Why Do Exhibitors Do Giveaways?

 

Exhibitors need and want to make a lasting impression with attendees. There are lots of ways to do that, but every method to give a potential client incentive to remember you is valuable.

Simply put, giveaways provide additional incentive to approach and converse with your representatives on show day. Giveaways attract potential clients, give them an additional reason to approach, and can also last as a physical reminder of their discussion, acting as a memory prompt when used as a later date. They’re a valuable tool in your exhibiting arsenal and using them to your utmost benefit is essential.  

 

There are a few types of giveaways that exhibitors could and should consider, including:  

• Everyday items

• Tech gear

• Sustainable accessories

• Refreshments

• Discounts & offers

• Experiences & rewards

 

However, different selections will be better for different exhibitors. Let's look at types of giveaways in more depth before looking at what exhibitors should avoid in their giveaways, then how to select the right giveaway for your brand and how to maximise your ROI with giveaways this year…

 

Best Giveaways For Exhibitions

Practical Giveaways People Actually Use

Everyday necessities have a unique edge. They have the potential to be included in your recipient’s life, acting as a daily reminder of your business. This associates your brand with something consistently helpful, plus acting as a frequent reminder of your exhibition. 

 

However, they also run the risk of not being appealing to attendees or being quickly discarded if they provide no value. We do tend to all have everyday items, so your practical, everyday necessity needs to have a unique edge or an element guaranteed to make your giveaway valuable to your attendee. 

 

Some practical giveaway items that fit the niche of useful to an attendee but unique enough to actually be used are:

• Notebooks

• Desk essentials

• Tote bags

• Insulated lunch bags

• Umbrellas

• Lanyards

• Bottle opener

• Car air freshener

• Trolley coins

• Lighters

 

Obviously, you’ll want all of the above to have your brand thoroughly included. With desk essentials, the more obscure the item, the more likely it’ll stick out to your user; you may want to consider highlighters over a regular pen. However, all of these items have the capacity to become an addition to a recipient’s daily routine, thoroughly cementing your branding and setting you up for the best possible ROI. 

 

Budget-Friendly Exhibition Giveaway Ideas

You may not be in a position where you want to invest too much capital in giveaways. If you’re looking for cheap exhibition giveaway ideas that work, here are a few options to consider:

• Sweet treats

• Refreshments

• Fortune cookies 

• Stress balls

• Yo-yos

• Badges

• Pencils 

 

None of these are exactly mind-blowing, but they certainly have the potential to attract attendees and break the ice. 

 

Eco-Friendly Exhibition Giveaways

With more and more people becoming passionate about sustainability, making a statement with your giveaways can be a brilliant choice, cementing your status as a business that cares whilst providing a valuable service for attendees. If you’re interested in eco-friendly exhibition giveaways, consider:

• Reusable water bottles

• Travel mugs

• Metal straws

• Seed packets

• Tote bags

• Paper straws

• Travel cutlery

 

Make a positive impact on the environment and on potential clients with an ecological gift. 

 

Tech Giveaways For Exhibitions

A tech giveaway can be a big commitment, but it also can lead to big rewards if it’s the right choice for your business. Providing a useful tech service in an attendee’s daily life, ensuring they’ll see your branding each time they use it, it can be a powerful choice. Tech giveaways for exhibitions include:

• Keychain torches

• Charging cables

• Power banks

• Cord organisers

• Phone stands

 

Discounts & Offers Giveaways

Instead of a physical giveaway, exhibitors could consider providing a discount or offer for attendees. There are ways to do this in a way that draws in attendees, such as tombolas, spin the wheels, or offering rewards for winning interactive games. Offering a discount might seem counterintuitive, however it can attract new audiences, give you an opportunity to prove your worth to hundreds of new potential clients, and ultimately improve your ROI over time. It’s not for everyone but it is worth considering as an option. 

 

What NOT To Give Away At An Exhibition

Whilst creative giveaway ideas can be fantastic for making your business stand out at an exhibition show, avoid these giveaways to keep your standing out positive:

• Low-quality items

• Items that will make a mess

• Noisemakers

• Items that easily break

• Controversial or offensive items

• Homemade food items

• Large and heavy items

• Items without your brand

• Something that does not align with your brand in any way

 

How to Choose the Right Giveaway for Your Brand

All of the above ideas could work fantastically. However, the idea you pick has to be the right one for you and your brand. 

 

You have to consider your audience. Who are you targeting with your exhibition giveaway? For example, if you’re exhibiting at The Business Show London 2026, you are going to be reaching out to SME owners who require services to improve their operations. What could they benefit from?

 

After considering who your target audience is, consider how to align their needs with your brand. For example, if you provide security solutions and you’re targeting SMEs, you could consider giving away branded padlocks. Your giveaway needs to reflect what you do and give your potential clients a strong association whilst they use their new item. 

 

After you’ve thought the above through, all you have left to do is consider exactly how to maximise your ROI. 

 

Final Tips to Maximise ROI from Exhibition Giveaways

Make sure to thoroughly consider how to make sure your giveaway is enticing but also exactly how to use it to break the ice and start conversations. Get your pitch perfected, your method of capturing data decided, and you’re ready to go.  

 

Then, make sure you’re reaching the right people at the biggest event of the year by joining us at The Business Show.

 

As Europe’s largest business event, The Business Show attracts 25,000 SMEs and entrepreneurs annually, all looking for solutions to help them start or scale their business. It’s the place to connect with a warm audience who are ready to buy. In 2025, the average number of leads each exhibitor generated was 182; it’s no wonder The Business Show 2025 had a rebook rate of 71%.

 

2026’s show promises to be our best yet. Find out more about how exhibiting at The Business Show can help you maximise your 2026 strategy and benefit you by reading our Why Exhibit page. If you’re already joining us, we can’t wait to see you there!