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Trade shows can easily cost in the tens of thousands of dollars, especially if you opt for a larger booth. But what can you do when you don’t have that kind of money? It’s possible to exhibit at a trade show on almost any budget. So, to help you out, we’ve put together our seven best tips for creating trade show booth ideas on a small budget.

1. Check to see what’s already covered.

Many, though not all, expos will provide exhibitors with a table and a cover and/or skirt. However, the cloths are often plain colors (black or white are pretty standard) and therefore might not complement your company color palette. Double check your contract, and if the information isn’t included, reach out to your trade show sales rep via phone or email to confirm what the expo will and won’t provide.

2. See what you have on hand.

Take assessment of everything you already own that might be helpful for a trade show booth. Be sure to investigate supply closets and any other storage spaces in case old trade show booth supplies are hidden away. If you’re really on a budget, you can also ask your team if they’d be willing to contribute anything from home. Someone may have a booth game they’re willing to let you borrow, or an unused tablecloth that doesn’t match their color scheme anymore.

3. Consider renting furniture.

Booth furniture is one of the biggest expenses when it comes to outfitting a trade show booth, which is why there are many companies that offer rental services. If you only exhibit on occasion, it might make more financial sense to rent furniture rather than purchasing it outright. However, if you attend a lot of shows, buying the furniture may be worth the investment in the long run, so do the math (and don’t forget to include shipping charges.) If you’d like to own your booth but don’t want to pay like-new prices, used booth furniture is also available for sale.

4. Maximize your tablecloth and runners.

A trade show table cover is the linchpin of any basic trade show booth design. These tablecloths come in many different colors and are customized with a large logo right on the front. Table covers and runners are an up-front investment, but you’ll use them at basically every trade show, so they pay for themselves over the long run. Table covers come in standard lengths of 6 feet and 8 feet, and some convertible options that adjust to either length are available as well. If the tablecloth doesn’t come with one, you want to consider getting a case to protect it while in storage and transit.

5. Choose cost-effective signage.

Flags and banners are another way to make a big statement without breaking the bank. Like custom table covers, these promotional banners are a classic fixture of trade show booths for a reason. Retractable banners are easy to transport and come in both tabletop and floor versions, while feather flags will rise above the competition (quite literally) thanks to their height. If well taken care of, promotional banners can last through many trade shows, so pick a design you can use for at least a couple of years.

6. Coordinate your outfits.

Having all your booth hosts wear the same polo shirt with your corporate logo is a great way to communicate your brand wherever they go on the trade show floor. If the design is especially cool, giving away matching t-shirts at your booth to visitors would be the perfect tie-in. If your team isn’t that keen about completely matching, or you don’t have the money to spend on shirts, you can ask everyone to dress in company colors while still letting them choose their own outfits. That way, everyone’s clothes will go together without being too matchy-matchy.

7. Don’t forget your giveaways.

Promotional giveaways for booth visits don’t have to be pricey to make a big impression. Some of our most popular and cost-effective promotional giveaways include custom USB drives, branded notebooks and promotional water bottles.

Even if you’re on a tight budget, you can still create a good-looking booth that will attract plenty of visitors. Follow these seven tips as you brainstorm trade show booth ideas for small budgets.

Trade show planning can seem like an insurmountable mountain, especially if you’ve never exhibited before. But if you break down trade show planning into concrete steps, you’ll soon realize just how doable it is. To help out newbies and veterans alike, we’ve created a trade show planning checklist and timeline to walk you through the entire process, from one year out to the day of the show (and beyond).

12+ months out

• Determine your overall objectives for attending trade shows. Do you want to launch a new product? Sign additional clients? Get new leads? Before you sign up for a single trade show, you should have at least one (if not several) objectives in mind.
• Research and select a trade show (or shows) based on the objectives you have defined. Seek out trade shows that will allow you to reach your most important, high potential audiences without too much overwhelming competition.
• Register for the trade shows and select the best booth spot for your needs.
• Set a general budget for your trade show or shows, taking into account everything from travel to booth furniture to promotional giveaways. If you need to request extra funds, you’ll want to do it before the start of the new fiscal year.
• Put reminders in your calendar for all the important deadlines between now and the date of the trade show.

6-9 months out

• Start the individual trade show planning process by designing the booth for the show. Begin researching lead times to order furniture, banners, promotional giveaways, etc. so you’re not rushed.
• On a related note, begin designing your marketing materials, since you’ll need designs finished and approved before you order anything.
• Finalize your objectives and campaign messages for each trade show, since this will influence the design of your marketing materials.
• Now that you’ve begun planning in earnest, you’ll have a clearer idea of specific expenses, so keep track of them and make sure you’re sticking to the budget for each category.

4-6 months out

• Figure out your staffing needs–i.e., how many people you need to travel to the show and work the booth. Ask your chosen employees if they’re available during those dates.
• Once you know who’s staffing the trade show, begin booking flights, hotels and other travel arrangements. Don’t forget to check if the trade show has an associated hotel that offers a discounted conference rate!
• People aren’t the only thing that needs to be transported to the trade show. You also need to get your booth and the exhibition materials there and back. Begin planning your shipping logistics and making arrangements.
• Start promoting your trade show attendance via your website, emails, social media and even digital advertising if you have the budget.
• Begin ordering trade show booth decor.

1-3 months out

• Continue promoting your trade show expo via marketing.
• Train your staff to work the booth, network with potential customers, give sales presentations and whatever else they’ll need to do while on the ground at the trade show.
• Follow up with the trade show expo, your shipping company and anyone else to make sure that everything will arrive on time.
• Schedule any client dinners or other business meetings that will take place during the expo.
• Prepare any emails, postcards or other marketing materials that will go out to new connections after the trade show.
• Finish ordering your trade show booth materials.

1 week out

• Complete any last-minute staff training.
• Double check all travel itineraries for trade show staff.
• Confirm shipping arrival dates for your booth display, marketing materials and promotional items.
• Confirm move in and move out dates and times with the trade show venue.
• Review all other to-do items to make sure you’re not forgetting anything.

After the trade show

• Follow up with your new leads.
• Send thank yous to any clients you had private meetings with.
• Analyze the leads you got at the expo and their performance so far.
• Review the budget again to see how accurate your estimates were.
• Debrief with your team to determine the main takeaways.
• Take what you’ve learned and start trade show planning for the next event!

Follow this checklist to make sure that you’ve covered all your bases as you proceed with your trade show planning. Good luck at your next expo, and don’t hesitate to contact our customer support team if you have questions about ordering promotional goods for your next trade show.

Planning a company event can be a lot of pressure – you’re tasked with making sure the venue makes sense and looks great, you’re responsible for planning a fun time, you’re trying to keep everyone fed and happy and the list goes on and on.  Too often we read scary statistics on employees and how they feel in the workplace:

• More than 80% of workers are either actively looking for a new job or open to finding one.
• 70% of U.S. workers are not engaged at work.

See? We told you it was scary. One way to engage your employees and pass along some appreciation is to throw a company event.  Events range from fancy holiday parties to casual happy hours and well beyond.  Seems easy enough, right? Well, the truth is sometimes it is but far more other it’s not.  The average person spends 90,000 hours at work over the course of a lifetime, so the last thing some employees want do is participate in a work function on their own time.  So how do you make your work event something they wouldn’t want to miss? You get creative and think outside of the box.

Make it Memorable

If you want to engage employees and motivate them to attend your company events, you’re going to have to make it memorable.  Sure, happy hour is great, but if you’re going to throw an event, why not toss some creativity at it? Here are some of our favorites:

• Take your team Axe Throwing (yes, this exists). Your employees will feel like real life lumberjacks.
• Throw a “tailgate” outside of your office. Light up the grill, pull out the bean bag toss and crack a few cold ones.
• Host trivia. Designate a trivia host and giveaway prizes for the top performing team.  An even cooler idea? Host a new themed trivia day once a month or once a quarter.
• Visit an escape room. These physical adventure games make players solve a series of puzzles or riddles in order to escape their surroundings. These are great for team building activities.
• Support your local sports teams. Gather the crew and head over to one of your local professional sports team games.

These out of the box, creative ideas are sure to spark interest in employees and boost the attendance at your next event.

Get Out of the Office

Remember how we said the average person spends 90,000 hours in a lifetime at work? Get your employees out and about for a day.  Not only can you change up the physical location of your event, but you can make sure you change your employee’s mindset by setting a different dress code for the outing.  If you’re throwing a tailgate, encourage your team to sport their favorite jersey.  If you decide on throwing some axes, make the dress code lumberjack casual.  It’s important to let your employees know that company events are places where they can spend time and socialize with their coworkers in a casual atmosphere.  If your event feels too uptight, you’ll likely not get the attendance you’re looking for.  A fun extra step is to create branded apparel for the outing with a themed logo and saying.

Survey Says

The most important thing for you to do when planning a company event? Survey your audience.  Go straight to the source and see what employees actually want to do during their time out of cubicle land. Surveying the team has multiple benefits – first, you’ll get the brainstorming started and the ideas will start rolling in and second, your employees will feel valued because you care enough to solicit their opinions.

Keep it fun, keep it light, and listen to what the people want.  As long as you keep those tenants in mind your next company event will knock it out of the park.

 

When it comes to face-to-face marketing, few events can rival the ROI potential of a trade show. With the right marketing strategies and careful planning, a quality trade show can put your brand smack dab in front of a targeted audience who is searching for a product or service just like yours.

But what is a trade show, exactly? While you’ve likely walked through a crowded exhibit or convention at some point in your life, being on the other end of the display booth is a much different experience than being an attendee.

Before we dive right in, here is a quick primer on what you should know about trade shows:

• Trade shows can benefit companies both large and small by putting their brand directly in front of qualified leads.
• When used correctly as trade show handouts, promotional items can be extremely effective at generating qualified leads and meeting your company goals.

What Is a Trade Show?

Trade shows are exhibition events held in major cities where exhibitors in a specific industry set up a display booth to promote their products and services. Usually, trade show attendees must either pay to get into the event or be invited to the show, making them far more valuable of a lead than the average Joe off the street. These people have a vested interest in the products and services on display, which is one big reason why an estimated 1.3 million exhibitors set up a trade show display booth in 2014, according to a 2018 CEIR Index.

Why Make Trade Shows Part of Your Marketing Plan?

Whether you’re trying to grow your brand awareness or break into the industry via smart networking tactics, trade shows have the potential to scale your business and grow your brand. Let’s look at a few specific reasons why business executives and entrepreneurs prioritize industry trade shows:

• • In-Person Interaction—In an age of social media, the value of face-to-face interaction shouldn’t be dismissed. In-person interaction is essential to making meaningful connections with attendees and moving them down the marketing funnel.Attendee Buying Power—According to The Exhibit Survey, more than 80 percent of trade show attendees have buying power. Attendees are ripe for the taking, but only if you can draw them to your booth.

• • High ROI—While the return-on-investment of trade shows can vary depending on industry, it’s not uncommon for businesses to come away from their trade show with a huge profit. According to atEvent, companies can expect to achieve an average ROI of $4.99 for every dollar they invest.

• • Boost Brand Awareness—From promising startups to established corporations, trade shows can be used by any size of business to grow their brand awareness and connect with their target market.

6 Steps to Make Your Next Trade Show a Success

There is a lot that goes into planning for an upcoming trade show. From researching shows to determining objectives, here is a brief look at what goes into achieving trade show success:

• Determine Goals—If you don’t have a goal for your trade show, how will you measure your success? Determining goals early is crucial to making your trade show a huge success. A few ideas of trade show objectives include boosting brand awareness, promoting the launch of a new product or growing authority in a particular niche.

• Craft a Budget—How much will you need to invest to accomplish your goal? Creating a trade show budget can be tricky, but it will help ensure that you’re investing your time and money wisely.

• Find a Quality Trade Show—Research trade shows in advance to make sure that each one is worth your investment.

• Research the Competition—Who are your biggest competitors at the trade show? Research their selling points and find ways to outshine them on the trade show floor. From flashy signage to unique promotional products, get creative with your trade show strategies.

• Attract People to Your Booth—Give people a reason to stop by your booth with exciting signage, engaging booth staff and, of course, trade show giveaways. Attendees have come to expect branded swag at trade shows, so be sure to check out our trade show swag ideas if you need some inspiration for your booth.

• Follow-Up with Leads—Don’t wait for leads to lose interest in your brand. Follow up within 24 hours while your brand is still fresh on their minds.

Make a Lasting Impression at Your Next Trade Show

When you’re new to the trade show industry, exhibiting for the first time can be stressful. From developing an eye-catching booth to crafting the right messaging, you’ll probably be spending a lot of time, money and energy into your upcoming trade show.

While we can’t take away all of your trade show stress, we can make it easy to attract attendees with useful promotional products that are the talk of the trade show. Get in touch with us and we’ll help you pick promotional items that align with your brand messaging and help you maximize your trade show ROI.

If you’ve ever left a networking event or trade show with a goodie bag loaded with promotional items, then you have some familiarity with a swag bag. A quality swag bag has the potential to delight event attendees and keep your business top of mind long after the event has passed.

So, What is a Swag Bag?

But let’s rewind for a minute: What is a swag bag? What does “swag” even mean? Briefly, here is what you need to know about the meaning of swag bags:

• Swag is an acronym for “Stuff We All Get.”
• Swag refers to promotional items that companies hand out to attendees as a form of advertising.
• To delight attendees with a swag bag, event managers and marketers must develop an effective promotional strategy.

A Brief History of Swag Bags

“Swag” isn’t a new term. In fact, it’s not even a new concept. We’ve been giving out swag since the 1700s, and at funerals, of all places!

While the meaning of swag has steadily evolved over the years, the goodie bag we know and love today first arose during the dot com bubble. They gained widespread attention thanks to the Oscars and the Emmys, which were known for giving out swanky, lavish gift bags as a consolation prize for all the nominees.

Today, swag bags are used for a variety of events, from fun runs and races to conferences to fundraisers and everything in between. Whether you’re a startup trying to create brand familiarity or an established company wanting to generate buzz for a new product, a swag bag can be an extremely effective marketing strategy for your business.

How Your Business Can Benefit from a Quality Swag Bag

Swag bags are not just fun; they’re a strategic tool in brand promotion. Look around your office—you likely have several promotional items within reach. These aren’t just useful tools; they’re constant reminders of the brands they represent.

Brand Recall

A study by the Advertising Specialty Institute shows that 85% of people remember the advertiser that gave them a promotional item, making swag an effective memory hook.

Customer Loyalty

Over one-third of people who receive promotional items are more likely to do business with the company that gave it to them, enhancing customer loyalty.

Cost-Effective Marketing 

Swag bags provide a more budget-friendly alternative to costly advertising methods like TV or radio, perfect for companies with limited marketing budgets.

Enhanced Visibility

Every time someone uses a promotional pen, wears a branded t-shirt, or carries a tote bag, your brand gets exposure far beyond the initial recipient.

Perceived Value

Well-chosen swag can feel like a thoughtful gift, increasing the perceived value of doing business with your brand.

Versatility

Swag can be tailored to fit any event or audience, making it versatile for any promotional need.

Sustainable Options

Offering eco-friendly promotional products can improve your brand’s image and appeal to a more environmentally conscious consumer base.

Community Engagement

Swag bags can be used to support local events, charities, and schools, showing your business’s commitment to community involvement.

Employee Morale

Swag isn’t just for customers. It can also boost employee morale and create a sense of belonging within a company.

Trade Show Traffic

At trade shows, a compelling swag bag can draw attendees to your booth, increasing leads and potential sales.

Swag bags offer a unique combination of practicality and promotional power, helping to cement your brand in the minds of consumers and encouraging both loyalty and new customer acquisition. Invest in quality swag to reap the benefits of an affordable yet impactful marketing strategy.

Swag Bag Items

Swag bags, much like those delightful goodie bags from childhood parties, contain a variety of promotional items and samples aimed at leaving a memorable impression. They often feature branded gifts that recipients can use, promoting prolonged brand exposure.

Custom Power Banks

Keep your recipients powered up with custom power banks. They’re perfect for charging devices on the go, making your brand a daily convenience in their lives.

Recycled Paper Journals

Offer a sustainable choice with journals made from recycled paper. They’re ideal for note-taking at conferences or daily planning, showing your brand’s eco-conscious side.

Branded Tote Bags

Durable and reusable, these tote bags extend your brand’s reach every time they’re used for shopping or carrying essentials.

Personalized Water Bottles

Keep attendees hydrated with water bottles customized with your logo. They’re practical for both gym goers and office workers.

Custom USB Drives

Share your brand digitally with custom USB drives. Load them with your company’s portfolio or presentations to make a professional impact.

Branded T-shirts 

Create walking billboards with stylish, comfortable T-shirts featuring your logo. They’re great for team events or as casual wear.

Promotional Sunglasses

Add a fun touch to outdoor events with sunglasses that protect eyes and showcase your brand on sunny days.

Eco-Friendly Straws

Show your commitment to the environment with reusable straws. Pair them with your logo for a green message.

Portable Bluetooth Speakers

Let your brand be the life of the party with portable speakers that carry your logo and deliver great sound.

Custom Stress Balls

Offer a way to de-stress with squishy, branded stress balls. They’re perfect for office environments and trade shows.

Swag items are more than just gifts; they’re a strategic marketing tool that enhances visibility and engagement. Choose items that resonate with your audience and reflect your brand values to make your swag bags a hit.

A Few Tips Before We Go

It’s clear that swag bags can create brand familiarity and delight event attendees. They also have the potential to be a massive disappointment and a waste of money if event managers don’t know what they’re doing.
Before you order cool swag items for your swag bag, remember that your items need to be useful, relevant and align with your brand. Why not check out our best sellers for more inspiration before you go and if you need help choosing promotional products that will give you the best bang for your buck, we’re happy to help! Get in touch with us and we’ll help you create a swag bag that makes a lasting impression on your target audience.

Sometimes your own employees can be the best source for spreading brand awareness through promotional products. Many companies offer new employee welcome kits filled with essential information and promotional gifts with their brand logo to encourage staff to support and represent the business.

Everybody loves receiving free swag, so be sure to order bulk promotional items that your team will appreciate and want to use even outside the office. Hosting team-building company events is another great time to distribute promotional products and build a positive office culture. Follow our tips to create a memorable company event that will spread brand awareness and overall benefit your business.

Benefits of hosting a company event

1. Create a strong company culture

Fostering a distinct company culture is important for employee retention as well as building your brand because it aligns the values of your staff and your company. If you create an office environment that your employees genuinely enjoy, they are much more likely to remain loyal while also spreading the word about how well your company operates. According to Forbes, 87 percent of people who feel that their company encourages engagement are more likely to stay with the company.

When employees are more satisfied and engaged, they are also likely to be more motivated and produce higher quality work. A company event is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate your company’s culture in action. As you plan the event, consider what core values you can emphasize to your staff and brainstorm ways to demonstrate these principles. During the event, give away promotional items to show your employees your appreciation for them.

2. Encourage teamwork

Without hosting company events, it can be difficult for employees to find time outside of work to mingle with other staff. These festivities provide your team with the chance to relax and connect without the pressures of office duties. When employees have the opportunity to speak in a social setting, they form stronger bonds, which encourages better working relationships.

Not only do company events allow colleagues to interact, but they also open the door for communication between leadership and employees. Sometimes management may seem unapproachable because they are in a position of authority and employees, particularly new hires, don’t always feel comfortable turning to them with a problem. In a low-stress setting such as a company event, employees have the chance to get to know their bosses better and feel more collegial, making it easier to approach them in the office with work concerns.

3. Demonstrate employee value

When employees feel as though their contributions to the company are important, they are much more productive, motivated and happy in the workplace. Throwing a special company party is an excellent way to display your gratitude for each of your staff members. Many companies opt to host an Awards Ceremony event each year to personally reward employees that have done an outstanding job over the course of the year. This type of company event is fun for everyone and provides the recognition many employees seek.

When planning a company event, you should build in a time to gift your team with useful and high-quality promotional products. These gifts are another token of your appreciation and work well as visual advertisements to others.

The perfect bulk promotional items for company events

Personalized shirts and other apparel

Personalized shirts are popular and valuable promotional items to distribute to employees. They can be worn to work on casual days as well as outside the office. Seek out high-quality apparel, like custom embroidered jackets from reputable brands such as Columbia and Under Armour, and customize them with your company logo.

Corporate gifts and awards

If you’re planning to host a company-wide Awards Ceremony, you’ll need gifts and awards to give out to your winners. A traditional award like a plaque is an excellent way to make your outstanding employees feel special, but you can also opt to offer other types of prizes such as custom Yeti tumblers or branded Wrapsody headphones.

Custom drinkware

To commemorate a great company event, hand out beautiful custom glassware that your employees can take home and use for years to come. Custom wine glasses with your company logo and the name of the event are classy favors that people will love. You can also consider giving away something people can use every day such as coffee mugs with your company logo.