What to give away at an exhibition

Giving away items at an exhibition is a fantastic way to raise awareness of your company, selling your brand and attracting people to your stand. With so many options, it can be overwhelming to know what to give away. Thankfully, Highfields has you covered, with our handy guide on exhibition giveaways.

Something different

In such a competitive environment its important to stand out from the crowd. Many competitors will be offering traditional items such as bags, pens and mugs. Try doing something different in order to help people to remember you. For instance, if you are giving away pens, consider having a design that is not only eye-catching  but also offers additional functionality such as a bottle opener or puzzle. This would increase chances of your items being used, meaning your pen can grab and maintain the attention of potential customers.

Refreshments

After walking around a crowded, busy exhibition hall, attendees will likely be looking for refreshments. Offering a drink or sweet treat can be a great way to attract visitors to your stand. Branded coffee cups, water bottles and customised cakes with your logo on can help reinforce brand recognition and also offer a great conversation starter.

If you operate in the food and drink industry, offering samples is an excellent way to showcase your products, helping people to engage directly with your brand.

Providing a water station or offering freshly roasted coffee can be highly enticing to people looking for refreshments at an exhibitions. Consider offering reusable water bottles and coffee cups, these will enhance your brand visibility and also show your commitment to sustainability. Meaning your products can be used by visitors long after the exhibition has ended.

Something useful

Whilst branded pens are always handy, it’s likely that visitors will be inundated with pens at an exhibition. To truly stand out, consider offering items that are more practical and more likely to be used. For example, toiletries and personal items could be greatly appreciated at larger conferences where attendees have travelled long distances and may be staying in hotels.

Tote bags can be a good idea, whilst common, they are a highly practical giveaway. They are a useful way for attendees to carry belongings and other items received at a trade show, whilst prominently showcasing your brand, and will come in very useful for people to store belongings or other items received at the exhibition.

Additionally, consider offering a service at your stand, for instance offering refreshments, or the ability to charge phones can make your booth a valuable stop for attendees.

Make it eco friendly

As we become increasingly aware of our environmental impact, it’s important to consider the sustainability of the items you give away. Are low cost pens that easily break and run out of ink truly valuable, or are they likely to end up in landfill? If you are a company focused on the environment, offering disposable plastic items is not ideal. Choose eco- friendly products made from sustainable materials, aligning your giveaways with your suitability values.  

Time

It may sound simple, but one of the most valuable things you can give away at an exhibition is time!  Visitors want to feel genuinely valued, and the more time you spend getting to know attendees and understanding their needs and business, the greater the chance of building meaningful relationships that could lead to future opportunities. Try to make sure you spend time getting to know and understand them and their businesses, in order to build and a establish a relationship with them.

Make it industry specific

Tailoring your giveaways to your industry can significantly enhance their relevance and impact. For example, if you are in the automotive industry, car air fresheners or windscreen scrapers would be an ideal branded item to give away. By offering items directly related to your industry, you can make your brand and items feel more authentic and purposeful.

Picking the right products can be difficult but try to make sure it is reflective of your business. Design, font, and imagery should all be inline with your brand guidelines. Make it fun and think outside the box! Here at Highfields we are exhibition experts. Pairing stunning exhibition stands with quality giveaway goodies will help make your stand memorable. We can make stands and displays to compliment goods and services that you are giving away. To find out more about our stunning and creative bespoke exhibition stands, simply complete our contact form or call us on 01905 754158.