What drives you to hand out freebies or other stuff during trade shows or business conferences? Most people give these items away as tokens of appreciation for the support that their clients and customers show. Hence, they make do with stuff that's trite, for lack of a better word. While that is a noble undertaking, it won't really work to your benefit if you look at it from a strategic point of view. That's because people tend to forget promotional items that don't leave a lasting impression easily.
Of course, it's only right to express gratitude to the people who back your business up. After all, without these people, your business might not get anywhere. However, giveaway items are supposed to imply so much more. These items make up the advertising arm of your company. If you merely consider these items as symbols of your gratitude, then you're making a serious marketing mistake. You don't go to the battlefield without weapons, isn't it? It's the same in any business. These items are supposed to advertise your business and create recall for your company; that's why we call these promotional items.
Knowing the vital role that these items play, you really need to choose these carefully. You can't settle for items that don't have any repeat value. Think of these items as advertisements for your business. Then, weigh the pros and cons of the items you have in mind. Pens, notepads, or stationery are great items. However, pens run out of ink and people use up notepads and stationery. Where's the repeat value in that? Obviously, there's none. Keep in mind the twofold purpose behind the freebies, and that is to say thanks and promote your business. This will help you choose promotional items that are practical, useful, and has value.
Examples of such items are umbrellas, tote bags, lunch bags, jackets, caps, t-shirts, and picnic coolers. At first glance, these items might look expensive. Nevertheless, there are stores that offer these in bulk. Hence, you can get these at discounted prices. On the other hand, you could buy, say, bulk t-shirts, and print these with the logo of your business using your own machine. You can find the best heat press machine at heatpressmachineguide.com, and investing in the machine would prove to be more cost-effective in the long run.
The giving of freebies is something you should set a budget for, and you need to work within your budget to maximize the value of these items. Quality should always come first before quantity. By buying your own heat press and printing your own promotional t-shirts, you're assured that quality is taken care of. More importantly, you know that you're sticking within the budget you've set.
There's no need to think outside the box. The Internet has everything you need to know more about how to save on your promotional items. Everything will fall into place as long as you have definite goals and a clear idea of what you want to achieve with the promotional items. Just don't forget that above all else, the value or importance of the items must be the top priority.