Promo Harbour Team ·
Trade show budgets get eaten by stand space and travel, so the merchandise decision usually happens late and in a hurry. Here is the checklist we give clients before a UK show.
Six weeks out: the stand itself
- Roller banners - one per stand corner. Keep the top third clear of small text; that is the part people see over a crowd.
- Desktop roller banners - for the table, and for the follow-up event you have not booked yet.
Four weeks out: the team
- Polo-alternative t-shirts or hoodies in one colour so visitors can spot staff instantly
- Caps if the show is part indoor, part outdoor
- Order a size breakdown, not a guessed total
Three weeks out: the giveaway
The test is simple: would you take it home? Items that survive the bin at the hotel:
- Tote bags - people carry the rest of the show inside your logo
- Aluminium bottles - high perceived value, used daily
- Notebooks and quality pens - still the most used items in any goody bag
Skip anything flimsy. A cheap item that breaks does more brand damage than no item at all.
Two weeks out: the follow-up
Print something the visitor takes away that ties back to a conversation - a header card on a sample, or a keycard wallet for the hotel room they are heading back to.
One week out: the panic list
Dates move and stock disappears. If you are inside a week, our urgent order route exists exactly for this - tell us the show date first and we will work backwards.
Send artwork as a PDF or high-resolution PNG, and use the free file check so nothing gets held up at proof stage.