18 Promotional Giveaway Ideas For UK Fairs & Exhibitions

Okay: your mind might be on all things festive right now but there's no harm in planning ahead and giving some consideration to your brand's exhibition presence in 2020. 

Whether your business has a stand at an industry event or consumer-focused fair, branded giveaways are the perfect way to ensure customers leave with your company name firmly in their minds. 

Why? Typically teeming with many other exhibitors, promotional merchandise is a fantastic way to ensure your business is the one people walk away thinking about. A logo-branded item is the perfect means to ensure your company remains memorable and distinct among a whole host of potential business rivals, creating a lasting impression that will help your brand stand out. 

Exhibiting at an event is also an excellent opportunity for valuable face-to-face networking (be sure to check out our branded staff name badges for that extra personal touch!), presenting you with an opportunity to directly kickstart relationships with customers. Introducing people to your brand in-person is a fantastic way to talk them through what makes your business different from competitors, as well as adding a personable touch to your offering, too. The cherry on top is handing over a logo-branded item that visitors can take home with them, especially if it's something that you've carefully chosen to match their needs. 

So with all that in mind, why not choose branded merchandise that will create long-lasting brand awareness for your business? Read on for our list of some of the most popular promotional freebies for handing out at events and browse our full range of event giveaways (printed with your logo!) for further inspiration.

For Bags Of Branding Potential, Consider a Promotional Tote

There's no denying it: branded tote bags are an absolute essential at trade events. For one thing, they make things easier for Potential Customer A, enabling them to carry everything they pick up as they make their way around the exhibition, allowing them to continue browsing with ease.

For another thing, they generate awareness for your business within the remit of the event, with Potential Customer B clocking A's tote and wondering where, exactly, can they find your stand because, actually, they'd quite like a promotional tote bag, too... And of course, the beauty of that scenario is this: because your logo is printed on Potential Customer A's bag, Potential Customer B is able to track down your stand with relative ease, giving you an opportunity to introduce them to your business.

Browse our full range of printed shopping bags and contact us today to receive a personalised quote for your business. 

Keep It Classic With A Promotional Pen

You really can't beat a promotional pen when it comes to simple, cost-effective brand awareness - they're the undisputed champions of simple yet brilliant brand awareness. If you're looking for a crowd-pleaser, our best-selling Curvy Ballpen is a promotional pen with a difference. Available in a wide range of colours and offering a smooth writing experience with every use for your customers, these branded pens will ensure all eyes are firmly on your logo. 

For something a little more modern, consider one of our stylus ballpens - we have a wide range available, with prices beginning as low as just 22p per unit. 

Want to find out more? Explore our full range of promotional plastic pens and fill out our Rapid Quote form today to receive bespoke pricing for your business.

Feed Brand Awareness With Branded Fridge Magnets

Our customised fridge magnets are ideal for offering awareness for your business that extends long after the event. After all, magnetic merchandise will be seen every time your customers go to open the fridge!

Our advice? Design your bespoke branded fridge magnets with your customers in mind in order to create a design that they'll be delighted to have on display in their kitchens. 

For an idea that's even more impressive, you'll definitely want to check out our A5 Dry Wipe Magnet Board With Pen. Your customers will love this promotional whiteboard, whether they use it at home or in the workplace. 

Add A Tech-Ish Twist For A Modern Touch

With hours spent walking the halls of an exhibition centre, chances are phone batteries might take a pounding. With that in mind, be a knight in fully-charged armour by providing your customers with branded power banks.

Alternatively, something like our ever-popular Cocoon Earphones could make a great option. With your logo printed onto their case, these easy-wear headphones are perfect for accompanying customers on their daily routines, whether they're on their way to work, the gym or even just relaxing at home. 

It doesn't end there, of course; rather, we have a wide range of promotional gadgets waiting to be printed with your branding. Have a browse and contact our friendly Sales team today for more information. 

Help Customers Keep Their Calm With Stress-Busting Toys & Novelties

Branded stress balls are a timeless promotional giveaway item that's perfect for helping customers - whether existing or potential - tackle worries.

Our Low-Cost Stress Balls, shown above, are consistently one of our most popular event giveaways. With the option to be printed in up to four colours with your branding, they offer brilliant awareness for your business, whilst also helping customers channel their inner calm, too! 

For something a little different, look no further than our branded Rubik's Cube; printed with your branding on all six faces, it's a fantastic opportunity to put a different spin on traditional advertising. It also provides customers (both existing and potential) with a great fidget toy to boot. 

Alternatively, tailor the quirky giveaways you choose to match your audience. If you're exhibiting at a finance-related event, for example, our Mini Translucent Piggy Banks could be perfect for inspiring customers to get saving. Equally, our branded Foam Gliders could make a great low-cost giveaway at a travel event, whilst our custom-made Temporary Tattoos could make a great addition to hospitality or lifestyle-themed exhibitions; our A4 Stress Colouring Books are definitely worth considering for health and wellbeing events!

Of course, these are just a few examples. Total Merchandise has a wide range of corporate novelty gifts available, which are ideal for keeping your brand at the forefront of people's minds. 

Freshen Up Potential Customers With Promotional Drinkware 

For brand awareness that lasts and lasts, look no further than printed drinkware. Our best-selling Universal Take Out Cups are ideal for ensuring your customers can enjoy their favourite hot drinks in an eco-friendly fashion, with your branding on display for every sip. 

Alternatively, our branded metal water bottles are great for spreading awareness among health or fitness-related audiences. We have a wide range available, including our best-selling 500ml Water Bottle, which is available in a wide range of colours and can be printed or engraved with your logo. 

Need promotional drinkware in a rush? We have a range of branded mugs that are available on our express service. 

Opt For Edible With Branded Sweet Treats

Trailing around an exhibition can be tiring business - so help customers perk back up with one of our delicious Baton Chocolate Bars. Designed with your artwork in full-colour on the wrapper, they will offer recipients a probably-welcome sugar fix as they traipse the halls.

Alternatively, keep your marketing fresh by providing your customers with our branded Rectangle Mint Tins; printed with your artwork on the lid, the sturdy design of the tin means your customers can refill it with their favourite mints as and when they please. (Browse our full range of promotional mints for even more refreshing ideas!)

Keep Customers Hydrated With Promotional Drink

On a similar note: helping your customers keep hydrated will assert your business as something of a life-saver. Our conveniently-sized 330ml Bottled Drinking Water is ideal for helping your customers refresh - and with your branding printed on the label, they'll think of your label with every sip. 

For a luxe alternative, search no further than our Mini Prosecco Bottles, which feature your full-colour design printed on both the lid and the label. Cheers!

Hand-Out Printed Keyrings With A Function Or Purpose

Ideal for adding onto a bunch of keys and always useful to have to-hand, our promotional trolley coin keyring will help generate awareness for your business with every use. 

Similarly, our best-selling Portland Torch Keyrings will help your customers see in even the darkest of settings

Make The Write Impression With Branded Note Pads

Perfect for use in the office, our branded A6 Note Pads feature your artwork clearly printed on the cover in up to full colour. 

For Wearable Promotion, Consider Our Express Silicone Wristbands

Branded wristbands make great low-cost promotional giveaways, which your stand visitors can continue to wear long-after the event is over.

Keep It Stylish With Promotional Sunglasses

For brand awareness that your customers can actually wear, search no further than our stylish Sun Ray Sunglasses, which are ideal for adding a fashionable flourish to any marketing campaign. 

And while we're on the subject: why not pick an incentive, create a hashtag for the event and encourage visitors to share a sunglasses selfie (tagging your brand in the post, naturally) in order to further spread awareness for your business? 

Total Merchandise is delighted to offer a huge range of promotional event giveaways, perfect for events such as industry conferences, trade shows and consumer fairs. Browse our full range of event giveaway ideas and contact us today to receive a bespoke quote for your business. 

Written by

Katie Clark | Head of Digital Marketing

With over a decade in print and digital journalism, Katie possesses a wide skill-set that incorporates everything from SEO to PR. Joining the team in early 2019, her expertise lies in writing sparkling copy about promotional merchandise and related topics, as well as managing social media activity and developing creative solutions to keep the Total Merchandise brand at the forefront of people’s minds. With a background that includes event-planning and volunteering for charitable organisations, she has a first-hand appreciation for the needs and questions a customer might have when acquiring promotional products for their organisation. In her spare time, she loves reading, going to the cinema and learning to cook.

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