[Closed] Questions for those who attend business conferences…

I use a fake leather document portfolio from an MBA course, but that's about it. Everything else is just useless tat. If you are going to do pens, at least get decent ones, 99.99% are utter crap.

Suppose it depends on budget.

Keyring bottle openers are good. I still have the mbr one that I got free with the mag about 27 years ago. Other than that, can't be of much help, as don't know what's handy on a desk these days...some kind of mobile phone accessory? Mini bluetooth speakers?

I have some nice Shimano espresso mugs, and a Shimano rucksack. I have a Shimano phone case I never used. I have several kg of Chinese tea that I'll never use. Mugs are good. Everyone needs a mug. A travel mug could be even better I guess as they get lost and you can get them home easily.

That's a tricky one. I've had some really good notepads off people like Adobe at conferences before and some nice pens, but a lot of the other stuff that I have got has been tat. Apart from the iPad cover I got from CQC which is awesome.

I'd say the one thing that I use pretty much all the time is a particularly well made lanyard from Glock. It means I do not lose or forget my house keys.

To confirm your fears I try as hard as possible to avoid being given stuff which is generally thrown away into the hotel bin. "Back in the day" branded memory sticks where useful, I usually use whatever free bag is going to collect carry other stuff (paperwork, research papers) but that gets chucked out too. I am a stationary geek so always liked the little notepad stacks with branded stuff on the side, I also still have a branded drinks mat (coaster) from the mid 90's. Umbrellas are common gifts, useful for a bit but usually poor quality. I've just had a clear out and thrown away 10 baseball caps which where all gifts.

Good luck

Sweets get used.
Pens if they're decent.

Best are USB memory sticks though, ESET give us loads of them, they're in the shape of their logo and come with a free 12 month licence for their home product to use on our own machines. Obviously as they give out training licences like confetti so we've all got the latest commercial version on our home PC, but they're good to give to friends etc - this is a bit geeky, but a couple of my mates have got into trouble downloading 'jazz material' onto their work laptops when they're away from home for a week - they think a branded USB drive with their OS type A/V product on it that fixes all their woes is like something out of Men In Black.

Wish they weren't so tight on the storage though, 4GB! I ask you.

Our company give out 8GB USB drives, but they're the cheapest slowest Flash available, take an age to write anything to them, probably using an early flash protocol based on Semaphore... Not exactly a good advert for a high tech telecoms company - here have a free sample of 10 year out of date technology with our logo on it!

A lot depends on how people will be carrying it home - if I have to take it on a plane it has to be small and useful (a pen with a built-in laser pointer from Microsoft is the only thing I can think of that I've kept, the laser is great for keeping the cat amused); if it can go in the car then something bigger may survive - I have an IBM umbrella in the car that I've used for over 10 years now.

If you're going to do pens, do something unusual like a highlighter/biro combo.

I have a USB fan on my desk as our A/C is rubbish - something like this:
http://www.usbnow.co.uk/USB_Fans/c191/p2072/Adjustable_USB_Fan/product_info.html

edit: We're also not allowed to put any non-company owned flash drives into our computers, so a flash drive is useless in a business context.

I ditch everything I'm forced to take from stalls -unless its a good mug. I normally do grab a pen when i arrive to use during the conference but rarely do i hold onto it long enough for it to get home. Do you want to hand out things that will get people to your stall or that they will keep and remember your company.

The only successful marketing device I saw for getting people round a stall and talking was a Scottish company that came armed with a multitude of single malts and a massive stack of disposable shot glasses. They were nothing to do with the whisky trade, but I dont think that mattered!

Got a small victorinox knife. Very happy with that, still use it a lot. USB sticks are good as long as they are a decent capacity and not too flimsy/gimmicky, if it fits nicely on a keyring then it'll be kept. Canvas bags are handy if what's written on them is ok. Phone charger battery pack was nice. Mousemats, mugs and calendars no thanks, but regularly see these in offices so some people must keep em.

Got a travel plug adapter that has every combination imaginable. Also has 2 USB ports in the side. Pretty cheaply built but it works, use it at the moment just for the USB sockets 😀

I have a good quality shoulder bag / satchel type thing from a VoiceGenie conference/course about 15 years ago. Still use it.

The only thing I was ever given that I used everyday (until I lost it), was a Cross ball-point pen.

Apart from that, I've kept a universal plug adapter/USB charger which I take on overseas trips and a laptop bag. Everything else gets binned, in fact unless it's in a welcome pack I don't even pick it up.

Tote bags are always useful
Carabiners
Torches
but my favourite is one of those beer insulator things - they wrap round your bottle similar to a hiviz slapstrap and keep your beer from warming up via your hand. It is a horrible looking thing 'cause the firm have a minging graphic (they are acoustic engineers... ironing or what?) but I have kept a hold of it none the less.

and this Mighty Mug
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mighty-Mug-Go-Travel-Litre/dp/B00CPP8Z1O

Sounds like it's all tat that is either discarded at source or hoarded for a few years until the owner has a clear out. Why not ditch the useless frippery that no one really wants and put the money saved towards supplying a better than average lunch.

I am a stationary geek

That's not a bad idea... I remember once I got a mini-travel router at one thing I went to in Florida. That was really handy for plugging into the wall socket at hotels and not having to worry about wifi dropping out.

How about something like a D-Link mini-travel router with USB charging ports? That would be awesome.

Yep, USB charger would be good, my wife is always leaving them in hotels!

I think it depends on the type of business conference, an engineering conference will attract a totally different [s]type of geek[/s] clientele to a finance management conference. Following all the hysteria about the 5p carrier bag charge, how about a bag for life?

Decent quality pen is always welcome.

Coolest freebie toy I got was a laser pointer/pen that also contains a USB stick. Boring enough, you might think, but the cool feature is that the laser is rechargeable not battery powered, you just plug the USB stick in and it's working immediately (probably a capacitor). That has proved to be useful at numerous conferences, not just by me but saving others. Lost count of the times that the organisers haven't got a decent pointer, or the battery runs out...

Got a travel plug adapter that has every combination imaginable. Also has 2 USB ports in the side. Pretty cheaply built but it works, use it at the moment just for the USB sockets

That's a good one though I stole mine from one of our own drug launches.

Had lots of USB sticks but they are always behind the useful size curve.

RedHat gave me RHEL MagLight, when MagLights were the peak of mini torches - love that, it's still in my Camelbak for emergencies

I usually make a big point of stopping at the stand, pulling out all the bits I want (the schedule and names of attendees etc) and handing back the reams of advertising crap.

Really - you plus in USBs you got given at a conference ? Do you not watch CSI Cyber ?

USB sticks are good, as are compact retractable USB charging cables.

Anything else bar pens goes in the bin.

I don't worry about shit on the USB stick, as Linux is pretty safe and I format them 🙂 Wouldn't save me from the USB stick of dooooooooooom though. http://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=18983

Ceramic knives
Silk scarf (i thought it had a minging pattern but my mum liked it)
business card holder is useful, but seems odd to have someone elses branding on it...

My old boss was mental for collecting free stuff, I once saw him collect 8 logo bugs - when told "take one for your children" - "I have 7 kids" he said stuffing them in a carrier bag.

[img] [/img]

His youngest was 32 at the time!

USB charger for car, good pens or notepads too.

Really - you plus in USBs you got given at a conference ?

They do, and my 100k node botnet confirms this!

I am a stationary geek

Immovable object?

Still Pedantic?

Too many conferences myself! Stuff I've swagged that was worthwhile include;

Pens - Biro/touchscreen stylus combined is good and useful.
Phone power battery thingy, again useful.
Hand cleaning gels
Sunblock stick. Was in Vegas, so a useful thing!
Maglites. No other torches.

Stuff that gets binned, or not picked up include,

Notepads. I have a big stock of Moleskin from a previous employer after they had a logo change!
USB sticks. So over!

I was involved in some research on this in a previous life turned out the two things that everyone had on their desk were a coaster and a mouse mat. So we made a really nice coaster and mouse mat set - everywhere I went for a couple of years after that they were on peoples desks for everyone to see. We were dealing with insurance companies with big call centres at the time.

[img] [/img]

We've been giving out a branded version of these pens for the last few months. You know it's a good giveaway when a customer phones you up to ask for another one as someone has 'borrowed' theirs.

USB keys are pointless. I have a drawer with about 50 unused ones in.

One thing that I always have with me is a USB to iPhone/mini usb/micro usb adaptor. [url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fone-Stuff-Multi-functional-Retractable-Supported-Blackberry/dp/B00CS0J2D6/ref=pd_sim_23_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1R8QHAC3368J9XJ7V9T6&dpID=31mcqXhFGIL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_ ]This sort of thing.[/url]

Has the company logo in the middle, sits in my laptop bag replacing multiple cables and have used all the time since I got it a few years ago.

Bottle opener key rings are always good too. I have various ones attached to car and house keys as they are so handy.

Coke and hookers?

Perhaps I just go to a better level of conference 😉

I like stress ball type stuff, but then that's usually because I want to strangle someone/something.

Depends on the business you are working with/for, buffs and saddle covers are pretty good, if there's a chance of people being cycling oriented. A local Cambridge food shop did saddle covers to get noticed around town, worked brilliantly in a town like this.

Magnet based toys also seem to keep people entertained in my office.

based on one of our clients, it's USB sticks that are popular. Conversation last week went: "I never buy memory sticks, I always use free ones from <MrNice's employer>. Have you got any more?"

[i]A lot depends on how people will be carrying it home[/i]

Once I got given a small black attaché case with 'samples' in it, along with the other +500 people there. Fun at the airport 🙂

Otherwise about the only thing I ever kept was a bottle opener, really well designed aluminium one.

Golf balls.

End of thread.

5 way (like an octopus) usb charger/data. all the common phone tablet connections permanently connected to my keyboard usb port unless one of the people in my team needs it.

Engineering? Scale rule we have one dating back 30 years.

Little mini staplers save having to wander round having to find the office stapler.

the wee swiss army knives if budget is saweeet

My thoughts when I opened this have already mentioned on this thread, retractable USB phone cables (eg http://www.miniinthebox.com/retractable-usb-2-0-to-micro-usb-2-0-data-charging-cable-0-6m_p691399.html) or phone battery power sticks.

Freebies I have on my desk right now:

Scale rule with useful scales that arent on the cheap ones work buys
Nice milled steel coaster from a structural steel company
And in my drawer a mini toolkit which has Saved The World many a time

Some nice, well made hipflasks. You can send one to me so I can check it for you

USB sticks
Pens
Screen dusters
Bound notepads

None have ever influenced me to use or purchase a product though.

Most of thestuff I get goes to the kids.

Stuff I've kept - decent leather folder from a software manufacturer, really nice pen from a top end consultancy, a nice pack of top end olives (from Dell of all people).

Stuff I'd like, but haven't been offered - portable USB charger thingy, mini hub for hotel rooms, really good pens like the one above (can you send me one please :)) and a decent travel mug.

Tote bags - get in the sea.

Bottle openers and golf balls - if you want to impress my blokey dinosaur bosses. Throw in a set of glamour cycling socks for that matter...

Don't give out tools and knives if the recipients are all flying back short haul as they will just get them taken off them.

Big boxes of sweets that recipient can leave in the office (it's the rule in our place that you have to bring smith back for everyone if you travel abroad for business).

I was at a conference in Las Vegas last week and someone had sponsored the hotel key cards. Utterly pointless waste of money!

I've just released that I've spent half the day bouncing a small red visitMALTA.com stress ball on the desk next to my keyboard 😆

As many have said, a half decent pen and USB sticks.

I have had a couple of pens that take Parker ballpoint refills that have lasted years.

My favorite USB memory "stick" was the credit card style one, kept in my wallet so always available. Plenty of space on it for the Company info as well. Dies on me after a couple of years.

Depends on the delegates. At Drupal conferences, you need stickers...

[img] [/img]

oh - and t-shirts.

Rachel

The mini USB 'bullets' which go into car ciggy lighters are good, as are decent pens.
Good quality bottle openers are nice, I also got a mini first aid kit, and a nice 6" steel ruler from the DSEI show in London last month.
I have a lifetimes supply of pens and neck lanyards in my desk drawer.

Things will be kept (and used) by people for a lot longer if they are good quality.

Only really ever been to one decent conference, a gas turbine user one in Budapest, which TBH is a bit of a blur*. The only things I still use from that are a Dutch GT blade manufactures Delft style tea bag caddy and a nice crystal booze decanter. No one else up there has either of those!

Also, stuff that I've been given by reps visiting the office, a good quality karabiner and short lanyard my security pass hangs off, a wind-tex type jacket, decent A4 lined notepad and the ubiquitous USB memory sticks.

*edit - free booze - another thing not mentioned, and much appreciated!

I prefer propelling pencils to pens, but maybe I'm just weird........... 😳

Freeagent. I missed out on the rulers, but the iPad case came from there. I got some great hot sauce from another stand there the time before. Lethal it was, but great on toasted cheese. I think the bloke was flogging video comms hardware.

Just remembered one! While at a previous employer, they of the notepads, we had someone hand making cigars at one conference as our booth freebie.

The mini USB 'bullets' which go into car ciggy lighters are good

I took one of those apart once in a bored moment. The 'fuse' was just a wound spring. It went in the bin...

I have a perverse affection for one of these that I picked up at some stall years ago, so much so I went and found another when it wore out after about 10 years.

[img] [/img]

Two things I've actually used, apart from the usual pens and USB sticks, are a reasonable quality 20cm stainless steel rule and a small plastic vernier caliper - but useful for a quick check on, say a ball bearing diameter: not accurate enough to tell me it's exactly 1/4" but if I know it's that or 3/8" then it's good enough.

On Wednesday I picked up a small folding stand/support for an iPhone or tablet. Cheap as chips and really useful already for propping my phone up when I'm watching video/tv on it ... Can't remember the sponsor though ...

What about branded USB booster battery things - for charging Phones etc?

What about branded USB booster battery things - for charging Phones etc?

Got one of those from a recent conference, very good freebie. Coincidentally, from a company I'm looking to either partner with or acquire, so that's even better! 😀

A stick of rock with the company name running through it would be my suggestion.

Harry_the_Spider - Member
What promotional gifts have you received that you actually use?

What have you had that has been binned at the first opportunity?

What has made you go “oh, I like that!”?

Your ideas would be appreciated as I’ve got a budget to spend, wisely. We want to give away product branded items that are useful and/or interesting. Ideally something that will sit forever on a customer’s desk.

Good solid stainless steel pen with one end you can rest your thumb on without hurting ...

We don’t want stuff that won’t make it beyond the bin in the hotel room.

The following are shite:

1. Avoid cheap mug. Get Denby instead.
2. Avoid cheapo key chain. Get a stainless steel one with a chain.
3. Avoid cheapo Parker pen. Get a stainless steel pen that can use different refill.
4. Avoid cheaper coaster. Get proper ones made from soap stone.
5. Avoid cheapo fake leather. Give some stainless steel name card holder.
6. Avoid cheapo T-shirt. Give a 3 to 4 oz whiskey hip flash instead.
7. Avoid leather man/hand bag. Give proper man/hand bag instead like those for courier cyclist.

😀

A nice quality luggage tag - big enough to take a business card.

Canvas type shopping bags were going as fast as they could b e chucked out at the game fairs. Worth keeping as shopping bags now that England pays for carriers.

Laptop bags if not too garish
Nice pens
Glasses wiping cloths
Woven shopping bags
Slap wrap reflective wrist bands

Good course documents too not just a copy of someone's PowerPoint

Anything else gets left behind except the fox's fruits. 😀

I like something like this ... CountyComm Stainless Embassy Elite Pen with Fisher Space Pen cartridge.

[img] [/img]

Best I things I have kept and still use

Leather travel docs case. Really useful
Moleskine notebooks
Minature laptop mouse on retractable cord
Travel plug thingy with all the plugs built in and a usb slot

Stuff I bin
Usb memory sticks
Crap travel mugs that don't seal shut
Notepads
Cheap pens

Edit: ooh forgot. Travel connect four was brilliant 🙂

a nice 6" steel ruler from the DSEI show in London last month.

Pack able shopping bag like this - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00SBBTGU0/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?qid=1445024576&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX110_SY165&keywords=shopping+bag+fold&dpPl=1&dpID=41sdTNrve9L&ref=plSrch

Is very useful.

After years of trying to give away stuff with some relevence, and failing miserably, we got 5000 adorable stress relieving cows made up this year. Ludicrous success, we're aiming at teenagers not business users but parents went absolutely nuts for them, it was basically impossible to keep them on the booth tops- I had a minion working almost fulltime restocking. Relevant is irrelevant, it turns out.

We did frisbees one time, that was both a great success and a predictable total ****ing nightmare- if you want a vision of that day, imagine a frisbee bouncing off a human face forever.

Really good cloth bags. Not the rubbish ones we had a while back that smell of butter and fall to bits. Our PR people were convinced it was better to save 25% of the budget, and give people promotional items that would actually generate ill will.

My wife got a pocket USB phone charger one which I've used on long bike adventures

Reflective snap on trouser anti flap things

I've got a few on my commuter for extra visibility, always popular in cycle mad london [img] [/img]
At a recent event loads of bags of retro sweets; prawns, bananas, bon bons, all sorts etc

Mrs gd used to get cuddly microbes from some events.

Cuddly tummy upset anyone? Or perhaps you'd like a fluffy flu instead... Ahem. 😯

I've got cuddly HIV somewhere. I was given it after a random encounter with a complete stranger.

Lego.... Not a cheap option but incredibly popular

Brolly - really good quality storm proof branded golf brollies are excellent to have. Helps if the conference is at a time of year when it's raining... 😉
Maybe not if people are travelling by air, as has been mentioned.

What promotional gifts have you received that you actually use?

The weirdest was a promotional survival axe. At a software conference.

Just what you want to fly home with. In case the plane crashes in the woods and you have to butcher your fellow passengers for food and fashion a rudimentary shelter. I didn't need it in the end.

Good quality notebooks (think Moleskine, Field notes etc, particularly if customised). That's about it.

Good quality notebooks that aren't saturated with branding.

USB keys are always useful, unless they're horribly slow, in which case they're occasionally useful.

Stickers go straight in the bin unless they're really beautiful ones, likewise pamphlets, catalogues, flyers and all the other guff that gets stuffed in conference bags: in the first bin I see after registration rather than carry it round for the week.

The Clif bar reusable bags that fold up into their own bags are ace. I have ones from successive bike shows. And now everyone is getting charged for bags they will be more popular. Pocket sized and durable and save you 5p every time you use them.

I would keep a nice refillable coffee cup with lid.

Cheap things are a disappointment. Nice quality pens, rulers etc are kept.

Mousemats in the style of a giant post it note that could used for random notes/doodling during the day were the only thing I've ever given out that had people coming back for more. The ability to stick a brand name of a relevant company, on a product they liked, that sat under the mouse of a client all day was a winner.

Everything else I've used was a waste of time compared.

Except Haribo.

Obviously I'm attending the wrong conferences - I don't see much apart from rubbishy pens. A long while ago there was a fad for stickers from oilfield service companies to put on your hardhat. Some (Red Adair etc.) attained collectible status.

Mousemats in the style of a giant post it note that could used for random notes/doodling during the day