July 20, 2020
Comic-Con@Home Offers Fun Merch
It’s another example of a large-scale convention gone virtual that’s trying to engage audiences and create community through branded merchandise – and a social media contest involving logoed products like badges.
For the first time in its 50-year history, Comic-Con International: San Diego had to be canceled – another casualty of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Naturally, it was a big bummer for comic, fantasy, sci-fi and pop culture enthusiasts, who in recent years have packed the San Diego Convention to the tune of 130,000 to 167,000 attendees over the course of the convention’s several days to enjoy everything from celebrity meets and cosplay, to interactive content, performances and a whole lot of comics, toys and related art/products for sale.
Still, organizers rallied and launched Comic-Con@Home – a virtual version of the event that will kick off on Wednesday, July 22. As the event date neared, would-have-been eager attendees wondered if they’d still be able to snag the exclusive Comic-Con 2020 branded merchandise that they would have purchased had the event been live and in person.
Organizers answered that question in the affirmative, announcing that a lineup of Comic-Con@Home swag will go on sale July 22.
Our official 2020 Comic-Con apparel and merchandise launches July 22, at 12 PM (PDT), but we’re just so excited that we had to give you a sneak peek! Here it is, our largest selection ever of quality apparel and merchandise. https://t.co/tEqVwFT7aI pic.twitter.com/VP5KnG0g57
— San Diego Comic-Con (@Comic_Con) July 13, 2020
Merch will include apparel like T-shirts, hoodies, henleys and tunic tees. There are enamel pins, dice, a flat-bill structured hat, a dad hat, a tote bag, socks, water bottles and headwear that can double as a face mask. More items could be added as the event gets underway, media outlets reported.
When the official merch was announced, Comic-Con, a nonprofit, received positive feedback on social media, with people worldwide showing interest in having swag shipped to them. Given the unprecedented nature of the virtual event, it’s possible that the merchandise will become sought-after collectors’ items in a community known for its love of rare merch and collectibles.
In a related fun twist, Comic-Con is orchestrating a social media competition in which it has challenged virtual attendees to create a little of the feel of a live event in their homes. Participants can go here to download things like printable event badges, Comic-Con-themed door/window signs, San Diego Convention Center signs, and even audio clips of announcements you’d typically hear at the pop culture event. (There are also badges for pets – something new this year.)
Using the above elements, competition participants then must create a convention-like experience at their abodes and submit a minute-long video, via Twitter or Instagram, to show the results. Comic-Con planned to showcase select videos on its social media channels.
Attendee “At Home Badge”
While the virtual event won’t be the same as being there, Comic-Con’s clever use of promotional products and logoed event elements like badges in the social media contest could help engender a sense of camaraderie and togetherness even while people remain physically apart.