3 Fun Swag Ideas for Your Next Tradeshow

Fall is always a busy season for trade shows, and whether your event is entirely virtual, hybrid, or in-person, it’s essential to have fun swag giveaways. But what’s the purpose behind giving away branded swag? Branded swag helps your attendees remember your event, brand and hopefully give them a constant reminder of you if they’re using the item a lot. Typical swag usually consists of pens, t-shirts, lanyards, but how can we spice up these items to bring excitement and more engagement? In today’s blog, I will be sharing three fun swag ideas that you can bring to your next show!

For the General Audience

When I help my clients decide what swag items they should be ordering, I like to remind them that the item needs to be something that your audience will use frequently. If it’s a branded t-shirt, sure, they may reach for it here and there, but things like drinkware, especially travel mugs, go much further. Most of us have developed a caffeine addiction by now, which means many of us don’t even think about leaving the house before pouring a cup of coffee and dashing out the door. Having your brand on a travel mug that’s used frequently will be a constant reminder of your event so that they attend year after year, or if you’re an exhibitor, this will remind the potential client of who you are. I’ve linked a few of my favorite options from Vistaprint below:

On a Budget: Laguna 16-oz Travel Mug

Looking to Spend a Bit: 14-oz Stainless Steel Camp Mug w/ Lid

Luxury: Arctic Zone Titan Thermal HP Copper Mug- 24-oz

For the Tech Side

We’re living in a world of tech, and more and more people are enjoying tech swag. We saw this when branded USBs became a popular swag item; however, we can do better (let’s face it, most of us use the cloud instead of USBs now). Power banks are a super handy item to give away at trade shows because if you have a smartphone (let’s face it, we all do), you’ll have a use for a power bank then. They’re affordable to order, and they make a great travel item! If this suits your audience, then this may need to be the route that you take. Vistaprint has many modestly priced models to choose from: https://www.vistaprint.ca/promotional-products/technology/chargers-power-banks

For the Functional Guest

Last but not least, depending on your audience, many guests enjoy functional swag items, one of my favorites being the mini toolset. Vistaprint’s 23 Piece Tool Set is affordable and practical. Each time your event guest reaches for a screwdriver, Allen key, or measuring tape, they will remember your brand!

It’s important to remember who your audience is, as that will determine the success of your swag items. Before you go forward with ordering the swag, have a brainstorming session first to ensure that the swag aligns with your audience’s interests. Need help brainstorming? Contact the Planit Events Inc. team; we would be happy to assist, or check out our blogs for more tips on event planning!