48 Swag Ideas for Trade Shows in 2022

Trade shows took a hard hit in 2020, as the response to the COVID-19 pandemic restricted large gatherings. 2021 saw some trade shows return, but people remained understandably nervous about attending heavily populated events. 2022, however, is expected to see trade shows return to form, which means your product marketing budget will need to include lines for trade show swag bag ideas. 

What to Put in a Conference Welcome Bag?

What you put in a conference welcome bag depends on the nature of your industry, your swag budget, and the return on investment you expect to make from the brand awareness you develop during the trade show or conference. These three factors need to be carefully balanced when you brainstorm company swag ideas. A trade show centered on outdoor living will need different marketing swag ideas than one focused on early childhood. 

Your marketing budget also influences your promotional spending and limits the amount of swag you can offer, the quality of your swag bag ideas, and whether you include high-end items in each bag or hold a raffle for one or two expensive items. Beyond this, always remember your marketing swag ideas serve a purpose: if you don't see a high ROI on your event swag, you need to reevaluate your promotion marketing strategies. 

That said, below are some of the most popular company logo swag ideas heading into 2022. Mix and match from these different categories to create swag bags attendees will value and talk about, increasing your brand awareness. 

Outerwear Swag Ideas

Outerwear is reliably popular as event swag. Custom hoodies, in particular, are always in demand. Any of the following look great when embroidered with your logo: 

• The Men’s Rain Defender Paxton Heavyweight Full Zip Hooded Sweatshirt by Carhartt
• The Adult Men’s Heavy Blend™ 50/50 Hooded Sweatshirt by Gildan
• The Original Hooded Thermal Lined Mens Sweatshirt by Berne Apparel
• The Ladies Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt by SPORT-TEK
• The Ladies' Grace Full Zip Sweatshirt by Cutter & Buck
• The Ladies' Zen Fleece Full-Zip Hooded Sweatshirt by J. America

A custom jacket makes any swag bag memorable. If your swag budget doesn’t allow for a jacket in each bag, arrange a contest with one of these high-end garments as the prize:

• The Men's Black Diamond Softshell Jacket by CROWN
• The Tall Duck Traditional Coat/ Arctic Quilt Lined by Carhartt
• The Sweater Fleece Jacket by The North Face
• The Women’s Washed Duck Active Jacket by Carhartt
• The Ladies Sweater Fleece Jacket by The North Face
• The Women's Benton Springs Fleece Full-Zip Jacket by Columbia

Practical Event Swag

When considering what to put in a conference welcome bag, consider swag ideas attendees can use right on the conference floor. Practical trade show marketing swag ideas include the following: 

• The Padova Junior Journal
• The Fullerton SGC Stylus Pen
•  Maverick Comfort Face Masks by Sportsman
•  1 Oz. Rectangle Anti-Bacterial Hand Sanitizers
• The 32 oz Super Sipper with Straw
• The PopWallet+ Lite

Travel Swag Bag Ideas

Trade show attendees often travel to multiple shows and conferences every year. Make their journeys easier with these travel-based company swag ideas, and you’ll keep your logo at the front of their minds: 

 

• The Leeman™ Genuine Leather Cord Organizer w/Snap
• The Half Dome Duffel Bag by OGIO
• The Canvas Backpack by Carhartt
• The Doppler Toiletry Bag by OGIO
• The Engraved 20 oz Rambler Tumbler by YETI
• The Anker® Soundcore Life Note E True Wireless Bluetooth® Earbuds

Phone Swag

A road warrior with a dead phone is like a gladiator with a broken sword — severely inconvenienced. Help trade show attendees stay connected with these customized wireless chargers and battery packs: 

• The Roma Tech Portfolio w/Power Bank & Wireless Charger
• The Amridge Wireless Charging Desk Organizer
• The Anker® PowerWave 10W Qi Wireless Charger
• The High Sierra® Falcon Solar 10000 mAh Power Bank
• The Anker® PowerCore Speed 10000mAh’
• The Spare 10000 mAh Power Bank

Personal Tech Swag Ideas

Not all swag bag ideas need to be practical. Add a little luxury to your swag with these pieces of personal tech: 

•  The Boom 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker by Ultimate Ears
• The Wrapsody Bluetooth Headphones
• The JBL Clip 4 Ultra-Portable Waterproof Speaker
• The 3Plus HR Smart Activity Band
• The Mood Pedometer Watch
• The 3Plus Vibe+ Smartwatch

Hats and Shirts

Hats and shirts are common swag bag ideas because they are such efficient marketing tools. Less expensive than outerwear but just as likely to be worn, customized hats and shirts should have a place in any company logo swag idea list. Possible choices include: 

• The Mens Ultra Cotton® 6 oz. T-Shirt by Gildan
• The Ladies’ Essential-T Short Sleeve V-Neck T-Shirt by Hanes
• The Men’s Performance Polo by CROWN
• The Ladies' Corporate Performance Polo 2.0 by Under Armour
• The Trucker Snapback Hat with Leather Patch by Richardson
• The Acrylic Knit Hat by Carhartt

 

Looking for more help generating swag bag ideas? Check out How to Build the Ultimate Swag Bag, or contact Triple Crown Products for help finding event swag that fits your product marketing budget.