propel Water. Why? Because they really thought ahead - they are offering a service that they will pack up and send all of your swag home for you! All you do is pay for the shipping costs. Brilliant.

Off to more networking at the PepsiCo sponsored cocktail party, then dinner. Then the party of the night - Mommy Needs a Cocktail Party! Can't wait.