Trade shows are exciting!
While they’re a direct and cost-effective way to meet new prospects, how can your booth stand out from the crowd?
With branded and the best trade show giveaways.
However, searching for the right items—especially with a limited budget—can be challenging.
Make a great impression with these 11 promotional products.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
#1: Water Bottles
Water bottles are day-to-day items most people use to stay hydrated.
Whether people use them at the gym or at work, they are a great way to promote your business.
Since walking around a trade show can be exhausting, getting a branded water bottle from your booth ensures the recipient leaves with your company imprinted in their mind.
Plus, eco-friendly, BPA-free water bottles send a wonderful message: that you promote a sustainable and more active lifestyle.
Author’s Tip: Make sure that it’s easy to carry and create a unique water bottle that shows off who you are as a brand.
Where to get: SwagDrop
Pricing: $15 – $55
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#2: T-shirts
To this day, T-shirts are still a very popular trade show item.
This promo product is great for your marketing campaign efforts since it simply fits all budgets.
Choose high-quality fabrics that will last and are comfortable to wear, so you make a great impact.
When it comes to branding, you can let your creativity flow and use full-color imprints that represent your brand. Make sure the design is stylish and won’t end up discarded.
Don’t worry about shirt size: learn the secret by reading this article!
Where to get: SwagDrop
Pricing: $5 – $95
#3: Drinkware
The secret to getting your brand into people’s homes?
Drinkware.
Drinkware can be used by anyone, both at home or work.
It suits every brand, logo, and budget, and can include:
- Stainless steel water bottles
- Coffee mugs
- Stadium cups
- Travel mugs
- Wine tumblers
Drinkware is the best type of trade show giveaway gift because it gets your brand into people’s homes. Plus, since it suits any type of audience, you can reach more people with every sip.
Keep branding elements stylish and minimal, but ensure they’re visible enough to increase brand recognition.
Author’s Tip: To make this gift extra special, consider including a branded coaster with the gift.
Where to get: SwagDrop
Pricing: $3 – $80
#4: Tote Bags
Let us introduce you to a nice, eco-friendly item that is useful, lightweight, and extremely practical.
Meet—
—the tote bag!
Tote bags are perfect for trade shows because attendees can carry their trade show swag in them, making use of your branded items from the very first moment they receive them.
They’re also a great alternative to harmful plastic bags since a cotton tote bag can be reused trillions of times.
You can inspire a more sustainable lifestyle or maximize brand awareness by designing your tote bag to feature a positive environmental message.
Don’t forget to combine a custom tote bag with brochures, business cards, flyers, planners, or other corporate gifts.
Where to get: SwagDrop
Pricing: $3 – $14
#5: Hats
What’s an all-time classic?
HATS!
Hats of any kind, whether that is a fleece hat, a ballcap, or a knit beanie, are always welcome at any event.
They’re budget-friendly and are a nice way to impress recipients.
Another plus is that custom hats are time-efficient to make, meaning that a simple logo printed on them will help you increase brand awareness.
Author’s Tip: When thinking about branding your hats, choose a design that will stand out from your competitors and enhance your company’s values.
Where to get: SwagDrop
Pricing: $5 – $10
#6: Coffee Mugs
Approximately 49% of people in the USA drink coffee daily, which means that many of your prospects are coffee drinkers.
So, what’s a good way to ensure you stay top of mind with event attendees?
By investing in a high-quality custom coffee mug you increase your chances of giving away something they’ll use daily to drink their favorite hot beverage.
Since a mug is a wonderful tool for building awareness and relationships, you can deliver a message to anyone without being overly promotional—and it fits any workspace or home.
It’s also fun to personalize!
Author’s Tip: Brand it with your company’s logo—or even add a fun quote or design that will be memorable.
Where to get: SwagDrop
Pricing: $4 – $12
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#7: Earbuds
Here’s something for all music and wireless lovers out there.
Bluetooth earbuds are high-end branded tech swag that many entrepreneurs love receiving—and they’re a great way to hook new prospects at trade shows.
This promotional item shows that your company is tech-savvy and interested in giving high-quality gifts. It also makes sure your message gets heard since it’ll be used over and over again.
Since there are no wires involved, people will have more movement and freedom, making the item truly unique.
They’re also highly customizable as you can easily print your logo on the case.
Where to get: SwagDrop
Pricing: $20 – $70+
#8: Power Banks
Sometimes, people’s schedules can get so busy, they don’t have time to go back home or to the office to charge their devices.
A power bank solves all these problems and alleviates the stress that comes with low-battery phones.
Not only will recipients be grateful for a gadget like this, but it’s also a great promotional product for any marketing campaign since it’ll be used frequently in any situation.
A good, simple power bank can be customized to promote your values and increase brand recognition—all while charging devices.
Where to get: SwagDrop
Pricing: $10 – $40
#9: Bluetooth Speakers
At your next event, go the extra mile to wow prospects.
With a Bluetooth speaker, you’ll certainly leave a long-lasting impression. Since music is universally liked, giving people easy access to music wherever they go is a neat promotional giveaway.
Branded speakers will amaze any future prospect since they’re an
out-of-the-box idea that’ll be the centerpiece of any corporate celebration or home.
This compact speaker is highly practical, as it can be easily clipped to bags while delivering rich, powerful sound.
What’s more, the speaker can be customized in your company’s colors—and will turn heads at every step.
Where to get: SwagDrop
Pricing: $15 – $100
#10: Lip Balm
Wanna hear about an unexpected gift idea for a trade show?
Enter…
…a custom, high-quality lip balm!
Lip balms are an excellent gift for everyone that attends trade shows, which means that you can reach a wider audience.
As people travel around, they’ll carry a reminder of your brand.
They’re also good in any situation. During chilly autumn breezes, dry winters, and even scorching summers.
You can’t go wrong with this item; you’re putting emphasis on wellness and care, which is both unexpected and unforgettable.
Where to get: Contact us to learn more
Pricing: $1 – $4
#11: Swag Bags
At your next trade show, why not hand out something truly special that goes beyond single customized items?
A swag box is a box filled with custom promotional items, such as:
- Keychains
- Hand sanitizers
- Branded notepads
- Stress balls or other stress relievers
- Custom lanyards or retractable badge holders
- Stickers
- Flash drives
- Branded ballpoint or stylus pens
- Bottle openers
- Silicone wristbands
- Snacks and sweets
And the list can go on to include any of the fabulous items we discussed a little further up in this article.
But why invest in swag bags?
Aside from being wonderful gifts, you can customize them however you want (without spending too much). They also increase loyalty, build customer trust, and leave a lasting impression.
These are all key to creating a memorable experience at any trade show you attend.
Where to get: Build your own swag bag on SwagDrop
Pricing: $15 – $150
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Get Your Customized Goodies Now
The items in this short—but comprehensive—list fit all wallets. You now know, you don’t need to break the bank to create promotional goodies that will attract top talent.
Ready to start customizing the perfect trade show giveaway items for your brand?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Get answers to the most common questions about trade shows and promotional giveaways.
Q1. What is a trade show giveaway?
A trade show giveaway is any product that an organization brings to a trade show to hand out to visitors.
The items can vary from simple things such as credit card holders and luggage tags to drawstring bags or first aid kits.
Q2. Do trade show giveaways work?
In one word, yes! People who visit trade shows can bring these items home as souvenirs and reminders of your brand. They also attract more people to your booth.
Q3. How many promotional items should I order for a trade show?
It depends on what you’re doing with these items. Are you:
- Handing them out for free?
- Giving them away as a prize?
- Leaving them to sit at the display booth?
To be sure, you can multiply the number of tickets by the percentage of attendees that are potentially interested in your products.
Q4. How can I improve traffic to my trade show booth?
To bring more people closer to your trade show booth, it’s important to invest in memorable branded gifts.
The key to having a great trade show booth is to have:
- Branded table covers
- Free giveaways
- Cool sitting space
- Bite-sized snacks
