tradeshow giveaways

Trade show 101: Top Trade Show Trends to Know

Trade show 101: Top Trade Show Trends to Know

Picture this: a bustling arena, vibrant banners fluttering in the air, and a symphony of business chatter echoing across the halls. If you thought of this season’s trade show, you’re right on target!

In the dynamic world of trade shows, business opportunities and networking collide. But there is another contender for the trade show spotlight: branded trade show items!

These powerful tools can enhance attendee experiences and create opportunities for your brand to grow. In this blog, we’ll dive into trade show marketing and explore our favorite trade show trends to help create unforgettable interactions.

The Promotional Power of Trade Show Items

In the bustling arena of trade shows, the competition to stand out is fierce. According to Trade Show Labs, more than half (52%) of the attendees are attracted to exhibits that offer giveaways or freebies. 

That means that trade show items are crucial instruments to set your booth apart from the crowd and offer tangible representations of your brand. These items are more than just giveaways; they are catalysts that spark conversations, create connections and raise brand awareness. 

By aligning with trending trade show promotional products, businesses can harness the potential to elevate attendee experiences to new heights.

Promotional Product Trends Shaping Trade Shows

Unveiling Your Brand: The Magic of Branded Hats

Promotional hats are an excellent choice for trade show giveaways — offering a fusion of style and visibility that captivates attendees. With their eye-catching branding space, hats ensure your logo takes center stage, maximizing brand exposure. Beyond the event, hats become wearable advertisements, extending your reach into daily life. 

Another reason hats make great giveaways is because they offer a more unique brand experience. While many booths will carry tote bags or lanyards, a table with branded hats on display will see a lot of traffic. 

Promotional hats also make great contest prizes if you are trying to stay within your trade show budget. Running a raffle or interactive game will attract more attendees and create a memorable experience!

Rocking the Show: Promotional Earbuds & Headphones

These compact and trendy accessories resonate with the tech-savvy audience. Attendees appreciate their convenience and value, making them memorable and appreciated gifts.

When you offer promotional earbuds, your company effortlessly combines innovation, utility, and engagement, amplifying trade show success.

A Trade Show Classic: Custom Pens

You may be thinking that pens are overdone. But that’s where you are wrong.

Promotional pens aren’t just your average freebies; they’re the heart and soul of trade show giveaways. Mixing practicality with brand recognition, they become an attendee’s trusty sidekick for jotting down notes, collecting vital info, and networking – all the good stuff that makes a trade show tick. 

The compact size makes them easy to carry and share, maximizing your reach. Your brand is right there in the spotlight, etching itself into memories. Be it scribbling during seminars or swapping contact info, these promotional pens are like trusty companions, adding a touch of value to every trade show journey.

Crafting Strategies for Maximum Impact

While the above products may be our favorite trade show items, it’s still important to incorporate trade show promotional products with a strategic approach. The key lies in choosing products that reflect your brand and message. 

Let’s say, for example, you are the event planner for a carbon-neutral company. You will want to choose products that are eco-friendly and sustainable to ensure your brand message aligns across every platform.

Personalized touches like the example above adds value to the trade show items, making them more than just souvenirs. These items now carry your brand message inside and outside of the trade show convention center. 

Mastering the Virtual Vibe With Online Company Stores 

With the rise of virtual and hybrid trade shows, companies can maintain a powerful brand presence through the innovative strategy of online event pop-up shops. These virtual storefronts bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds, offering a dynamic way to distribute promotional giveaways or contest prizes. 

Attendees can access these digital shops from the comfort of their screens, experiencing the thrill of choosing their desired items just as they would at an in-person event. By curating a selection of promotional products, such as pens, headphones, and hats, within the online pop-up shop, companies can cater to attendees’ preferences while adhering to the latest trade show trends.

Elevate Your Trade Show Experience with Pinnacle Promotions

If you’re eager to infuse your trade show booths with magnetic appeal, then embrace the power of these trade show trends. Let them do the talking, let them create the buzz, and let them stand as a testament to your brand’s commitment to excellence. 

Ready to take the next step? Partner with Pinnacle Promotions and get the latest in trendsetting trade show items. We’ll help you elevate your brand, captivate your audience and master the art of trade show marketing.

So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to make your mark, one promotional product at a time! Contact us today at 877.300.2007 and let the journey begin.

Posted by Chrissy Petrone in Tradeshow Giveaways & Swag, 0 comments

“That’s a Tier 2 problem.” Ummmm…what?

“That’s a Tier 2 problem.” Ummmm…what?

My laptop was not working. I had no idea what was wrong with it. So, I took my computer to a store that sells that computer, and that computer only. Upon further inspection, the technician kindly let me know that I have a “Tier 2” problem. I asked, “What is a Tier 2 problem?” He answered, “About $250.” Ummmm…what?

Many industries have their own terms that are proprietary to the market or industry. The promotional products industry is no different. We have assembled a few of our favorite terms here that some customers may know, but these terms might not necessarily be household names. Not only will we define them for you, but we’ll do it in less than #sixwords!

Four-color process
: Your full-color-logo on something
Stock the closet: Your corporate stash of promo items
Setup charge: Charge to setup the imprinting machine
Imprint: Your logo or design for production
Vector: Points and lines that make shapes
Raster: Squares of pixels that make shapes
Pad print: Stamp your imprint on your item
Deboss: Elegant concave imprint on squishable item
Digitizing: Embroidered image becomes digital sewing file
PMS Color: Color number matching your brand guidelines (PMS LINK)
Run Charge: Charge per color for color printing
Flash Charge: White base for dark printing wearables

Any other terms you want us to explain in #sixwords? We’re here for you! Check out our FAQs for more information.

Pinnacle Promotions

Posted by Lee in Brand Identity and Corporate Logos, Promotions Industry News, Top Trending Topics, 0 comments

Top 5 Essentials When Attending a Trade Show

Last week was my first PPAI Expo in Vegas.  I had been to other regional trade shows, but this is the largest, longest-running trade show in our industry.  Every year marketers from all over the country come to see, touch, and feel the newest and most unique promotional products and apparel.  The Mandalay Bay convention center has 2 floors filled with rows and rows of booths with products to see.  I knew I needed a game plan before I stepped on the show floor.  Speaking with co-workers that had been to the Expo before, I was given the 5 Essentials When Attending a Trade show.  Bonus, I also figured out 1 additional product we’ll be bringing with us next year!

1) Comfortable Shoes – with so much walking you need comfortable shoes to make it through a full show day.  If you can find a mix of comfort and style that is ideal.  I chose my grey, corduroy TOMS and they proved to be an excellent choice.

2) Tote Bag – You need a tote bag to carry your notebook or padfolio, business cards, phone, and other supplies, preferable with lots of pockets.  Pockets and dividers make finding your things quick and easy when time is of the essence.  Megan and I brought our new Pinnacle tote bags that had 4 separate outside pockets and internal pockets for your phone and business cards.

Megan and me with our new Pinnacle tote bags.

3) WATER – walking and talking can make you thirsty… I recommend you bring a bottle of water because a small soda is $5 at the convention center!

4)  Smartphone/Camera – When you are busy going booth to booth, you’ll want to take lots of pictures of the cool, unique products you find.  Tip: Take a picture of the company sign or business card so you remember where you saw that cool product.  Keep everything digital to avoid having sore arms and shoulders from catalogs and product samples. (Obviously there are some things just too cute not to pick up, hence the tote bag)

5) Hand Sanitizer – shaking hands and touching products that thousands of other people are touching is less than sanitary.  Make sure you bring hand sanitizer or snag a promotional hand sanitizer that someone is giving away.


BONUS Essential for trade shows – Energy Bar (no not a protein bar, but that’s not a bad idea either) an Energy Bar or Emergency Mobile Device Battery, as they are being called is a small compact battery device that once charged will recharge your smartphone or other mobile device.  I know my phone died on me every day around 4pm when I still had more pictures to take and people to communicate with.  I will definitely bring something like this with me next year!

Hope you enjoyed my list of essential products when attending a trade show.  Many of these products that are valuable at a trade show can be imprinted with your logo and are great giveaway items for those attendees that didn’t come prepared (custom bottled water, tote bags, hand sanitizer, etc).  My personal tip would be to have a “recharging station” at one end of your booth with chairs, custom bottled water, and a place to recharge your phone.  While your potential clients are resting their feet and recharging, you can be building relationships and provide marketing collateral or a promotional video for them to watch.

Are there any other products I left out?  Let me know if there are other products you feel are essential when attending a tradeshow in the comments below.

 

-Heather
Merchandising Manager

Posted by Admin in Marketing Ideas, Tradeshow Giveaways & Swag, 0 comments

Case Study: Flexible Promotional Vase

This spring we helped one of our customers, Michelle find an inexpensive, unique item for her event.  After looking through many promotional products in her price range, she decided to order a sample of the Flexible Promotional Vase.

After reviewing the product she was pleasantly surprised to find that the vase was not as thin as she expected and was “amazed and excited about the quality of the item”.  She placed an order and purchased enough to display on her registration table as well as give as a gift to each person attending.  Not only did the Flexible Promotional Vase act as a decorative piece on her table, but it also was very well received by her attendees.  Everyone left with a quality branded vase which they could use in their home or office to display flowers.  Michelle felt the vase had a “lot of bang for the buck”!

Read more about the Flexible Promotional Vase and watch our how-to video

Posted by Admin in Case Studies, Giveaways on a Budget, 0 comments