A DIY Custom Lanyard Workshop Where Every Guest Became the Designer
For a brand anniversary, merchandise can be more than a free gift.
It can become part of the experience.
For the JD Sports 10th Anniversary Roadshow, JINI Studio created a hands-on DIY custom lanyard workshop that allowed customers to design their own lanyard from the ground up — choosing the colours, components, wrist design and even adding their own name.
Over a 5-day roadshow, guests could create a practical, personalised accessory that could be used as a phone lanyard, tumbler strap, bag charm, keychain or spectacles holder.
The project was designed to make the anniversary celebration interactive: instead of simply receiving JD Sports merchandise, guests got to make something themselves and take it home.
From Colour to Design — Guests Created Their Own Lanyard
The heart of the activation was customisation.
Guests were given the freedom to decide how their lanyard should look.
They could customise:
- Main cord colour
- Carabiner shape
- Wristlet design
- Wristlet colour
- Name beads
- Overall colour combination
This meant that even though everyone was participating in the same workshop, the finished lanyards could look completely different.
Some could be bold and colourful.
Others could be simple and understated.
And with the addition of personalised name beads, each finished lanyard became uniquely theirs.
A DIY Workshop Designed Around the Customer
Rather than a conventional promotional giveaway, JINI Studio designed the activation as a DIY merchandise experience.
The customer wasn't simply handed a finished product.
They became part of the production process.
The experience was:
Choose → Customise → Assemble → Personalise → Take Home
This format works particularly well for retail roadshows because it gives customers a reason to stop, participate and spend time with the brand.
For an anniversary campaign like JD Sports 10th Anniversary, the merchandise becomes part of the celebration rather than something separate from it.
200 VIP Guests. 2 Hours. One Smooth Customisation Experience.
One of the most important tests of a DIY event isn't just how attractive the finished product looks.
It is whether the experience can actually handle a crowd.
For the JD Sports media launch, approximately 200 VIP guests completed their customisation within two hours.
That required more than simply providing materials.
The workshop had to be organised so that guests could understand their options, make decisions quickly and move through the customisation process smoothly.
JINI Studio planned the merchandise components and customisation flow around the event environment, helping the experience remain practical even with a large number of participants.
For corporate events and brand activations, this operational side is just as important as the creative concept.
A 5-Day Roadshow Experience
The JD Sports 10th Anniversary activation continued across a 5-day roadshow.
This meant the workshop had to work consistently throughout the campaign — not just during the launch event.
The merchandise had to be prepared, the components organised and the customisation process structured so that customers could participate throughout the roadshow.
For a multi-day retail activation, consistency matters.
Every guest should be able to understand the same customisation options and receive the same quality of finished product regardless of when they visit.
More Than a Giveaway — A Lanyard People Can Actually Use
The finished product was designed to be multipurpose.
Depending on how the customer wanted to use it, the lanyard could be attached to:
- Phone
- Tumbler
- Water bottle
- Bag
- Keys
- Spectacles
- Small accessories
This multipurpose design was intentional.
A promotional item has more opportunity to stay relevant when it can become part of someone's everyday routine.
Instead of being an event souvenir that is put away after the roadshow, the lanyard can continue travelling with the customer.
Personalisation Makes the Merchandise More Meaningful
One of the simplest details became one of the most personal:
The guest's name.
By adding alphabet beads, customers could customise their lanyard with their own name.
This small element changed the relationship between the person and the product.
It was no longer simply:
“JD Sports event merchandise.”
It became:
“My lanyard.”
That distinction is important when designing merchandise for modern brand activations.
The strongest event gifts don't necessarily need to be complicated.
They need to give people a reason to care about them.
Handmade Craftsmanship Meets Event-Scale Production
JINI Studio's approach to merchandise comes from the handmade paracord heritage of KD Goods.
The business began with handmade paracord accessories and developed through years of producing customised products, corporate merchandise and event projects.
That experience gives JINI Studio an unusual combination of:
Handmade craftsmanship + customisation + event execution
For a DIY workshop, this means understanding both sides of the project:
The creative side
How the product looks, feels and can be personalised.
The operational side
How hundreds of people can actually customise it during a live event.
That combination is particularly important for corporate workshops, roadshows and brand activations where the merchandise needs to look good and work smoothly on the ground.
Delivered on Time for the Roadshow
Large event merchandise projects operate around fixed dates.
A launch cannot simply be postponed because merchandise isn't ready.
For the JD Sports 10th Anniversary Roadshow, the custom lanyard merchandise was delivered on time, ready for the 5-day activation.
For event organisers, agencies and brand teams, reliable delivery is an essential part of custom merchandise production.
The product may be creative, but the execution still needs to be professional.
Why DIY Merchandise Works for Brand Activations
A DIY merchandise station can create several layers of engagement at the same time.
1. It attracts attention
A live making activity is naturally more engaging than a table of ready-made giveaways.
2. It gives customers a reason to participate
People aren't simply collecting merchandise — they're creating it.
3. It creates personalisation
Customers make decisions about colours, designs and names.
4. It increases product relevance
A multipurpose lanyard can continue to be used after the event.
5. It creates a memory
The finished product becomes a physical reminder of the experience.
For retail brands, product launches, anniversaries and roadshows, these elements can turn merchandise into part of the overall brand activation.
Custom DIY Workshops for Corporate Events in Malaysia
JINI Studio creates custom merchandise experiences for brands, corporations, agencies and event organisers.
Our projects can include:
- DIY lanyard workshops
- Custom phone lanyard workshops
- Corporate DIY workshops
- Event merchandise
- Corporate gifts
- Custom event lanyards
- Phone straps
- Wristlets
- KOL merchandise
- Influencer gifting
- Retail roadshow merchandise
- Brand activation merchandise
- Product launch gifts
- Personalised event giveaways
The product can be adapted to the event's brand colours, theme, audience, venue and customer journey.
From a small corporate gathering to a high-volume retail roadshow, the workshop format can be designed around the expected number of participants and available time.
JINI Studio — From Product to Experience
The JD Sports 10th Anniversary project represents the type of work JINI Studio was built to create.
Not simply:
“Here is your corporate gift.”
But:
“Come and make something that is yours.”
That difference turns merchandise into an experience.
And when the finished product is useful, personalised and made to fit the brand, the experience can continue long after the event ends.
Project Snapshot
Client: JD Sports
Project: JD Sports 10th Anniversary Roadshow
Format: DIY Custom Lanyard Workshop
Duration: 5-day roadshow
Product: Multipurpose Custom Lanyard
Customisation: Main cord, carabiner, wrist design, wrist colour and name beads
Uses: Phone, tumbler, bag, keychain, spectacles and accessories
Media Launch: Approximately 200 VIP guests customised their lanyards within 2 hours
Delivery: Merchandise delivered on time for the roadshow