We’re in the last few months of 2018 and it has been another year of innovation and creative brand marketing for trade shows all over the US. The biggest exhibits and conventions for new brands have seen a lot of tech-integration and experience marketing interpreted through trade show giveaways. This gives attendees a bigger value for their time and interest. The competition for customer attention is fiercer than ever and it will only intensify as we step into 2019.
At the start of the year, Brand Spirit predicted that technology-themed promotional gifts and eco-friendly gifts would be two of the best ideas for trade show giveaways. Our “Trade Show Trends to Watch 2018” blog last January even showcased a few specific unique trade show giveaways, which true enough, became big crowd-pleasers. While our swag giveaway predictions came true, we’ve also seen plenty of all-time favorites that work just as well as they did five or ten years ago. One could say these are classic event giveaways that almost always guarantees returns for your campaign.
We’ve listed down the Top 20 Trade Show Giveaways that made waves this year, along with some promotional product ideas you can use as a springboard for your upcoming project. Most of these trade show handout ideas are fabulously cheap promotional products which makes sense for high volume orders and limited budgets.
Let’s break the list into 4 main categories to simplify your own brainstorming process for the best trade show giveaways.
TECH, GADGETS & MOBILE ACCESSORIES
Mobile tech and accessories, as predicted, were big this year. They’ll continue to be hot event giveaways because everyone has one or more smartphone of their own. These are now considered must-haves for business gifts and are perfectly appropriate for the corporate setting.
1. 6×6″ Microfiber Cloth – Screen cleaners are cheap, easy to customize, and very useful. You can have a full color graphic on these items. It’s great real estate for your business. Looking for marketing mailers? These make great mailer gifts too! You can check this case history that used microfiber cloths to advertise their business through the mail.
2. Toddy Gear Phone Wedge & Screen Cleaner – The recipient can use it anywhere – desk, airplane tray table, kitchen counter – and it cradles your gadget at an ideal viewing angle. Custom full-color digital dye sublimation printing puts your logo on the top surface and the premium microfiber plush panel on the bottom is perfect for cleaning your screen. There are also phone holders for your car that also were big this year.
3. Span Power Bank 1200 mAh – This budget power bank is just the emergency power supply everyone needs while running around the trade show venue. The compact size of this particular power bank makes it ideal for constantly on-the-go people. Wireless chargers are slow making their way to the trade show promotional products scene but power banks have proven themselves as big hits in the industry.
4. Delta 3-in-1 Charging and Connecting Cable – Connect your mobile device to your computer or charge your gadgets simultaneously. This charging cable has 6 pin Apple Lightning, Micro USB, and USB-C cables which will fit most smartphones. Check out our other 3-in-1 charging cables for other techie marketing items for trade shows.
5. Swing Drive USB Flash Drive w/ Metal Swivel Cover 1GB – Put these USB memory sticks in a bowl and use as trade show handout for booth visitors. We all need extra memory storage for all our digital files and a handy USB flash drive is a much needed convenience. There are also thin credit card USBs that fit in wallets as well as custom PVC USBs that can be shaped to almost anything. Top up your swag bag with these super useful promotional products.
6. PopSockets – A PopSocket sticks flat to the back of your phone, tablet or case with its reusable gel. Once extended, the PopSocket becomes a media stand for your device, a photo or texting grip, or lower it for a video chat. A very hot, hot item at corporate conventions and national trade shows for sure.
7. 3-in-1 Lens Kit – Phone photography is a hobby for a lot of people. This lens kit enhances your camera phone and makes photos more creative. They work with almost any smartphone and they’re very easy to use. Marketing trade show items can always use products with its own packaging for a more premium retail look.
FUN TOYS & NOVELTIES
Make your convention booth interesting, interactive, and fun with toys and novelty giveaways. Customers are attracted to brands that know how to show their creative and fun side and trade shows are the best channels to showcase this side of your company. These unique promotional giveaways relieve stress and initiate interaction between you and your target audience.
8. Pearl Silly Putty – Silly putties are crowd-faves. Stretch, squish, cut and squeeze! Excellent stress reliever and thinking enhancer. Exercise the muscles in your hands. Some of them are even glow-in-the-dark and change colors like the Thinking Putty.
9. LED Light Futuristic Weapon w/ Space Saber Sounds – Wield your brand and impress your audience with these awesome light-up swords. We have a client who has effectively used these fun toy swords for their trade show booth. It’s great for tech trade shows, comic conventions, and parties. Read their full story here.
10. Custom Tattoo Sleeve – Give the illusion of a full tattoo sleeve with this cool fashion accessory. A rockin’ and unique trade show giveaway, concerts, sporting events, movie promotions and more!
GOOD-TO-HAVES & SELF CARE GIVEAWAYS
11. Custom Label Bottled Water – Trade shows are whole day events that require plenty of walking around driving from one venue to the next. Advertise your brand while you hydrate booth visitors. Get these bottles in different sizes with an option for rush orders if you find yourself crunched for time. Remember that food and edible giveaways work!
12. Rectangle Credit Card Mints – Easy to fit in small purses, good to have for presentations and client meetings. The more compact a giveaway is, the easier it is for trade show goers to grab and go. Real estate exhibits, hotels, and car dealerships have certainly made use of this promotional product to market their business.
13. EOS™ Lip Balm – It’s an everyday bag essential for ladies and has been one of the biggest fashion trade show gifts this year. We’ve also seen these cute lip balms at fund raisers for Breast Cancer Awareness. Self-care essentials that are travel-sized are practical and thoughtful handouts customers really enjoy.
14. Broad Spectrum Lip Balm – This lip balm may be cheaper than the EOS but it provides full color imprinting on the label. Get creative with your graphic design and decorate these lip balms for booth giveaways.
15. Iced Pear Hand Sanitizer – Schools, dayc ares, health facilities, or banks love these hand sanitizers and so do trade show goers! Help customers stay clean and germ-free while shaking hands and making deals at conventions. You can also try the sanitizer spray variant that come in pen-sized and credit card-sized bottles.
16. Tide and Go Instant Stain Remover – Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover is a travel-sized must-have that works with many fresh food and drink stains, while promoting your brand. Also takes care of tea, coffee, wine, grape juice, ketchup, salsa, BBQ sauce, chocolate syrup, and other types of stains. This would make a fabulous travel-themed giveaway too!
17. Evolution Stylus Pens – Pens are oldies but goodies. It works with any type of event whether it’s for a corporate gathering or on-ground activations. Writing instruments are staple closing gifts and leave-behinds that marks business milestones like new partnerships and big sales.
18. 13″ Non-woven Shopping Tote – This follows the eco-friendly trend that will continue to be a huge trend in the next coming years. Reusable tote bags could be used as your swag bag or customize them for your store to lessen your carbon foot print and plastic usage. Bookstores, artisan establishments, and farmers markets have taken full advantage of these types of giveaways for brand awareness.
WEARABLES & APPAREL
Have customers wear your brand. T-shirts and caps last for a long time and they are hard-working brand awareness gifts for all types of brands.
19. Gildan Adult Heavy Cotton T-shirt – Load up your tshirt cannons or use as a team shirt during trade shows. Customize for concerts, fundraising events, picnics, and even during games. Everyone likes free shirts! This is definitely a classic must-have promotional gift for any marketing campaign. More custom apparel options here.
20. Unstructured Brushed Twill Cap – Giveaway at outdoor events, school promotions, concerts, sporting events, and more. These caps even look better the more worn out they are. Choose from different colors and have your logo embroidered! Caps and hats work for almost any type of campaign so it’s worth the investment.
Need more ideas for your own custom trade show giveaways? Click here to view additional conference giveaways directly on our website.
Need help with ideas for your own customized trade show gifts? Get in touch with us today and let’s get started!
Purchase with a Purpose: BRAND SPIRIT IS A CHAMPION FOR THE UNITED NATION FOUNDATION’S SHOT@LIFE. EVERY $100 WORTH OF SALES FROM ALL THESE ITEMS MEANS WE DONATE 1 VACCINE TO A CHILD IN NEED.
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