Why I’m Seeing More Demand for Printed Paper Clappers This Football and Events Season - And Why Print Resellers Should Pay Attention

Over the past few months, I’ve noticed a real increase in demand for printed paper clappers across football clubs, hospitality venues and event spaces, and interestingly, it is not just coming from major football clubs.

From local play-off finals and women’s football fixtures to charity matches, pub screenings, hospitality events and even marathons, this simple product is becoming one of the most effective ways to create atmosphere, improve sponsor visibility and add real value to live events.

For print resellers, I genuinely think this presents one of the strongest seasonal opportunities available right now.

One thing I keep seeing is that paper clappers are often dismissed as a low-cost add-on, when actually, they solve a very real problem for event organisers: how to create energy, engagement and visibility without stretching already tight budgets. They are affordable, highly visible and easy to distribute, which makes them ideal for clubs, venues and organisers looking to make more of an impact.

They are also brilliant for family-focused events. Whether it is junior football tournaments, girls’ and boys’ grassroots clubs, women’s football fixtures, charity fun days or marathon family zones, printed paper clappers are an easy way to get everyone involved. They are safe, simple, affordable and help create that feeling of occasion that makes events more memorable, especially for younger supporters and families.

As we head into one of the busiest periods in the sporting and events calendar, more customers are actively looking for products that enhance the event-day experience, and printed paper clappers are proving to be one of the easiest wins. Honestly, I think more resellers should be talking about them.

Why Demand Is Growing

The football calendar naturally creates strong seasonal demand. Events like the FA Cup Final, Championship Play-Off Finals, Women’s FA Cup Final, UEFA Champions League Final and charity fixtures such as Soccer Aid all bring increased attention to matchday experiences. While major stadiums like Wembley may be the obvious headline events, what stands out to me most is that the real opportunity for print resellers often sits much closer to home.

Non-league clubs, local football teams, women’s clubs, youth tournaments and county finals all want to create a bigger occasion around their fixtures. These organisations may not be ordering tens of thousands of units, but they are often far more accessible and far more likely to work with local print suppliers. That local angle is where I think many resellers can win fastest.

The same applies to hospitality venues. Pubs, sports bars, hotels and local event spaces showing major televised games want to create an atmosphere that encourages customers to stay longer, spend more and come back for future events. Branded paper clappers can become part of supporter packs, table promotions or VIP hospitality packages, and for venues, that can make a surprisingly big difference.

It is not just football either.

Marathons, charity runs and community sporting events are also driving demand. Supporters lining race routes, charity volunteers and sponsors all want ways to create visibility and encouragement. Printed paper clappers work brilliantly for these environments because they are lightweight, cost-effective and highly visible on the day.

A local marathon sponsor with branded clappers gains both crowd engagement and strong brand exposure, while the event organiser improves the overall experience for participants and supporters.

Rather than chasing national contracts, I think there is often much stronger commercial value in helping local clubs, local sponsors and local venues create memorable event experiences. That is usually where the quickest wins happen.

Women’s Football and the Family Matchday Opportunity

Having played for Arsenal Women F.C. when I was younger, I’ve seen first-hand just how much the women’s game has changed over the years. Although as a lifelong Tottenham Hotspur F.C. fan, the Arsenal side of things was never quite my natural comfort zone!

Rivalries aside, women’s football has become a huge family day out, with bigger crowds, stronger local support and far more focus on creating a full matchday experience than when I was playing.

That is one of the reasons I think printed paper clappers work so well here. They help younger fans feel part of the occasion, they create visible atmosphere in the stands, and they give clubs an easy way to make the day feel bigger and more memorable.

For girls’ teams, family supporters and local communities, that matters. Women’s football is no longer seen as a smaller side event. It is a major opportunity for clubs, sponsors and print resellers alike.

Why Clubs and Venues Love Printed Paper Clappers

The appeal is simple: they work.

Printed paper clappers help create noise, colour and visible excitement. They improve the perception of the event and make smaller fixtures feel bigger. For clubs, they help strengthen supporter engagement and create a stronger matchday atmosphere. For hospitality venues, they help turn a standard screening into something that feels like a proper event. They also provide something even more valuable: sponsorship opportunities. In my view, this is probably the strongest sales angle.

A local sponsor can fund branded paper clappers for a club or event in exchange for logo placement and visibility. The club gets a free fan engagement product, the sponsor gets exposure and goodwill, and the reseller delivers the solution. It is a much easier conversation because it removes budget pressure from the club itself.

For hospitality venues, the same model applies. A brewery, local estate agent or regional business may be more than happy to sponsor branded supporter packs for a major televised fixture. This is where paper clappers stop being just a print product and start becoming a genuine business solution. That is always a far stronger sales conversation.

The Best Customers to Target

For print resellers, the best opportunities are often the most local ones. Non-league football clubs, women’s teams, grassroots football organisations, youth academies and county football associations are all strong prospects. These organisations regularly run presentation days, finals, tournaments and fundraising events where branded paper clappers can work extremely well.

Hospitality venues should also be high on the list. Pubs near stadiums, hotels showing finals and corporate event spaces are always looking for ways to improve the customer experience around big sporting events.

Charity football matches, marathon organisers, local festivals and community sports events are also strong opportunities, particularly where sponsors are involved.

The biggest missed opportunity I see is resellers waiting too long. The easiest sales often come from helping customers prepare for an event they already know is coming. A play-off final, a cup final, a charity match or a local marathon creates urgency, and urgency creates action. The resellers who act first are usually the ones who win.

A Stronger Campaign Than Just “Selling Clappers”

The smartest approach is not to sell clappers as a standalone product. Instead, position them as part of a wider event-day print campaign.

Paper clappers naturally lead into banners, sponsor boards, posters, flyers, hospitality menus, table talkers, wristbands, lanyards and promotional signage. Once a customer starts planning the event atmosphere, they often need far more than one product.

This creates stronger order values and better long-term relationships for resellers. It also changes the conversation from price to value.

Instead of asking, “Do you need printed paper clappers?” the better question becomes, “How are you helping your customers create a memorable event?” I think that is a much stronger sales position. It moves the conversation away from price and towards outcomes, and that is where the best reseller relationships are built.

Turning Simple Print into Real Event Value

Printed paper clappers may seem like a simple product, but their value is much bigger than the product itself. They help clubs create atmosphere. They help venues improve experiences. They help sponsors gain visibility. Most importantly, they give print resellers an easy, timely and highly relevant reason to start conversations with customers.

As Marketing Director at WTTB, I spend a lot of time looking at where customer demand is shifting, and right now, this is one of the simplest opportunities I think more resellers should be acting on.

With football finals, charity events, marathons and local sporting fixtures creating demand across the country, this is one of the strongest seasonal opportunities available right now. The resellers who think locally, act early and position this as a solution rather than just a product will be the ones who benefit most.