The most useful trade show giveaways help market your product or service while keeping your company top of mind. Here are 21 trending giveaway items to try.
A lot of time and planning goes into your trade shows Whether you are hosting the entire event or are a vendor or supplier with a booth in the marketplace, your goals are most likely similar: To educate, engage, and excite attendees. That’s why, when it comes to trade show giveaway ideas, the best merch helps reinforce these objectives.
Top Trade Show Giveaway Ideas 2022 - 2023
Look no further for the best giveaways for trade shows!
Best Trade Show Giveaways: Apparel
Apparel always tops tradeshow giveaway ideas for its sustainability and endless customization options. While you will need to think through multiple options, like colors, sizes, and gender, generic styling can help you keep your order variants to a minimum.
1. Custom Socks
For event giveaways that offer limited sizes and can be made for both men and women, socks are an everyday essential that everyone wears.
Thinking of making socks for your next tradeshow giveaways? You can’t go wrong with the simple styling of these crew socks with double logos.
2. Custom Tee
For ultimate marketing props, choose trade show swag ideas that market your logo long after the event is through. Tee shirts make a popular choice thanks to their versatility and styling options.
In addition, when you choose features like incredibly soft fabrics and a cool design, you have trade show giveaways that your recipient will use again and again.
3. Custom Long Sleeve Tee
More great trade show giveaways under $100 include long sleeve tees, which are also a universal option for your trade show giveaways aer long sleeve tees.
Again, think about choosing a timeless style and soft fabrication for the best longevity.
Promotional Trade Show Items: Hats
When it comes to a trade show promotional item that’s versatile and can be branded with your company logo, customized hats, caps, and beanies are a universal favorite.
4. Custom Beanie
For trending giveaway items you may want to consider a beanie. Perfect for colder months, Beanies can be purchased in a wide range of colors and patterns. In addition, you will have many customization options including embroidery, patches sewn on labels, screen prints and more.
5. Custom Dad Hat
Hats can also be categorized as sustainable trade show giveaways, thanks to the versatility and usability.
Whether you choose a traditional baseball hat style like this one, a flat bill or even a long bill, hats make excellent event giveaways ideas and offer a wide range of customization options.
6. Bucket Hat
Hosting your tradeshow in the spring or summer months? For cool giveaway ideas that help combat the heat, consider a trendy bucket hat. In addition to being a fun-to-customize swag style that’s on trend and in-demand, it is another great headware option that can help to protect against the sun's harmful rays.
Wondering if bucket hats are a good option for your company trandeshow swag? See why Bucket Hats Are The Headwear Must-Haves Of 2023 according to Country & Town House.
Cheap Giveaways Ideas: Office Supplies
Sure, these unique trade show giveaways may cost less, but they don’t skimp out on the details.
7. Custom Cards
Custom cards are perfect for distributing in your marketplace or even passing around in your training. Whether you add a QR code that your recipient can scan for exclusive attendees-only incentives, make it custom exclusive offer, use it as a future save the date card—there are almost as many ways to use it as there are ways to customize it.
8. Custom Pens
Trade show swag ideas have come a long way since they first debuted. Long gone are cheap pens that barely write and throw away gimmicks. For a pen your attendee can use for taking notes at your conference and use long after the event, customize a pen that’s known for offering the “write stuff.”
Customized pens make great small business giveaway ideas since they are inexpensive and can be used for business launch ideas and more.
9. Custom Notepads
Giving out a pen? How about adding in a notepad too? For trade show swag ideas that your recipient can use at your event, these inexpensive gems prove practical gifts are often the most loved.
Gift Giveaway Ideas: Accessories
For cheap trade show giveaways that won’t be tossed away, these customizable accessories offer useful practicality.
10. Custom Lanyard
A stylish lanyard is perfect for recipients who commute to the office, since it offers an easy way to keep track of their company ID and key cards. Whether you customize the key card holder, zip pouch, or strap, is up to you and will keep your brand top of mind.
Looking for trade show swag ideas that reinforce your company’s efforts toward sustainability? Look for swag consisting of recycled materials like this one from Poketo that features recycled heavyweight nylon.
11. Custom Keychains
Keychains are another example of inexpensive swag that have come along way since first being distributed.
For unique trade show giveaways choose a keychain like this one that shows off your company logo in needlepoint. Or, choose a trendy hotel keychain style for more options.
12. Custom Can Cooler
For unique trade show giveaways that can stand up to the heat, a well designed can cooler with your logo is always a win!
Need some more design ideas for your can cooler? Whether it’s something funny or just a new way to show off your logo, Pinterest delivers inspiring ideas to get you started.
Trade Show Swag: Bags
If it’s cheap trade show giveaways you’re looking for, you’ll be happy to know that many bags can be customized at affordable rates.
13. Reusable Bag
If a reusable bag isn’t the only swag you’re considering or if the marketplace is stocked full of trade show giveaways a bag is a great pick! In addition to having a plethora of customization options like designs, color, patterns, and more, bags are sustainable trade show giveaways that your recipient can use to haul all their stuff.
14. Reusable Tote
If sustainability is important to your company, choose a reusable bag like this one from Bob Apettite that is made from 100% reusable polyester.
15. Coin Pouch
A classic pouch can also be given a stylish upgrade with creative customization. Whether you choose to add personalization on a patch like this one below from Only NY, or want to personalize directly on the pouch, pouches are unique tradeshow giveaways that can also be used as giveaway posts ideas for virtual attendees.
Sustainable Tradeshow Giveaways: Drinkware
reusable bottles and tumblers continues to be a popular option for sustainable trade show giveaways. Especially if you consider how many single-use water bottles could end up being tossed throughout the day by attendees, staff, and vendors.
16. Custom Water Bottle
Love the design on this water bottle from The New Yorker? The options are endless when you choose to customize a Nalgene water bottle. Plus, with a plethora of bottle colors, silhouettes and sizes, finding your best giveaway ideas is a breeze.
17. Custom Tumblers
Want a water tumbler with insulation for your event? In addition to cutting out throw away water bottles, a large insulated tumbler can keep your recipients comfortable and hydrated so they stay focused on what’s important.
For unique tradeshow giveaways your attendees will love receiving, customize a brand that’s known for its hard working style and durability like Stanley.
Some of its best features include:
- Leaf proof straw
- Double insulation
- Dishwasher safe!
See a review of their Classic Vacuum Bottle by Backpackers.com →
18. Travel Mugs
You can’t go wrong with a travel mug like this one from Miir. As far as the best tradeshow giveaways go, a tumbler is perfect for sipping on commutes to the office, weekends, and throughout the day.
For the best swag, look for brands reputable brands that give back. Miir is a Product to Project company, that features a trackable giveback code so your recipients can see for themself how your unique tradeshow giveaways help to do more.
Cheap Giveaway Ideas: Snacks
Consumables like snacks offer cheap trade show giveaways that are always a win. Perfect for keeping your attendees from getting hangry between sessions.
19. Healthy Snacks
Healthy snacks are perfect for trade shows and conferences centered around the health and wellness industries.
In addition to being healthy, the treat below also comes in compostable packaging for extra environmentally friendly points!
For more options on how your company can take advantage of eco-friendly swag kits, check out our blog.
20. Custom Chocolate
If you’re looking to impress your attendees with unique tradeshow giveaways that won’t break the bank, not just any chocolate will do.
For a taste that lives up to the hype, choose award-winning snacks like Ritual Chocolate.
Some of its best features include:
- Single-origin
- Organic ingredients
- Bean-to-bar
See a review of Ritual Chocolate →
Ritual Chocolate is also a chocolate brand that is fair trade certified.
21. Custom Candy
Skip cheap candy that offers zero taste and none of the good stuff. Instead reach for swag that utilizes real fruit for candy that shows your recipient they matter.
For an easy pick, choose California Gummy Bears are a vegan, plant based gummy that features all natural ingredients for a taste that’s fresh and fruity. Plus, they are a healthy alternative to traditional candies, these fun bears are come ready to gift in clever packaging that is not only professional looking, but biodegradable as well.
Check out our blog post, 25 Best Healthy Gift Basket Ideas for more healthy and unique tradeshow giveaways.
While that completes our list of the 21 Best Tradeshow Giveaways, it’s definitely not the end all- be all! With so many swag items on the market, you can find an exhaustive list for your next event. However, many items over-promise and under-deliver when it comes to their best features.
For more tradeshow giveaway ideas, talk to your Gemnote rep. In addition to finding practical items by reputable brands, they can help you customize your swag for a product that’s truly memorable
Your Gemnote rep can also help you find gift-giving solutions for:
- Events
- Holidays
- Onboarding
- Conferences
- Virtual parties
- Employee recognition
- And much more!
Plus, as a leader in swag and custom merchandise, they can help you take care of all of the logistical details—aside from professional customization—too!
Some of the services Gemnote provides include:
- Design & development
- Sourcing & Production
- Packaging & Sustainability
- Kitting & Warehousing
Ready to invest in custom products for your company? Contact your Gemnote rep and ask for a curated list of on-trend and on-brand products that will work with your company budget.
