What would you like to get for free?

[ziptron]

Hi All,

I'm looking to give some random things away at a trade show I'm going to in the next few weeks to promote my business. I'd like to give away some swag, as is quite common with any trade show you go to. However, I want my swag to be cool and useful, but I can't decide what to actually buy.

So, my question is, if you were walking by which of the things from this website (http://www.brandblvd.ca/indexPromo.asp) would you want to get for free? I figured RFD is the best place to ask people what they want for free hah.


Also, lets keep the price under $5-6 per item :).. I know there is a tonne of neat $300 items there, but I can't give those out as easily.

[ricoboxing]

pocket knife

[Snicla]

A hand gun.

Edit: Under $5? A cool pen. I got a nice one at a trade show, it was a highlighter & pen all in one. It was pretty sweet.

[Bazooka Joe]

Pens, USB keys, t-shirts, candy, 1st aid kit (small one is $5.85), flashlight, magnets, notepads, ice scraper (smaller the better, one that you can throw in the glove box and forget) and anything under "tools".

[DarcyC]

The stainless steel bottles would probably be a hit, and they are currently on sale. :lol:
Seriously, you would probably get more replies if you came up with a short list and did a poll. There are far too many options and since I am undoubtedly not attending the trade show, I don't have time to go through them all. Good luck!

[boonjaca]

Travel tin,

http://www.brandblvd.ca/prodDetail.asp?product_id=6032

[D-Roc]

Puzzle pen
http://www.brandblvd.ca/prodDetail.asp?product_id=7653

Stress balls
http://www.brandblvd.ca/typeDisplay.asp?typeid=100

Key light
http://www.brandblvd.ca/prodDetail.asp?product_id=7084

[Snicla]

USB Stick would be awesome!

[ziptron]

hah wow, thanks for all the input guys.

These are great suggestions. I'll add them all up later on and post the results of what you guys chose, then those who came up with the winning ideas, if you want, I can send you a piece of swag :)

[ullyeus]

hot sauce....do it...yes yes....HAWT SAUCE.

[HSK]

Depends on your business. Depends on the expo.

[xansmommy]

I like the following :
http://www.brandblvd.ca/prodDetail.asp?product_id=6579
http://www.brandblvd.ca/prodDetail.asp?product_id=5907
http://www.brandblvd.ca/prodDetail.asp?product_id=5865
http://www.brandblvd.ca/prodDetail.asp?product_id=5010
http://www.brandblvd.ca/prodDetail.asp?product_id=1069
http://www.brandblvd.ca/prodDetail.asp?product_id=6450

*trying to pick things I would have liked to seen at trade shows as opposed to the crap I've collected over the years

laura

[Psubs]

Depends on your business. Depends on the expo.

Yup, condoms may be appropriate, depending on the context. :|

[ziptron]

I like the following :
*trying to pick things I would have liked to seen at trade shows as opposed to the crap I've collected over the years

laura

haha yeah, I hate the typical crap you get. I think its a waste of not even of just money, but resources. To manufacture something just so that it can be thrown out later.



Also, for anyone who's wondering, its a technology company.

Consulting, programming, some web ect.

[AnnaBanana]

I like the tote bags... with grocery stores going bagless (and with us all 'trying' not to use plastic) i find that the more of these i get, the better... i'm a woman though so maybe i'm not in your "target" demographic! also - the last trade show i was at, i got one of these tote bags, and filled it with the info / other swag that i got... The tote was the handyest thing, AND was the only thing that i was carrying around all weekend that had a logo on it (as everything else was IN that bag).
good luck!

[ziptron]

Yup, condoms may be appropriate, depending on the context. :|

hahaha, that would be hilarious though would it not? Everyone would stop just to have a look. It would be the equivelent of putting a large poster that says,

SEX,
now that I got your attention,
check out my company

[angekfire]

Personally, I'd want a USB flash drive most likely. A small keychain flashlight would also be alright.

A pen is always a good plan, as people are always losing them or lending them out, and a ton of people always carry one on them. If they always have it on them, it will constantly remind them of your company. If they lose it or lend it out, it will expose your brand to a new person who may visit your site or use your services.

I've seen small cloths given out with company names on them, the small cloths that are used to clean glasses or whatever.

A pad of paper could work the same as the pen. It could expose your company to more people if they write notes for others.

Coffee mugs or cups would be an alright idea.

Bags I usually end up keeping and intending to use, but rarely do, but that could change soon since many places will (or have already) stopped using, or started charging for plastic bags, so things like tote bags would be more useful, especially for all the people who are part of the green movement or whatever. Plus if they are carrying it around, it is basically free advertising.

Either way, you want something that will be used. I've gone to tradeshows and such, and they give out t-shirts, but personally, I usually end up donating them in the end, because I don't really ever wear them. A ton of useless stuff like yo-yo's or stress balls or whatever usually end up tossed in a drawer and forgotten about. Pens I usually end up using, same with pads of paper.

Another alternative instead of giving out stuff worth $5-$6, is to give out a few things to everyone, each worth maybe $1-$2.

[Sash[DSL]]

The travel tin noted earlier would be a huge hit IMO as would a stainless steel bottle. What you've got to think about is whether or not your target demographic already has a non-el-cheapo version of whatever it is that you're offering. For instance, we've all seen stuff like el cheapo pens, pencils, dayplanners, calendars and notepads given out but stuff like that usually goes to trash. If I already have a dayplanner Im not going to scrap it and start a new one just because Im given one at a show. Same goes for using cheap crap pens, no one wants to write with those. Im also not going to put a calendar with a real estate agent's name and number on every page on my wall; if Im used to using a calendar I already have a decent one hanging, if Im not, Im not going to start just to make use of it.

[ji2o0k]

if your target audience is women, giving out free pearl necklaces (fake) are always a hit!

Women love pearl necklaces.......

[najibs]

if your target audience is women, giving out free pearl necklaces (fake) are always a hit!

Women love pearl necklaces.......

The ones with big juicy pearls. Not the wimpy skinny pearls :twisted:

[Jon Lai]

The ones with big juicy pearls. Not the wimpy skinny pearls :twisted:

Ryan: Keep it clean.

[angekfire]

Ryan: Keep it clean.

That is her problem. She can deal with that after.

[Snicla]

LOL@Pearl necklaces

[N_Raged]

:lol:
http://www.teamdrunkottawa.com/funnay/images/fry-see-what-you-did-there.jpg

[board123]

A fleshlight.

[mightylobo]

If you going to do condoms, buy them from DealExtreme. :lol:

[myversa]

fridge magnets.

[ItemFinder]

I can't believe nobody said money yet. Seriously, the OP is simply trying to get ideas to help his/her company decide on what product to purchase for trade shows. This is the analog of a homework question for people not in school.

[CanadaBoy]

These "Mint Cards" are pretty cool.

http://www.brandblvd.ca/prodDetail.asp?product_id=246

and there on special:
"White Mint Cards with sugar free peppermint micromints are on sale until February 27th, 2009. Buy 1 get 1 free!"

[flexwong]

those flashlights would be nice.

hey OP would you be giving any to those who suggested something for you? :cheesygri:cheesygri

[hagbard]

A $33 billion dollar bail out.

[Jabb]

Based on the fact that you said your company is a tech company, I would definitely say a USB key. I didn't see prices on the website, but they shouldn't be too expensive nowdays.

You could put some examples of work, a shortcut to your website, and more promotional stuff on the usb keys so that whomever you hand it out to can easily check out your company's work.

[Becks]

It should be something with an environmental/health theme and useful for more than a few months, while ideally also advertising the company logo to others.

These two bags are probably more popular with females than males:
Recycled fashion tote:
http://www.brandblvd.ca/prodDetail.asp?product_id=7061

Tote bag with gusset:
http://www.brandblvd.ca/prodDetail.asp?product_id=5413


Stainless steel water bottle:
http://www.brandblvd.ca/prodDetail.asp?product_id=6891

Insulated lunch cooler:
http://www.brandblvd.ca/prodDetail.asp?product_id=7062


This isn't environmental, but it is useful in a dark threatre:
Small aluminum key light:
http://www.brandblvd.ca/prodDetail.asp?product_id=7084


I have this, but I never use it, tho it is pretty neat at first:
Earth shaped stress ball:
http://www.brandblvd.ca/prodDetail.asp?product_id=6247

[manixc]

bottle opener

[ali123]

everything

[angekfire]

I can't believe nobody said money yet. Seriously, the OP is simply trying to get ideas to help his/her company decide on what product to purchase for trade shows. This is the analog of a homework question for people not in school.

Money doesn't have the company name on it or their website, or any information about them. People will just take it and go, and likely forget about who gave it to them.

"Hey, I just went to a trade show, and they were giving out free money!"
"Oh yea? Who?"
"Some tech company. I forget the name"

[andrew2good4u]

I know it doesn't apply but

"One million dollars"

http://www.canpages.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/dr-evil.jpg

[mgronqui]

Is this a cheap plug for the said site? I got enough swag...thanks.

[ziptron]

Is this a cheap plug for the said site? I got enough swag...thanks.

Its not, if you have another source for swag you can post your own and then give me a suggestion. If I didn't at least specify the place where I'm looking to get stuff, I would have got ridiculous suggestions (as I'm already getting).

[bokep]

if your target audience is women, giving out free pearl necklaces (fake) are always a hit!

Women love pearl necklaces.......
you mean a perl necklace

[spazzamatic]

agendas =D

[whampoa]

you mean a perl necklace

No, he meant exactly pearl necklace. The one with multiple uses.

One is to put it on and the other use is to put it in. I won't go into further detail as previous poster already insinuating. ;)

[ziptron]

If enough people demand the pearl necklace, I'll have to give you all one I suppose. As promised.