Promo Items: Get Your Brand Out There in the Best Light

Elements welcomes our promotional items partner, Erin Eberhardt of West Shore Associates, for her recommendations and explanations on some frequently asked questions regarding promo items. Elements has worked with Erin for years because she guarantees quality, value and attention to detail that can be quickly passed over by impersonal online vendors.

As tradeshows and in-person events come back to life, what are your recommendations for great promo items to offer as giveaways? Resist the urge to follow the latest fad (remember fidget spinners?) and stick with practical products that compliment your brand / industry that people will actually keep and use.

Can you recommend an inexpensive promo item for businesses on a budget? Two new (and very popular) budget-friendly items are vaccination card holders — available in multiple colors with a large imprint area (i.e. the artwork area) — and hand sanitizer spray cards — also available in multiple colors and easily slip into a pocket or purse. Bonus: the light spray doesn’t drip like gel does!

Beyond pens and mugs (which are always solid choices) what’s another popular “sure win” promo item? I recommend always having two branded giveaway items on-hand: one less expensive item to offer at events, and one that’s a bit more high-end to leave behind at meetings or mail to qualified leads. One popular crowd-pleasing item is a branded portable power bank — useful for travel and spending all day at a tradeshow. Additional popular options are branded buttons, lip balms, candy / mints, stress relievers, water bottles and tote bags.

Tip: consider coordinating your promo item(s) with the theme of the event or the industry it’s targeting.

What are some different terms associated with ordering promo items? While pricing and logistics varies among suppliers, here’s a general breakdown of what to expect:

• Unit cost: this is the cost per item and is based on the order quantity. A low order quantity (say 100) usually means a higher cost per unit, and a higher order quantity (say 1,000) usually means a lower cost per unit (i.e. a better value).
• Minimum order quantity (MOQ): most suppliers will require minimum order quantities; the lower the unit cost, the higher the MOQ. For example, an inexpensive item like a pen will generally have a higher MOQ than a higher-end item like a glass water bottle.
• Less than minimum (LTM): some suppliers may allow orders of less than the minimum order quantity for an additional fee.
• Set-up fee: this is a 1-time charge that’s in addition to the cost per piece. Note: if you want to order more of the same item from the same vendor — with the same artwork — in the future, the set-up fee will be waived.
• Turnaround time: this will vary by product and supplier, but you should generally expect at least 2 weeks from proof approval. Note, once you submit artwork and place and order, you will be sent a digital proof (or sometimes a hard, physical proof depending on the item) that requires approval in order for production to proceed. It’s vital to plan in advance and order your promo items with plenty of leeway ahead of your event or intended use. Products can be manufactured in the U.S. or overseas; imported products are generally shipped from abroad and printed in the U.S., then shipped to the customer.