You’ll soon be standing at a trade fair and you want to give something to everyone who stops by. The only question is what. A gift doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does need to suit your audience and what you want to achieve over those days. We’re happy to think along with you from the moment nothing has been decided yet.
What you need depends on your stand, the footfall you expect and the kind of conversation you want to have. We suggest a selection with the right personalisation technique and a timing that fits your build-up day.
How many trade fair pens do you still have lying around? Most giveaways don’t even make it past the car park. That’s rarely down to the item itself, but to the fact that there was no goal behind it. A large quantity gets ordered, everything goes out the door on day one and afterwards nobody remembers who got what.
So look first at how long someone will actually use your gift, and only then at the quantity. Relevance plays a big part here. A technical profile reaches for something different than someone from marketing. And think beyond the fair days themselves, because a better item you send afterwards to the contacts who really matter often delivers more than what you hand out at the stand. Read how to approach the rest of your participation on our page about trade fairs and events.
A water bottle, a notebook or a sturdy mug stays in view for months. That’s the biggest advantage of items like these. They’re used every day and they’re still around long after your stand has been taken down.
Keep items like this behind the counter, for people who take the time to really talk to you and leave a business card. Those who just pass by quickly get something smaller. That way you show you value the conversation without your stock disappearing in half a day.
Power banks, cables and charging pads go down well with an audience that walks around all day with a phone in hand. At a fair where everyone is down to ten per cent battery by lunchtime, that’s no unnecessary luxury. They also stand out, because something like that goes straight into your pocket instead of the first bin.
Do keep an eye on quality, though. A gadget that gives up after two weeks leaves a worse impression than no gift at all. Feel free to ask us about specifications and capacity before you commit, so you know exactly what you’re ordering.
There’s no fixed formula for the right number. What does work is assessing your fair honestly and splitting your stock: an accessible item for everyone who passes by, and something better behind the counter for those who stay to talk. Below are a few situations we see often.
If you’re working with goodie bags, it’s best to decide on the contents at the same time. Send us your expected number of visitors and the location of your stand, and we’ll suggest a split and work out the unit price per item straight away. A stand next to the entrance or the catering simply draws far more people. We always give prices on request, as they depend on the item, the personalisation technique and the quantity.
The technique follows from the material, not from your preference. Pad printing works on small and slightly curved surfaces such as pens and keyrings, but you’re limited to a few colours and very fine details come out less sharply. Laser engraving belongs on metal, bamboo and wood. It lasts a long time, but you get the colour of the material itself rather than your brand colour.
Doming gives you full colour on small flat pieces, with a clear, slightly raised resin layer. Allow for an extra production step. If your logo has many colours or a gradient, you’ll usually end up with digital printing. Send us your logo in good quality and we’ll tell you which technique gives the best result. A digital proof for approval is always part of the process.
More and more visitors look at what they’re given. Recycled cotton, RPET and bamboo are now in almost every range, but the claims aren’t always equally solid. We pass on the material information and certificates the supplier gives us, so you only communicate what you can back up.
Ideally, keep the print itself timeless. Whatever is left over then stays perfectly usable for client visits, your reception or next year’s fair. That saves more in the end than most people think.
That depends on the footfall you expect and on your set-up. Work with an accessible item for everyone who stops by and a smaller stock of quality gifts behind the counter. Tell us the size of your fair and the number of days, and we’ll work out the quantities and unit price for you.
Often, yes. Digital printing and doming allow multiple colours and gradients. On curved or metal items we tend to choose pad printing or laser engraving. Send us your logo file, we’ll take a look and suggest the technique that gives the best result.
The earlier, the calmer. For personalised items, allow several weeks between approval of your proof and delivery, especially in the busy trade fair season. For special finishes or large quantities, allow some extra time.
In many cases, yes. It makes handing out much faster at a busy stand and keeps the items clean. Mention it in your request and we’ll include it in the proposal straight away.
That’s easiest when the print is timeless and gives nothing away about the edition you attended. You can then use neutral items for client visits, your reception or a next fair. You can also post them to contacts you’re following up.
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