EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF LIVE EVENTS

Why use ?

The business opportunities and rewards of taking space at an exhibition are well known but it’s important to do it well and not forget about the details. In this guide we focus on promotional merchandise, an effective medium to create awareness, engagement and loyalty.

www.facetime.org.uk Advantages to using promotional products

It’s your brand in It can be a conversation starter. their hand, it’s a very Sometimes visitors don’t like to It’s mobile. If chosen well it makes tangible medium stop at an exhibition stand to your brand visible in areas of the merely browse so the promotional hall you may not have a presence, items can certainly help engage a people will know you are conversation there, somewhere Your staff can contribute too. Wearing branded clothing creates More and more people now enough space to place key share images on social media messages, moving around the if they’ve received something stand/hall at the same pace as they really The branded product used is everyone else being seen multiple times a day, for example a coffee mug could be seen and used 1500 times a year Longevity - people keep useful It’s a cost effective medium. Even products sometimes for years. 250 branded pens could cost, with Merchandise keeps your brand origination and carriage, less than memorable, creates awareness and £200+VAT. acts as a talking point long after £ the event A really great promotional gift, will often be kept much more than a leaflet or brochure so a post-show follow up call, Feel good factor - often it will helps create a memory. Products can be relevant be perceived as a gift, and ideally and useful - the biggest used to reward stopping at an “we were the guys that reason why recipients exhibition stand, completing a gave you the inflatable keep them survey, listening to a seminar, beachball, latte mugs, taking part in a competition etc branded tape measure …”

www.facetime.org.uk Feel Good Factor!

EMOTIONAL TOP PRODUCTS THINGS TO CONSIDER: CONNECTION TO THAT WORK WELL PROMOTIONAL AT EVENTS Relevance Timing PRODUCTS 1. Pens Make sure that You don’t have 2. Bags the products to wait until the Happy 71% are relevant to event - consider pre- 3. Mugs your campaign Interested 52% direct mail campaigns, maybe 4. Sweets a teaser for an on stand Thankful 46% 5. Powerbanks competition with half Appreciated 43% 6. Stress toys of the message missing Point of display e.g. a jigsaw with final 7. Sports bottles Impressed 29% pieces/competition entry Make sure they’re in a prominent 8. Cuddly toys only available once data is Special 28% place, so that they can be used 9. Earphones captured on-stand Connected 23% to attract visitors but make sure 10. Keyrings you have someone close by who Loyal 18% 11. USBs can scan anyone who takes a 12. Note pads product It doesn’t have 13. Bottled water to be your idea 14. Lanyards Sponsoring the show WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL 15. Badges (Staff) lanyards, water or PROMOTIONAL PRODUCT? bags at point of entry 16. Polo/T shirts If staff clothing, think is a great way to get 17. Mobile phone about placing your Quality 81% in a prominent huge awareness or glass lenscloth position. Put your Memorable 52% 18. Lipbalm key message in Relevance 46% bold on the back 19. Fun/relevant toy Visibility Usefulness 43% – fidget spinner with your stand number and new product. One of Consider bright colours that stand Long Desk 29% or other your partners or sponsors’ out, eg purple, pink or orange. Life 20. Travel wallets branding could go on the sleeve

Source: BPMA Survey at Marketing Week Live show www.facetime.org.uk HOW TO SOURCE QUESTIONS YOU WILL NEED THE ANSWERS TO

It’s really important to consider the target audience, WHAT message do I want to get across? what your objective is and how your audience can use many items do I need? the merchandise after the event. There are thousands HOW of possibilities and suppliers of merchandise. WHAT budget do I have or require? WHEN do I need the products? Don’t leave it to the last minute! WHERE do I want them delivered? WHO CAN HELP? DO I want an off-the-shelf or bespoke option? Has the supplier you’ve DO I need, and have time for, a sample before purchasing chosen got valid The BPMA (British customer , WHAT colour do I need – will it work with my branding? Promotional Merchandise won awards or does it many colours in my logo? How does this affect cost? Association) is the industry HOW go above and beyond with a body representing the helpful, efficient service? WHAT’S my call to action? promotional gift industry. All members are credit IS IT eye-catching enough and does it reflect the brand? checked and sign Should there be any WHAT format do I need to provide artwork in? – ideally in EPS format an industry code of issues, the BPMA has a conduct. mediation service to help support buyers. www.bpma.co.uk www.bpma.co.uk Visit our website if you want more guides and helpful tips to make your exhibiting activity a great success: www.facetime.org.uk Some organisations have in-house design services Don’t forget to follow us on twitter: @facetimeuk and can provide Or call us on: +44 (0)1442 285809 speculative ideas before your order is placed

www.facetime.org.uk