Put on your promotional trade show badge and join the techie parade at this weekend's SXSW Interactive in Texas. The event, held March 12-16, welcomes the brightest minds in technology to come together and share their knowledge. It's unique to the techno and trade show world, because this is no ordinary event; its' both a conference to share knowledge and a festival to celebrate music and entertainment. That's an event I'd love to check out!
         
It was only two years ago that Twitter made its claim to fame after being showcased at the event and now the talk is of what the next trend may be. There's one trend that I'm eager to follow; the SXSW trade show giveaways. Will promotional electronics be all the rage or will go green products take charge?

One item I'm interested in following is promotional stickers. Attendees bring their laptops to conferences and use their collected stickers to dress them up. It's a great way to show their support for particular companies they network with or learn from. 

Throughout the packed conference room I can picture Twitter logos, Apple logos and beyond forming a massive collage over every laptop. But will promotional stickers be as successful this year? I don't believe so.

In the past year, the demand for and use of smartphones escalated. My guess is that many of the SXSW attendees will be smartphone clad and laptopless. With information at your fingertips, in the palm of your hand, laptops aren't as necessary. Infact, this years logo puts the focus on a smartphone- but no laptop is in sight. 
                                        
So what does this mean for stickers? Will they be no more? Perhaps we need to put them all in a shrinking machine. Maybe we'll see that invention at the 2011 SXSW.

A wedding is supposed to be the most important day of your life. Family and friends join together to celebrate the life journey of their loved ones. But as seen on shows like Bridezilla, weddings can become very stressful. Wedding trade shows help to make the process of selecting flower arrangements, caterers, wedding favors, and wedding decorations easy.
               
That's why thousands of people signed up for "The Boston 411 Bridal & Home Show 2010," scheduled to take place March 5-7 in Boston at the John B. Hynes Convention Center. Vendors also bought booth space and I'm sure the trade show giveaways have already been selected. However, vendors can save those giveaways and the bride and groom will want to call up a wedding planner as soon as possible. Because yesterday, Trade Show Week announced that "The Boston 411 Bridal & Home Show 2010 is nothing more than a hoax.
                          
The fraudulent show charged attendees $15 a ticket and an apparent thousands of tickets have been purchased. The Boston Police Department and FBI began investigating after the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority confirmed that the trade show was a fraud and anyone hurt by the scam is asked to contact victims.bpd@cityofboston.gov .

This is a new low for whoever orchestrated this trade show scam and reminds us of the importance to use reliable sources for trade show news and information. For information on how to avoid these scams check out the great blog entry at The Wedding Marketing Blog. 

On that note, are their any underground criminal trade shows? Whip out the handcuff keychains as the perfect trade show giveaway.
                              

One of my favorite things about the summer is being out on a boat. Put me in rubber boots and gloves, I'll join you on a claming adventure. Likewise, just pick up the bait and I'll come prepared with my rod and tackle box. But most enjoyably, I'll join you for a relaxing, sun-soaked afternoon as it fades into a picturesque sun, setting evening.
              
My love of boats makes me wish I could take a little rendezvous to the annual Boat Show in Springfield. Boat dealers said there was a 25%-30% decrease in business last year. There will all sorts of boats on display from fishing boats to pontoons and personal watercrafts. Since local boat deals all across the board saw losses last year, efforts at the show are being increased.

The Illinois State Journal recently spoke with registered attendees to get the scoop on the 2010 Boat Show. A local boat store owner, Jeff Smith of JLS Marine Inc. is in charge of marketing this years boat show and has already expressed his interested in trade show giveaways. He said, "My hope is to put more into the show, and I feel it is going to be a win-win," he says. "My goal is to make sure the dealers have every opportunity to be successful and sell more boats."
                           
By "putting more into this show," like giving our door prizes, attendees will be enthused about the boat show and great business relationships will be secured. Our trade show giveaways can be incorporated into this event as door prizes, booth swag or raffle items. Our custom imprinted sail boat stress relievers will be praised by recipients and give business smooth sailing exposure. Likewise, these awesome custom imprinted cruise ship or boat chocolates are a sweet treat that everyone will look forward to receiving.
 
With the inclusion of giveaways into the Springfield Boat Show, the industry can look forward to a more successful year and eventually, a full recovery from the recession. Now writing this really got me in the mood to set sail. Summer couldn't come faster.

Paris Hilton will want to plan a Canadian excursion for this upcoming March, and bringing her signature pup is a must. Because March 12-14, the CaniLux Boutique Exclusive Trade Show will take place for the first time, showcasing everything you'd ever need in the luxury pet owner market.
    
                           Paris Hilton had this room customized for her dog.

Two other women, who pamper their dogs better then I pamper myself are holding this fabulous event that will take place in Brossard, Quebec. Lina Asseliun, owner of Romy & Jacob, as well as Marie-Claude Rheault, owner of The Wow Collection, have organized the CaniLux trade show to bring together the best high-end pet product manufacturers and retailers from Canada and the United States.

Lina Asseliun said, "There are no luxury pet trade shows in the spring in Canada, but there is a need."

Websites like, The Dog Bar illustrate the demand for luxury pet products by their loving owners. Asseliun and Rheault understand the passion pet owners have and hope
their event is a success so that CaniLux becomes an on-going trade show. You can expect to find pet clothing, accessories, bedding, room decor and food at CaniLix.

We suggest using our custom imprinted pet first aid kits as giveaways because recipients will be impressed with your thoughtfulness. The latest in pet food and fashion is imperative to your luxury pet lifestyle. By incorporating these emergency kits as trade show giveaways, CaniLux attendees will see that the health and well being of their pets is always the top priority of your business.

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.

 

             
Worldwide, businesses will be arming representatives with attractive custom trade show apparel and hot new trade show giveaways to prepare for the upcoming International Consumer Electronics Show. It's known internationally as the technology event of the year. Already, 2,700 companies have signed up for the event that's set to take place in Vegas, from January 7- January 10.

Every business is ultimately looking for that "it" electronic item. One UK-based business, Imagination Technologies is ready to launch a brand new item themselves. David Harold, PR director said, "This year we are debuting our consumer brand PURE in the USA, as well as showing the latest developments in our graphics, processor and communications technologies. We didn't consider any other venue for that debut. It had to be CES, as there is no other show that provides such an impressive launch pad for new CE products."

             
It's extremely important for attendees to take in everything at these shows. It's likely that at these events, new trends for 2010 will be revealed. Depending on the traffic around and "wow" factor of certain vendors, the hottest new items will be discovered. To make these technology providers even more memorable than their products, be sure to have trade show items.

"CES is the place to feel the pulse of the CE industry and to network with the right people for your business," said Radomir Jovanovic, the president of a technology company showing at the upcoming event. Dating back to 1970 when the videocassette recorder (VCR) was introduced. Following it's lead were the compact disc player (CDs), HDTV and even the Xbox.
                            
All of these items became extremely successful and new technologies are guaranteed to show at the January event. With a wide selection of electronics industry trade show promos to choose from, you're ensured a successful appearance. Now, even if you aren't showcasing the HDTV of this year's event, at least you'll form lasting business relationships through these cool trade show giveaways.