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Affordable promotional products and trade show giveaways do not have to feel like cheap tchotchkes a business simply had to get rid of that day. Our curated list of inexpensive yet thoughtful swag will help you stand out at your next event.

ByLeo Victor

Top 10 Cheap Promotional Items That Actually Work

From ball caps to sweatshirts, coffee mugs to umbrellas, we’re all familiar with everyday items being used as promotional gear. Recent studies that confirm their effectiveness make it is easy to see why promotional items continue to be popular.

Many successful businesses have adopted the practice of using products to promote their brand. As a result, consumers gain access to a wide variety of cool and handy free stuff, and companies benefit from enormous amounts of relatively low cost advertising.

“As companies turn to Internet-only advertising and focus more on things like social media, they risk losing touch with their customers.” – Business2Community

When we look at the big picture, we mostly remember the larger, more expensive items that we received for free. While this is naturally going to be the case, it does not mean that small items don’t work as well.

If your marketing budget can handle it, there is added value in “going big” in order to “out-wow” the competition. However, we also know that not all business operate on big budgets. Small businesses, and those in industries with razor thin profits, can sometimes struggle to find the funds for promotional items.

Promotional Products Are the Best Form Of Advertising

“Promotional products have been a popular choice for building brand recognition during marketing campaigns for many years.” – Brand Watch

If this sounds like your company, then we are here to help! In a thriving industry with a huge demand, we can help you effectively reach consumers without breaking the bank. We have a great selection of highly effective, cheap promotional items to help put you on the map.

As you gain exposure, and begin to see business boom, consider investing in higher-end items when the time is right. Meanwhile, have a look at our impressive line-up of affordable promotional items for under $1, when purchased in qualifying quantities! Read on to discover our top “must see” wholesale promotional items.


Custom Flyers1. Fancy Flyers

One of the hot, new trends in the world of branded gifts comes in the form flying discs. Catering to the inner child in us all, these high-flying frisbees are available in two main styles:

  • Traditional hard plastic– Made from high-quality and non-toxic plastic, this the disc that most everyone is familiar with. At less than $1 each and available in quantities as small as 200 pieces, they are both fun and affordable. They are available in half a dozen different colors, with your custom logo permanently applied to the top surface.
  • Nylon– This modernized take on the ever-popular frisbee is great for “on-the-go” fun. The flexible, foldable nylon allows it to fold up to just ¼ of its normal size. It is available in red, green, and blue colors. Bring it along wherever you go in the matching carrying pouch.

Custom Executive Pens2. Custom Pens

As you probably can tell from your own life, custom pens are an extremely popular way to promote brands. There are a couple reasons this is true. A recent ASI study of promotional products found that:

  • Almost 90% of Americans reported owning a pen with a logo on it
  • During the average writing instrument’s lifetime, it accrues 3,000 impressions
  • Consumers tend to keep pens for an average of 9 months once received

This means per impression cost (also referred to as CPI) through a $1 pen is 1/30 of a penny. In other words, your brand is viewed thousands of times for next to nothing in terms of CPI. Choose from traditionally made plastic pens, or eco-friendly options made partially from recycled cardboard and bamboo.


Custom Tote Bags3. Tote Bags

No matter how advanced society becomes, there will always be “stuff” in need of being hauled around. In the U.S., nearly 3 out of 4 people acknowledge that they own a branded bag. This fact of life makes promotional tote bags a great, cheap promotional gift for any brand. In fact, your potential customers need something to carry the other free items they may receive on this list!

The large, blank canvas of a tote bag is the perfect place for your brand’s message to be displayed. As simple as they are, they even out-perform pens. The expected lifetime impressions for a bag is 3,300. This combined with the superior visibility because of its larger size makes it an ideal way to showcase a logo. Consumers, on average, to keep them around for 11 months.


4. Fidget Toys

As lives get busier and stress takes hold, people are looking for ways to cope. This has led to the growing popularity of stress-relieving gadgets and gizmos. Custom fidget spinners consist of tri-lobed, flat piece of plastic that revolves around a smooth bearing. Simply hold the center hub between your thumb and forefinger and “flick” your troubles away!

Beyond the ability to help distract from the worries of day-to-day life, promotional fidget toys are just plain fun. From young children to the elderly, no one is too old to enjoy a little unproductive enjoyment. Available in eight different aesthetically pleasing colors, you can choose the ones that best compliment your brand.


5. Phone Stands

Custom phone stands are perfect wholesale promotional items! Your future clients will be happy to receive the essentials as an easy entertainment aid. Available in the popular choices of colors, these are great to seamlessly complement any logo.


Custom Phone Wallets6. Smartphone Wallets

From their humble beginnings, cellphones have come a long ways from their original purpose. In addition to telephone calls, modern smartphones allow us to play games, watch videos, browse the web, and much more. Need your phone to multi-task in just one more way? Look no further than custom smartphone wallets universal accessory.

Designed at the perfect size to hold your credit cards, driver’s license, or insurance cards, this handy pouch can further extend your phone’s utility. Just peel the sticker off to expose the adhesive, and stick to the back of your phone. With the low profile, you’ll barely even notice they are even there.


7. Travel-Sized Hand Sanitizer

Custom Hand SanatizersAnother popular, and affordable, wholesale promotional item is personal hand sanitizers. Vast swaths of people utilize custom hand sanitizers to fend off germs and disease, especially at the height of flu season. Take advantage of this necessary product and provide something useful while simultaneously promoting your brand. Proven to kill 99.9% of germs and 100% sure to benefit your business!

The FDA approved clear gel comes in a travel-sized transparent bottle with the perfect spot for a printed logo. The flexible silicone case features a strap that attaches to just about anything. Customers can attach them to backpacks, belt loops, purses and more. They are available in many different colors to add some flair to your branding.


8. Lanyards

Custom LanyardsIf you own a set of keys, chances are that you have used, or do use, some kind of custom lanyards. While keys are the most common use, it also holds key cards, nametags, or I.D. cards. For many people, lanyards are either worn around the neck or hanging from a pants pocket. Either way, these highly visible accessories are great for promoting your brand at a price you can afford.

Choose to print on just one or both sides, depending on your needs. Further customize your products with the option to use multiple colors, and choose from 20 styles of attachments.


9. Custom Drinkware

Custom Coffee MugsBeverage containers continue to be a crowd favorite, with 88% of households owning at least one piece of logo-printed drinkware. On average, branded drinkware is kept around for a full year. During that time, they average an impressive 1,400 impressions. You won’t find a high quality thermos or coffee cup for under $1, but some cool plastic containers are in!

Choose from a variety of colored stadium style cups that are available with or without a lid and a straw. Alternatively, take your pick from various different colors of sports bottles with your choice of three kinds of lids. Regardless, these cups are the perfect canvas to display your brand in a variety of public places. Display your brand on one or both sides depending on your preference.


10. Calendars

Custom Desk CalendarsLast, but not least on our list of affordable and effective gear is something truly timeless (Ha! See what we did there…). promotional calendars are something that everyone can use, and it’s nearly impossible to have too many. Fixed to the dash of your car, hanging on the refrigerator, or sitting atop your desk to name a few.

While they tend to stick around an average of 8 months and illicit 850 impressions, you can count on new demands for calendars every year. This makes them perfect for return customers, since new calendars continue to be useful.


Friendly, Affordable Promotional Items for Any Budget

No matter what kind of limitations you have to your cash flow, we are confident you’ll find something. Our tried and true promotional products can raise awareness for your brand at hard to beat prices. If none of our top picks catch your eye, check out our promotional products under $1.