Looking to leave your mark at your next event? A tried-and-tested way to do this is to offer fun, branded freebies for visitors to take away. If the mention of giving away free merchandise has got you thinking about the cost vs benefits, we’re covering that in this article. After all, you only want to invest in free giveaways if it makes good business sense.
Tapping into the psychology of gift-giving, it’s one of the five love languages and helps to build a connection with others. Offering freebies as a business to the public (and people that may be interested in what you have to offer) can help build positive relationships from the get-go. You know what they say: first impressions count!
Giving away freebies is about spending money to make money.
If a stand looks popular, visitors may even be prepared to queue, as they will see you as a stand that’s worth their time. This will depend on you having a sought-after freebie (read on to see our list of popular giveaway items).
You may have a lot of questions around how to ensure your free merchandise is cost-effective.
Often, choosing one printed merchandise provider can speed up the process of receiving your gifts in time for the event, and bring down the overall cost.
Make sure you establish a clear budget and communicate this to your teams. This will need to factor in delivery costs, the cost of the product and the printing for your branding. Some products will also come with a minimum order amount, so that will want to be factored in too.
Be confident with the designs you send over to your printing service provider. Colours and logos need to be clear, on-brand, and translate from digital assets to print exactly as intended.
An established printing company that specialises in offering branded merchandise for businesses will be able to talk you through the process and ensure a right-first-time approach for your finished products.
You’ll also want to ensure you have the right number of freebies for the size of the event. After all, no stand wants to run out of merchandise before midday!
To get the sweet spot for freebies, you’ll want to ensure they're relevant to your brand, something your audience will enjoy, and suitable for the type of event. To get you inspired, we’re showcasing some of the trending, yet affordable, freebies that are worth sharing at your next event.
A bag is a way to entice with variety (without breaking the bank). You can just give the bag away, or stuff it with goodies, such as a keyring, notebook and pen (all with your logo and tag line). A goodie bag is a nostalgic gift for many, as it reminds them of children’s birthday parties.
From bags for life and yarn or cotton jute bags to drawstring gym bags, it’s worth checking out the varieties available to find the most cost-effective design that you know your audience will love.
You can choose plain or printed bags, depending on the intended use. But, if you want to get your name out there, a printed tote bag is definitely the way to go. Paper bags will be cheaper, but a cotton tote bag will last much longer.
Top tip: If you want an environmentally-friendly bag, make sure you choose one crafted from 100% biodegradable materials.
A silicone keyring is an ideal—and relatively cheap—freebie option. It’s practical, durable and available in a variety of eye-catching colours. You can also offer keepsake keyrings in a range of sizes that include your brand name, logo, website and contact details.
Top tip: For a more hard-wearing option, we recommend the keepsake keyring. This will encourage people to keep sporting your brand name and logo, potentially for years to come.
Who doesn’t love a free T-shirt? For a sustainable, long-lasting option, we recommend ordering T-shirts made from natural fibres, such as cotton. Not only will this be more comfortable than ones made with synthetic fibres, it will also be 100% biodegradable.
Top tip: For convenience, you can purchase unisex T-shirts, which means you can order one style in bulk rather than purchasing separate women’s and men’s designs.
For professionals, a stress ball is a great desk accessory. Promotional stress balls are small enough to fit in a handbag or pocket and are made of a soft, squeezable material. It is a fun way to de-stress in the workplace and is guaranteed to have pride of place on desk tops. With a choice of colours, you can pick the best match for your brand or choose a colour that represents the event you’re attending.
Top tip: For maximum branding impact, make sure you purchase from a supplier that lets you choose the colour and customise the engraved text.
Help visitors stay hydrated and encourage them to reuse rather than throw away after every use. Travel mugs and double-walled water bottles are all the rage right now, so these are definitely worth considering. The great thing about offering a water bottle is that it’s likely to be used long after the event, getting your brand name and logo out there and remembered.
Top tip: For a versatile product, why not consider a travel mug that can be used for both hot and cold drinks? That way, your brand name will be visible no matter what the season is.
Browse all our branded freebies for your next event online at GP Print, and get in touch for a quote. Create a stand that entices visitors and builds a positive relationship with potential new customers.
