Ideas for Trade Show, Meetings and Corporate Event Promotions

By Ashley Chiaradio

Insights from an event planner

Event planner Jean Kintisch, owner and founder of Pine Hill Events LLC, answered a few questions about how her company uses promotional products.

Promo Marketing: What role to promotional products play in your corporate events and meetings?

Jean Kintisch: They definitely play a role, but most times I am not the one who orders them. Most often the corporate client already has them or places the order for future use. They are either useful tools to use at the meeting (sticky notes, pens, etc.) or they are take-home items to remember the cause, host or sponsors.

PM: What are your go-to promotional products for corporate events and meetings?

JK: Again, I’m not usually the one who orders them, but I still see a lot of bags, water bottles, pens/highlighters, hand-sanitizer, thumb drives, chargers, ear buds, etc. They are successful because they are useful and can be easily packed for home.

PM: What is your favorite way to use promotional products?

JK: As party favors (pint beer glasses, plastic margarita cups, sunglasses) and gifts for speakers, guests and attendees/participants (Fitbits, plaques/awards, local chocolates). It’s a nice way to say thank you, while also getting remembered.

PM: Where do you like to get your promotional products?

JK: I try to buy/shop local as much as possible and support women-owned businesses, so there are a few vendors nearby. However, if price is a concern and I can do better for my client by shopping online, I certainly will.

PM: Do you have a specific situation where a promotional product made a huge impact at a corporate event?

JK: It’s a great visual to see tens or hundreds of people all wearing/using the product. If you can get a photo of that, it can have a lasting impact.

Promotions at trade shows and events should make a great impression when they’re first handed out, and continue to keep your client fresh in attendees’ minds days, weeks and months later. Here are some success stories from top suppliers.

HIT PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS

A major tea company was trying to create mass buzz over their three new tea flavors being introduced at a large outdoor trade show event. They wanted something with impact that people would not only wear while on site, but also take with them and wear to promote their brand after that day. Additionally they wanted a special design that would get people talking. The Malibu Sunglasses were at the end-users booth at the event. Anyone who came over to taste the three new teas and fill out a quick survey would get a pair of these sunglasses for free. The tea company was out of sunglasses before the second day of the event. They had tremendous feedback on their new tea flavors and an incredible buzz because everyone that left their booth was wearing these sunglasses.

Provided by Krista Ward, director of marketing for Hit Promotional Products, Largo, Fla.

HUB PEN COMPANY

An insurance company was planning its annual sales summit and it wanted something to complement the tropical theme of the event. The sleek, slim-line Bermuda from Hub Pen was chosen in conjunction with an island-themed calendar to help the salespeople save the date for the annual event. The pen’s tropical flair with silver engraving provided the colorful, yet elegant statement the company desired. The pen could also be used to mark important dates on the calendar throughout the year.

Provided by Pam Baker, executive assistant for Hub Pen Company, Braintree, Mass.

VISSTUN

ProSites Website Design, specializing in Internet marketing, devised a unique trade show promotion. They sponsored the use of Hi-Definition White Plastic cups for the trade show floor, each of which was imprinted with a QR code. By scanning the QR code, visitors of the show would learn what they had won. Every cup was a winner, but only one had a QR code that scanned to win the grand prize—an iPad. Because ProSites specializes in Internet-based marketing, using a QR code rather than a peel or scratch-off label was an effective way of tying the technology focus of their brand into their promotion.

Provided by Lisa Jacobe, marketing manager for Visstun, Las Vegas

0 Comments

View Comments

Ashley Chiaradio Author's page

Ashley Chiaradio is the Senior Content Strategist at Total Retail. Ashley has been creating content for more than 7 years, and provides a unique insight in covering the retail industry having worked directly for retailers in the past. She’s passionate about profiling women leadership in the space.

Showing Off

HIT PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS

HUB PEN COMPANY

VISSTUN