Promotional products for trade fairs
At a trade fair, a promotional product does two things: it brings the visitor to your stand and it reminds them of your company after the fair. This page collects tips on what to give out, how many products you need, how to make the stand visible and when to place the order.
The price of a printed product includes one-colour print in one position, setup cost, a proof and delivery in Finland. Prices are excluding VAT. The minimum order quantity for most printed products is 50 pcs. All products for trade fairs and events can be found in the group Trade fairs and events.
What to give out at a trade fair
A good trade fair product is one that is also used after the fair. The logo is then still visible weeks later on a desk, in a bag or on a keyring.
- Ballpoint pens are small and light, and they are used every day.
- Visitors carry the fair brochures in a cotton bag, so the logo goes with them all day. Paper bags suit handing out brochures and small gifts.
- Sticky notes and notebooks end up on the desk.
- Water bottles suit long fair days and sports events.
- Promotional sweets make visitors stop at the stand.
- Keyrings are carried every day.
It is worth giving every visitor a small product that can be handed out in large numbers. For your most important customers and interested visitors, you can set aside a better gift, for example a notebook, a water bottle or a power bank. When the gift is given after a conversation, the visitor remembers who they talked to.
Also consider who will be at the fair. At a trade fair for professionals, visitors appreciate a product that suits their work, such as a pen or a notebook. At a public event, more is usually handed out, and a small product such as a keyring or a sweet is enough.
How many products you need
You can estimate the quantity with three figures: the number of visitors at the fair, the share of visitors who stop at the stand, and the share of those who stop who receive a product.
Example: if the fair has 4,000 visitors, one in ten visitors stops at the stand and half of them receive a product, you need about 200 products. The figures are only an example. Use your own figures, for example experience from earlier fairs and the organiser's estimate of visitor numbers. If the fair lasts several days, calculate the quantity for each day.
A larger batch usually has a lower unit price, because the setup cost is spread over more products. The price table on the product page shows the quantity at which the unit price drops. If products are left over, they can be used at later events and customer meetings.
Stand visibility
The stand stands out when the logo can be seen from far away. On roll-ups and banners, the logo and message are shown large behind or in front of the stand. Pennants and flags are visible from far away, also at outdoor events, and brochure stands keep the brochures in order.
Check the fair organiser's rules for stand materials before ordering, for example stand height and fire safety. The rules differ from one event to another.
Name badges, lanyards and clothing
When the stand staff wear name badges, it is easy for a visitor to start a conversation. Name pins are attached to clothing, and a card holder takes a name card or an access card. The card holder can be attached to a lanyard, which can be printed with the company logo.
Many card holders and name pins are sold without print from one piece. Lanyards are also often given to the participants of an event.
When all the stand staff wear the same shirt, visitors recognise them easily. T-shirts and polo shirts printed with a logo can be ordered in many models from 10 pcs, and different sizes of the same model can be ordered in the same order.
Events and competitions
Events and competitions often need more than giveaways. Wristbands are used to mark participants, and medals and coins are made to order in your own design. The price of made-to-order products is given in the quote, and their minimum order quantity is usually 50 or 100 pcs. Made-to-order products are described on the page Made-to-order products in your own design.
For autumn fairs
In autumn and winter it gets dark early. A safety reflector is then a practical fair product that the visitor can use right away on the way home. A reflector is personal protective equipment, and it must meet the requirements that apply to it. The group page explains which markings a reflector must have and how it is attached.
Schedule
Calculate the schedule backwards from the fair date. The lead time for printed products is usually about 2 weeks from proof approval. The lead time for made-to-order products, such as your own pins and medals, is usually about 4 weeks from proof approval. Also allow time for the quote and for checking the proof. If you need the same products for several events, it is worth ordering them at once, because the unit price is usually lower in a larger batch.
Collect the products in the quote basket and state the fair dates, the desired delivery date and the logo colours in the quote request. We reply by email within one working day, and the quote states the lead time. The steps of ordering are on the page How to order, and the parts of the price are explained on the page What makes up the price of a promotional product.
Frequently asked questions
What should you give out at a trade fair?
It is worth giving out a product that is also used after the fair, such as a pen, a bag, sticky notes or a water bottle. A small product suits a large audience, and you can set aside a better gift for your most important customers.
How many promotional products do you need for a trade fair?
Estimate how many visitors the fair will have, how many of them stop at the stand and how many of those who stop receive a product. Multiply these figures together to get the quantity you need.
How far in advance should trade fair products be ordered?
Printed products are usually delivered in about 2 weeks and made-to-order products in about 4 weeks from proof approval. Also allow time for the quote and the proof, and state the fair date in the quote request.