Editorial staff
In 2025, trade shows remain a powerful face-to-face marketing tool for brands. But with hundreds of booths competing for attention, how do you ensure yours is remembered long after the event ends? The answer lies in smart, strategic giveaways that attract foot traffic and also promote brand loyalty.
A well-crafted promotional merchandise represents more than a freebie. It’s a brand message reflecting their value, and a connection to the consumer. Here, we shall dive into proven strategies to help you select the right swag, build emotional connections, and drive measurable ROI, featuring insights from leading experts like Fresh Promotions.
The impact of trade show giveaways
A Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) report states that 83% of consumers recall the brand behind a promotional item, and 60% keep and use branded merchandise for at least a year. These figures display far more staying power than a digital ad or business card.
But what’s the catch? As consumers are becoming more aware, attendees of such events are getting more selective in what they associate with and promote. As a result, they often prefer uniqueness, outright ignoring generic swag. To make a meaningful impression, your giveaways must be:
- Useful, practical items that they can use.
- Unique that stands out from competitors’ offerings.
- Brand-aligned, showing relevance to your company’s identity and message.
Top strategies to make your giveaways unforgettable
Simply giving away branded stuff is not going to last long; your swag must be meaningful, which would solve consumers’ problems.
Practicality
It’s human nature to prefer items that offer utility. So, your giveaways must have a purposeful use, resolving daily pain points, and can be kept for a long time, giving exposure to the brand. Popular, high-retention items in 2025 include wireless charging pads, travel-sized tech organizers, eco-friendly drinkware, etc.
As Fresh Promotions states, “Attendees are 50% more likely to engage with a booth offering merch that adds value to their day, whether it's charging their phone or organizing their travel kit.”
Personalization
Everyone loves custom products. When you offer customized giveaways to the recipients, you foster a more personal and deeper bond. So, consider name-personalized journals or lanyards, city-themed merchandise relevant to the event location, or QR codes placed on items with direct links to the brand’s custom landing pages or offers.
Make it an experience
Why would you simply hand out swag when you can get creative and amplify the whole moment? Experiential giveaways not only draw crowds but also generate buzz on social media. Think of interactive prize wheels, AR-enabled products that unlock digital content, or mini wellness kits as part of a “self-care station” at your brand’s booth.
According to FreshPromotions, experiential giveaways are 3 times more likely to be shared on digital platforms, turning your booth visitors into brand promoters and loyal customers.
Sustainiability
Modern consumers are more conscious of a healthy environment. A 2023 Nielsen study reported that 73% of consumers prefer to buy from brands committed to sustainability. This means that you should adopt a greener approach to marketing swag that involves ditching throwaway plastic and going for recycled-fabric bags or notebooks, biodegradable utensils or straws, seed-paper business cards or tags, etc.
If you want to win over your environmentally minded attendees, work with FreshPromotions, which specializes in eco-conscious merchandise with your sustainability goals in line.
Add a gamified twist
Creative games add energy, excitement, and a reason to attend trade shows, such as “Spin-to-win” wheels with tiered prizes, badge scanning treasure hunts with daily winners, or social sharing contests to boost brand reach.
While gamification boosts booth traffic, it also gives your marketing team more time to qualify leads and tell your brand story.
Last words
To make your trade shows more memorable, you need to do more than just give away swag for the sake of it. These events are meant to deliver branded value in a way that surprises, excites, and sticks with the attendees. Choose unique and practical items that align with your marketing goals, and leave a lasting impression on both attendees and your bottom line.
Need help crafting a knockout swag strategy for your next trade show? Drop a comment or explore how Fresh Promotions can help you design a campaign worth remembering.
Editorial staff
