8 Trade Show Giveaways that People Actually Want

October 19, 2017

Bea Bonte

Bea Bonte is a marketing associate for Deneen Pottery, creators of custom hand-crafted mugs that can be personalized for any business.

Are you preparing for an upcoming trade show? If so, you’re most likely searching for great giveaway ideas to make your brand stand out.

Giveaways present great opportunities for you to leave a lasting impression on event-goers. With creative, high-quality giveaways, you’ll get more people to your booth and interacting with your brand.

However, there are many giveaways out there that are just plain boring. To make sure trade show attendees hang on to your item instead of ditching it in the trash, try handing out these eight giveaways that people will actually want.

1. Power Bank

There’s nothing more frustrating when your smartphone runs out of battery in the middle of an event. Give attendees a way to charge up with a portable power bank. These handy little giveaways will help event-goers stay connected online and up-to-date with the event’s latest happenings.

2. Water Bottle

While it might sound dull at first, a custom water bottle can be an extremely valuable giveaway. In your office, what does every employee have on their desk? A water bottle. Head to the gym, same situation, everyone uses a water bottle. Custom water bottles are convenient, environmentally friendly and will give your brand long-term exposure.

3. Fitness Tracker

A fitness tracker branded with your logo is also an effective trade show giveaway. These wearable bands are all the rage today and can be used daily by event attendees to help them track their fitness activity, such as number of steps or miles walked.

4. Bluetooth Speaker

A Bluetooth speaker giveaway will really amplify your brand’s message at the next trade show. Give attendees the power to access their music, podcasts and audiobooks at home or on the go. Every time they pull it out to enjoy some their favorite song, they’ll see your logo and associate the music with your brand.

5. Custom Coffee Mugs

Take the traditional, lackluster coffee mug and turn it into something captivating – there’s nothing quite as captivating than a custom-made coffee mug. These colorful, creative and handmade pieces of stoneware are sure to impress event-goers of all types. Being as beautiful as they are functional, these will stick around the home or office for years and serve as an attractive reminder of your brand.

6. Socks

With some stylish socks, you’re sure to be the hit of the trade show. You can’t deny that this idea blows the traditional branded pens, keychains, even T-shirts, out of the water. Socks provide the right mix of uniqueness and functionality to make a lasting impact on your audience.

7. Hand Sanitizer

After shaking fellow event-goers’ hands all day, trade show attendees will want to get rid of the germs. What better way to help them stay clean than by giving away a bottle of hand sanitizer? These handy giveaways are sure to be of use for those event-goers who don’t want to get sick.

8. Seasonal Items

You can always get creative with seasonal items. Try giving away umbrellas in the spring, beach balls in the summer or Christmas ornaments in the winter. The seasons open up a whole new avenue for you to find the best trade show giveaways.

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.