There are a lot of ways that businesses try to stand out at tradeshows, but big signs and nice-looking tables only go so far. It's important to remember that everyone loves free swag! Tradeshow pens are ideal for these types of promotional giveaways. Tradeshow pens are great because they naturally attract people to your table and they can serve as a reminder of your business long after the tradeshow is over. Customized pens are a great option because they can easily include both the name of your business and all the necessary contact and location information, and they are something that you know people will always use. Any leftover pens that are not given away during the tradeshow can then be used inside your business itself or as giveaways elsewhere. The three best places to seek out deals on trade show pens include Inkhead, Farfromboring.com, and 4imprint.com. Here are the questions to ask while shopping for tradeshow pens to ensure you're getting the best bang for your buck.
The amount of pens you will need is going to depend on largely on the size of the tradeshow itself, as well as what kind of impact you're hoping to have. For many, it's a good idea to start out with at least 100 and then go up from there. You can save money by placing a large bulk order on pens that will be used at multiple trade shows and other events.
While most tradeshow retailers offer bulk order placements, two of the best deals can be found on Pens.com and Amsterdam Printing. Pens.com offers 500 basic tradeshow pens for $70 and free shipping, while Amsterdam Printing offers 300 pens with an array of colors and styles to choose from for $75.
While there may be a retailer out there that will allow this, the vast majority of tradeshow pen retailers will not. This is simply because these pens are personalized to individual businesses, and for the most part they cannot be used for other clients (stripping off any current printing would require additional expenses and time).
In most cases, yes! Marco Promos in particular makes it really easy to purchase the same pen in multiple colors (just enter the desired quantities of the different colors and add it to your cart), and their wide range of products starts as low at 15 cents a pen.
If you really want to make sure your pens stand out, it's worth checking out the products at Farfromboring.com. Not only do they have over a hundred different pens to choose from, but they also supply inkbend pens that have different twisted shapes (mustaches, flamingoes, teeth, etc.) on top of them for an extra memorable kick. These inkbend pens are pricier than the average pen at $1.71 each, but they are currently on sale at $1.63 each.
Inkhead features regular monthly bundles of promotional products that can help consumers save a considerable amount of money when shopping for tradeshow items. Check out their Tradeshow Survival Kit, which offers tote bags, pens, wallets, keychains and more. The kits start at $8.44 each.
To ensure that the delivery is made on time and that there are no issues, it's a good rule of thumb to place orders about a month out. Nevertheless, most retailers can produce the order and have it delivered within one to two weeks. For those needing their orders faster, GarrettSpecialities.com has a 24-hour rush delivery option on many of its promotional pen offerings, surprisingly at no extra cost.
Most retailers update their discount sections fairly often. Currently, 4imprint is offering one of its bestsellers, the Wolverine Pen, at $35 off a bulk order of 500 ($260 total) and free design setup. Pens.com has one of the biggest discount sections of all, with items up to 70 percent off (check out the Regal Laser Engraved Pen for $1.18 per pen, normally $3.99 each).