For all the awesome giveaways that one can boast at a trade show, none may be as effective as the classic promotional t-shirt. Every year studies are done to determine the most effective and most popular promotional products and every year one category tops the list: promotional apparel. Of course, promotional t-shirts fall under that category. So what is so great about promotional t-shirts?

Well for one thing, as cheap as they are, they seem to come across as an item of value. Recipients clamor after them like Henry the VIII after a chicken leg. They absolutely have to have them. When you put two booths next to each other, one giving away pens and one giving away t-shirts, you can bet that the booth giving away t-shirts will be out first. In all honesty, the booth handing out the pens might very well have paid more for their giveaway, but there just is no stopping people when it comes to a free t-shirt. Whether or not they'll wear it usually depends on the design of the shirt itself, but you can bet they'll want it and chances are they probably will wear it. Whether they wear it to the gym to work out or to bed at night, it's more exposure for your logo. So while you're debating the next trade show giveaway, consider going for the most popular of all: the classic promotional t-shirt.

I must give credit where credit is due. This idea came to me after reading a blog written by Ali about her latest addiction, but in my defense I was addicted to the product in question while she was still in diapers. Ok, that's not necessarily true, but I've loved it for quite some time.

The Tangle Jr is a simple little puzzle that's not really a puzzle. You can twist it in every direction possible and find fun shapes for it to land in. If idle hands are the devil's playground consider this to be the most heavenly solution one person could come across in their lifetime. I've said it before and I'll say it again, it is the ultimate stress reliever. So why is it great for trade shows?

Well, I actually got mine at a trade show a few years back. I don't need to look at it to tell you that the imprint boasts two websites: seotoolset.com and bruceclay.com. After two years of consistently reaching for my favorite toy, it's pretty easy to understand why I know what they say. And yes, I did say it boasts two website addresses. That's because the Tangle Jr has approximately 18 different imprint areas. It's low in price and sure to be used by everyone who receives it.

Every year thousands of trade shows are held across the world for everything you could possibly imagine. There are trade shows dedicated to entertainment, like Comic Con and trade shows dedicated to electronics, like CES. There are trade shows dedicated to food, ones dedicated to shopping, and there are even trade shows dedicated to actors. In fact, there are even trade shows dedicated to trade show and event planning. With all of these various trade shows going on, you can pretty much bet that everyone is looking for trade show giveaways. And just like always, everyone is looking to stand out from the crowd.

With that being said, the Trade Show Blog is proud to announce the arrival of the site that will help you find the latest and greatest booth giveaways: Promotional Items Buzz. This site is dedicated to showcasing only the latest and greatest trade show giveaways, as well as all the hot new promotional items that are taking the promotional products industry by storm. This the place to find the items that will make your company stand out at the next trade show or conference. This is the site that will tell you the latest buzzworthy news that's surropunding the promotional products industry. This is the site that you should visit when you're first looking at that trade show checklist. Because Promotional Items Buzz will be your ultimate resource for the latest and greatest trade show giveaways and hot new promotional products.

What's the one thing you want to take home from a trade show? New business? Sure. New colleagues? Absolutely. But the most important thing that everyone takes home from a trade show is the swag. Far too often trade show giveaways get tossed into trade show bags and lay there, unused for the rest of their days. If it's a clever item, it might be shown off to coworkers or family members. It may even be passed along, but after you've worked so hard on your trade show appearance, don't you want people to really remember you?

That's where promotional calendars come in. Given that it's the calendar time of year, these promotional calendars are practically flying off our shelves anyway, but we think they deserve to land on your trade show booth tables. Why? Well that's easy. Promotional calendars are simple and easy ways to get people to remember your name. Unlike other giveaways, these items won't lay useless in trade show bags, They'll be hung up, they'll be marked with red pens, they'll be utilized and all the while your logo will be shown off.

A recent study done by Norwood, a leading manuafacturer of promotional calendars revealed some interesting facts.

• People look at calendars approximately 12 times a day.
• 28% of calendars used in homes and 15% of calendars used in businesses were actually purchased as opposed to received as gifts or promotions.
• 83% of individuals who receieved calendars at their homes did business with the advertiser.

With these facts proven by statistics, it's clear that promotional calendars are good (if not the best) branding opportunities. Choosing to give them out at your trade show will ensure that people not only remember your business but that they see your logo 24/7 365.

Let's face the facts. Considering that everybody loves free stuff and people will do just about anything to get their hands on some swag at a trade show, doesn't it make more sense to step outside the box with your trade show giveaways? After all, everybody will be giving things out. You'll be seeing promotional pens, custom key chains, promotional bags and practically every other promotional product under the sun at a trade show. And for as great as all these items are, it stands to reason that unless you make the true connection with an attendee, your item can just fall namelessly into the bag with no rememerbance of your company or business.

While the interaction is clearly the most important part, there's an easy way to ensure that happens: incentive items. Choosing luxurious trade show giveaways that cost a little bit more will go a long way when it comes to attracting trade show attendees. After all, which would you rather get: a pen or the chance to win an iPod? Would you rather a keychain or the possibility for a spa weekend? These incentive items will attract trade show attendees without a doubt and allow you the opportunity to engage them in conversation. In fact, the best way to use these incentives is to have attendees answer a call-to-action in order to qualify. This call to action can be as simple as having attendees sign up for an email list or getting them to fill out a simple survey. By giving them what they want, like incentives, you can be sure that they'll be interested enough to interact with you. And that could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

When winter weather comes calling, there's no more useful item than an ice scraper. With the cold winter months approaching, it's only appropriate that this week's product recommendation would be just that: promotional ice scrapers. These simple trade show giveaways will draw people into your booth because they're useful and every one can stand to have one. In fact, everyone will appreciate having one. You may find that several conversations, start with someone saying "Boy, I could have used one of these last week!" and you have a perfect jumping off point. They'll be utilized because they're useful and they'll serve as a way for you to interact with new customers.

Whether you choose a credit card ice scraper that people can attach to a keychain, or a heavy duty ice scraper that they can keep in their glove compartment, one this is certain: they'll be snatched up by attendees and everyone will be depending on your business to come to the rescue when the weather gets rough.

I know what you're thinking. Mirrors? Really? The answer is yes. Why? Because when it comes to networking, you've got to look the part.

I could also use this argument for promotional apparel, but if we're talking about items that you want recipients to use repeatedly, to have repeated access to your logo, promotional mirrors are the perfect bet. They will stand out on trade show tables in booths. And everyone will take them for one simple reason: who doesn't need a mirror? When trade events come up and you spend the majority of our day walking around and greeting people you want to be sure that you look presentable. Is your hair looking nice or could you stand to run a comb through it? Ladies, is that lipstick applied properly or have you got some smudges? Are there remnants of that sandwich you ate quite quickly still hanging out between your two front teeth? By having a mirror it can answer each and every one of those questions and ensure that you look your very best as you meet new clients and prospects.

If there's one thing people need at a trade show, it's a badge holder. Most often given out by sponsors or show runners, trade show badge holders are a useful items that get utilized by all attendees, and the promotional Block Badge holder is definitely one of the best. This item has been given a 5 star rating from our customers, with good reason. These items are lightweight and affordable, plus of all our badge holders they have a great imprint area. While it's only 0.68" x 0.68" in comparison to the size of the product, that's pretty big. It's a sure fire way to get your logo noticed. It's available for 1 day rush production, so you can be sure that you'll get it in time for your event and it's available in red, white or blue. It's made of ABS plastic, which is one of the most durable forms of plastic that you'll find, so you can be sure these babies won't be breaking any time soon. So that's just the product specifications, but why are they so awesome?

Say you go to a trade show and you want to stay low key. You need to wear a name badge but you don't want to publicize yourself to the entire world. Clip this badge holder to your belt and you'll have easy access to your credentials when you need them. You don't have to keep your name in front of people's faces unless you want to. These items can also be reused to hold IDs at the office. Simple, affordable, brilliant.

If the recent surge in production and sales of eco-friendly items has proven anything, it's that green is the new black. Now more than ever companies and individuals are concerned with the impact that they have on the environment. Supermarkets and other retailers offer reuseable shopping bags as alternatives to the common paper and plastic options. Companies boast their energy conservation via press releases and social media. Even popular retailers like Target and Old Navy proudly boast lines of eco-friendly and organic products in their stores. The eco-pocalype has arrived and that is a VERY good thing.

With the knowledge that people seem to be heavily focused on the environment, it's only natural that we'd be suggesting eco-friendly trade show giveaways. Eco-friendly items are a great way to attract trade show attendees to your booth because of a variety of reasons. Firstly, there are plenty of options. With the massive popularity of environmentally products, there have been a plethora of eco-friendly promotional products added. You can find items such as jotters, flashlights, key chains and more. You can even choose how eco-friendly you want your company to be. Do you want some organic promotional products? Maybe you’d like to tote the benefits of reusability with recycled promotional items? There are so many choices, it’s mind boggling. You can most definitely find products that are meant for your business.

Secondly, by choosing eco-friendly promotional products, you’re doing right by the environment in more than one way. You will be choosing items that don’t harm the earth AND if you order from Motivators, you will be giving back to the environment because for every order of eco-friendly promotional products, Motivators will plant a tree.

And let’s face it, there’s nothing more attractive to trade show attendees than environmentalism.

When you're one of the biggest auto manufacturers in the world and you attend a trade show, there are a plethora of options. You can have a huge, fancy display surrounding all your newest models. You can have great giveaways to attract passersby. You can hire beautiful women to stand next to the beautiful cars and get everyone's attention. When you're a major car manufacturer attending the Paris Motor Show, the world is your oyster, or as they like to say in France, oysterrrrrrrrrrrrr. Actually, it's huîtres but just go with me on this. So you're Volkswagen Motors and you have the Paris Motor Show coming up. How to you get people to notice you?

You go with the age old classic, a custom trade show bag. This custom bag was designed and given to everyone in attendance. The sleek design of the VW GTI Golf was touted up and down the aisles as people filled their bags with swag, business cards, and car information. The best part was that all the while the VW logo and the image of the Golf GTI's door was seen to everyone passing by. And that, my friends is how you make an impression at a trade show.