Over 55,000 Happy Clients
Jan 10 to 12, 2027 · New York
NRF trade show giveaways for 2027
Giveaways for a crowd that judges products for a living. Pick quality over quantity.
Approve your proof by Nov 24, 2026
Get a free quote See top picks
★★★★★ 4.9 on Trustpilot · 55,000+ clients · 65M+ items shipped
Updated
Trusted by over 55,000 brands
NRF at a glance
- Dates
- January 10 to 12, 2027 (Sunday to Tuesday)
- Expo
- Levels 1 and 3. 9 AM to 5 PM, Tuesday until 4 PM
- Venue
- Javits Center, New York
- Audience
- 41,000 attendees, 1,025 exhibitors and 6,500+ brands in 2026
Visit the official NRF Retail's Big Show site (opens in a new tab)
Event details from NRF 2027 agenda and TSNN, NRF 2026 recap, checked October 2, 2026.
NRF and Retail's Big Show are trademarks of the National Retail Federation. iPromo is not affiliated with or endorsed by NRF.
NRF trade show giveaways get judged by people who buy merchandise for a living. NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show runs from January 10 to 12 at the Javits Center in New York. The 2026 show drew more than 41,000 attendees and more than 1,000 exhibitors. A lot of the people walking the floor are retail buyers and merchants, which means they look at a giveaway the way they look at a product sample. A flimsy item says something about your brand.
The picks below are things a retail crowd will judge well: a solid tote, a good pen, drinkware from a brand they stock. They also have to survive New York in January, so think about what someone can carry on the subway.
What NRF exhibitors should know
Researched in October 2026 from the show’s own pages, venue rules and past-year coverage.
Bring a bottle worth refilling
NRF does not sell drinks in plastic bottles and asks attendees to bring refillable ones. Filtered refill stations run throughout the Javits Center, so a branded bottle gets used all three days.
Source: NRF Big Show sustainability (opens in a new tab)Dress the giveaway for January
Normal mid-January highs in New York are about 40°F, with lows near 28°F. Beanies and warm layers get worn on the walk in.
Source: National Weather Service, NYC January normals (opens in a new tab)Stay inside your booth
NRF prohibits soliciting outside your booth without written approval, and nothing may be attached over or behind the NRF badge.
Source: NRF rules and regulations (opens in a new tab)No outside snacks
Cultivated is the exclusive caterer at Javits. Outside food is prohibited, and samples need approval. Non-food giveaways are simpler.
Source: Javits catering (Cultivated) exhibitor sheet (opens in a new tab)Register big drawings early
New York requires registration for free drawings with more than $5,000 in prizes, 30 days before the show. For NRF 2027, that means about December 11.
Source: New York Department of State, games of chance (opens in a new tab)Retail buyers judge products
Attendees include buyers and executives from retailers like Walmart, Target, Sephora and IKEA, people who evaluate products for a living. Useful items stood out in 2026, like mini massage guns and head massagers.
Source: Retail Brew, NRF 2026 swag (opens in a new tab)Top giveaway picks for NRF 2027
Twelve picks in three budget tiers. Each card shows the unit price at the quantity listed, the one-time setup charge and production time.
For everyone who stops by
Low-cost items for the counter. Order these in the hundreds.
$0.88eachUSA Made SPF 30 Lip Balm
New York in January is cold and dry. A useful pocket item for the counter.- Quantity
- 250
- Setup
- $72
- Production
- 5-7 days
$1.06eachBIC Ecolutions Clic Stic Pen
A pen made from recycled plastic that buyers use for notes on the floor.- Quantity
- 300
- Setup
- $0
- Production
- 3-5 days
$4.55eachNon-Woven All Purpose Tote
Retail attendees collect catalogs and samples. A tote gives them a way to carry it all.- Quantity
- 150
- Setup
- $70
- Production
- 7-14 days
$3.65eachLEEMAN Tuscany Card Holder with Ring Stand
Holds a hotel key card and business cards on the back of a phone, so there is nothing extra to carry.- Quantity
- 100
- Setup
- $87
- Production
- 5-7 days
For real conversations
Hand these over after a demo or a badge scan.
$13.88eachMulti-Function Business Tote
A sturdy bag for carrying samples and catalogs around the Javits Center, then to work.- Quantity
- 50
- Setup
- $70
- Production
- 5-7 days
$13.51each22 oz. Copper Vacuum Insulated Bottle
NRF does not sell drinks in plastic bottles, and filtered refill stations run throughout the Javits Center. This one gets filled all three days.- Quantity
- 24
- Setup
- $62
- Production
- 5-7 days
$13.52eachKoozie Two-Tone Acrylic Beanie
Mid-January highs in New York sit around 40°F. A beanie gets worn on the walk to the Javits Center.- Quantity
- 48
- Setup
- $100
- Production
- 3-5 days
$13.53eachJournalBook ValueColor Notebook
Fits in a tote and gets used for meeting notes on the show floor.- Quantity
- 50
- Setup
- $65
- Production
- 5-7 days
For booked meetings and top leads
Fewer units, chosen for the people you most want to hear from.
$37.79eachRocketbook Executive Flip Notebook & Pen Set
A reusable notebook and pen for buyers who take notes in every meeting. Notes scan to the cloud and the pages wipe clean, so it stays on the desk.- Quantity
- 25
- Setup
- $62
- Production
- 5-7 days
$51.03eachStanley Quencher H2.O FlowState Tumbler, 30 oz.
A brand retail buyers know well. It reads as a real product, not swag.- Quantity
- 24
- Setup
- $62
- Production
- 5-7 days
$52.29eachYETI 14 oz. Rambler Mug
A premium desk mug for the buyers you meet with. It stays next to the keyboard.- Quantity
- 12
- Setup
- $47
- Production
- 15-20 days
$39.22eachCarhartt Watch Cap 2.0
Retail buyers judge products for a living. A Carhartt beanie is one they would stock, and January in New York calls for it.- Quantity
- 12
- Setup
- $62
- Production
- 7-10 days
Example booth budget
For a booth expecting about 500 visitors, 150 real conversations and 25 booked meetings. One item from each tier, before shipping and tax.
| Item | Qty | Each | Setup | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIC Ecolutions Clic Stic Pen | 500 | $1.04 | $0 | $520 |
| Multi-Function Business Tote | 150 | $11.90 | $70 | $1,855 |
| Rocketbook Executive Flip Notebook & Pen Set | 25 | $37.79 | $62 | $1,007 |
| Estimated total | $3,382 | |||
Get a quote for this kitUnit prices use the price break for each quantity. Swap any item and we will re-price it.
Prices from iPromo product pages, October 1, 2026. Each product page has current pricing at every quantity.
Your NRF timeline
Work back from the show. The date that matters most is when you approve your proof.
- NowPick products and ask for a quoteTell us your show, your booth and how many people you expect.
- Nov 24, 2026Approve your proofProduction starts when you approve. For these picks it takes 3 to 20 business days.
- Before the showShip to the boothFreight dates and labels are in the NRF Exhibitor Resource Center. Javits labor rules limit what your own staff can carry in, so we ship cartons to the official warehouse or the venue.
- Jan 10 to 12, 2027Show timeExpo on Levels 1 and 3: Sunday and Monday 9 AM to 5 PM, Tuesday 9 AM to 4 PM.
Production runs through Thanksgiving and the December shipping peak, so approve early. If you plan a drawing with more than $5,000 in prizes, New York requires registration 30 days before the show, around December 11.
Get a quote for these picksShort on time? Start with 24 Hour Rush items.
We handle the logistics
From the warehouse to the booth, and whatever is left after the show.
Ship to the venue or show warehouse
We send your order to the convention center, the official freight contractor's advance warehouse, or your office.
Packed kits and swag bags
Bags and boxes arrive packed and ready to hand out. Start from a ready-made BRAGbox or build your own.
Store it, ship it later
Keep leftover or year-round swag in SwagCloud, our warehouse and online portal, and ship it anywhere within 24 hours.
Ship to every attendee
For hybrid and virtual events, our drop shipping program sends a kit to each person's address.
Quality matters more at a retail show
At most trade shows a cheap giveaway is just forgettable. At NRF it can work against you, because the audience evaluates merchandise for a living. If your budget is fixed, it is usually better to give fewer people something good, like the Stanley tumbler or the Rocketbook notebook, than to hand out a large volume of low-cost items.
Shipping to the Javits Center
Javits exhibitor freight goes through the official contractor using the dates in your exhibitor manual. Carrying boxes in by hand in Manhattan in January is hard work, so most exhibitors ship ahead. We can send the main order to the advance warehouse and a smaller box to your office.
Read before the show
Booth planning and giveaway tips from the iPromo blog.
Frequently asked questions
What are good NRF trade show giveaways?
Items a retail buyer will judge well: a sturdy tote, a quality pen, a refillable bottle for the expo refill stations, and drinkware or a beanie from a brand they recognize. At NRF it is usually better to give fewer people something good than to hand out a lot of low-cost items.
When should I order NRF giveaways?
Aim to approve your proof by November 24, 2026. NRF opens about ten days after New Year, and the December holidays slow down both production and shipping.
How do I ship giveaways to the Javits Center?
Javits exhibitor freight goes through the official contractor using the dates in your exhibitor manual. Most exhibitors ship ahead to the advance warehouse. We can send the main order there and a smaller box to your office.
Do I need to register a prize drawing at NRF?
In New York, a free drawing with more than $5,000 in total prizes must be registered with the Department of State 30 days before it starts. For NRF 2027, that means filing by about December 11, 2026. Smaller drawings do not need to register.
How much should I budget for NRF giveaways?
Our example kit for a booth expecting about 500 visitors, 150 conversations and 25 booked meetings comes to about $3,382 before shipping and tax: BIC Ecolutions Clic Stic Pen (500), Multi-Function Business Tote (150), Rocketbook Executive Flip Notebook & Pen Set (25). Swap any item and we will re-price it.
What if I miss the NRF proof deadline?
Start with our 24 Hour Rush items and tell us your show date. We confirm production and shipping timing with your quote, and can ship to your office if the advance warehouse deadline has passed.
More event guides
Planning for more than one show? See our full guide to trade show giveaway ideas.
Clients love working with iPromo
The product I ordered is of high quality and the logo imprint is impeccable.
Looked exactly how the proof showed, and it looks great with our logo.
Very responsive, items are as described, communication is excellent.
Get your NRF giveaways handled
- Product ideas for your booth size and audience
- Pricing and a timeline that hits your freight deadline
- A free proof before anything is printed
Prefer to talk? Call 888-994-7766
