
How Many Giveaways To Order for a Trade Show?
June 28, 2025
Attending expos offers a great way to promote your business and connect with prospective clients. Countless trade show publications recommend participating businesses have promotional items to gift attendees. However, planning trade show giveaways requires careful thought and consideration.
Find out how many giveaways to order for a trade show so you can make the event as successful as possible.
Why Trade Show Freebies Matter
Calculating your trade show swag needs may seem daunting and lead you to wonder, “Are giveaways really necessary?” The planning is worthwhile since freebies offer multiple benefits, including:
- Creating a more engaging booth for visitors
- Promoting new products or services
- Generating meaningful leads
- Increasing brand awareness
Research shows that businesses that use giveaways at expos enjoy higher conversion rates compared to their counterparts. Use this trade show giveaway quantity guide to plan accordingly and leverage the power of free items.
How To Calculate Your Giveaway Item Estimate for Trade Events
If you’re wondering how many giveaways to order for a trade show, experts have a few proven tactics. Explore popular giveaway ideas and choose items that both promote your business and serve a function for attendees. Once you know which object you’ll set up at your booth, use the following tips to order an ample supply.
Consider the Crowd Size
The rule of thumb is to have enough free swag for 75% of attendees at smaller shows and giveaways for 25% of the crowd at large gatherings. Consider how many people the venue can accommodate at a time and how many attendees organizers expect.
Analyze Data From Past Events
When determining how many promotional items to order for expo attendees, look back at data from previous trade shows. At every event, you should be tracking metrics, such as:
- The number of people who visit your booth
- Attendee engagement and giveaways
- Total leads or sales
Reviewing the data from past events helps you plan for upcoming shows. Use this information not only to calculate giveaway estimates but also to continually improve your marketing strategy.
Don’t Be Afraid of Ordering Too Much
Buying promotional items in bulk provides the best option when preparing for upcoming trade shows. Use the tips above to calculate a reasonable amount of items to purchase. You don’t want to devote too much of your marketing spend to giveaways, but ending up with more than you need isn’t the worst-case scenario.
You can always use any remaining items for future shows. Consider running social media contests that give away some of your leftover promotional gear so they don’t go to waste.
Plan for Trade Show Success With Oser Communications Group
You now know how many giveaways to order for a trade show, but do you know which freebies people value the most? Are you struggling to promote a new product or service at events? Oser Communications Group can help with these issues and more.
We’re a leader in trade journals and offer valuable marketing insight for businesses across multiple sectors. Call (520) 721-1300 to learn more about the resources we offer.