10 Cheap Promotional Items That People Will Actually Be Excited to Receive

Do you have a marketing budget? Well, then you’re probably looking for cheap promotional items! You may not be spending a ton of money on swag, but that doesn’t mean it should be garbage. That’s where these ideas come in handy!

Win over the crowd with 10 affordable promotional products that people will actually want to use. Everyone will be excited to receive these items, whether they’re handed out at a trade show, fundraiser, or some other event.

What Are Good Cheap Promotional Items?

The best giveaways are either: 1) stylish, unique items that are hard to resist, or 2) useful items that people don’t realize they need, but are happy to receive. The following can fit either description:

1. #1: Drinkware
2. #2: Novelty pens
3. #3: Phone & laptop accessories
4. #4: Bags
5. #5: Hand sanitiser
6. #6: Kitchenware
7. #7: Sticky notes
8. #8: Food & snacks
9. #9: Luggage tags
10. #10: Stress balls

#1: Drinkware

Everybody loves having an assortment of drinkware in their kitchen cabinet, whether it’s water bottles for busy days, or wine glasses for relaxing evenings. These items can be customized for cheap, but still look as trendy as anything you’d find at stores like Target!

70% of people keep custom drinkware when it’s of a nice quality and durable enough to last for years.

#2: Novelty Pens

While regular pens are great giveaways, novelty pens are next level! They’re more unique, which makes all the difference. You’ll see a person’s face light up when they receive a cool pen shaped like a paintbrush, or one with a fancy diamond topper.

89% of consumers own writing instruments like personalized pencils and pens. With so many options out there, it’s a good idea to be unique!

#3: Phone & Laptop Accessories

Our phones and laptops are more than just Facebook status updates and Buzzfeed quizzes. In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were gamechangers that helped keep us connected! You simply can’t go wrong with accessories like phone wallets, earbuds, laptop sleeves, and webcam covers.

The average American spends 5.4 hours on their phones and about 3.75 hours on their laptops or tablets on average each day

#4: Bags

Carry on and print your company’s name or logo on custom bags like drawstring backpacks, totes, and wine bags. You’ll find a ton of inexpensive options in a variety of colors and materials. These logoed bags are sure to be used all the time for groceries, gym clothes, and even mini road trips!

About 38.68% of millennials bring a reusable tote bag to the grocery store. Meanwhile, 36% are in favor of banning single-use plastic bags altogether.

#5: Hand Sanitizer

People are always on the go and don’t always have access to soap and water. That’s why mini hand sanitizer is sure to be a well-received giveaway item. Choose a sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol content as that’s the recommended amount by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The COVID-19 pandemic changed how people think about personal hygiene. Sales on hand sanitizer saw a year-on-year increase of 255%, with the global market projected to reach $7.32 billion by 2027.

#6: Kitchenware

You may not have the money to add your logo to high-end cookware like skillets and cutting boards, but don’t overlook the smaller stuff! Bag clips, spatulas, pizza cutters, and ice cream scoopers are all affordable items that will get a ton of use in the kitchen.

People are cooking at home now more than ever before. In fact, 82% of the meals Americans eat are prepared at home rather than bought at restaurants or fast-food chains.

#7: Sticky Notes

Whether it’s for keeping on task at work or jotting down a grocery list, a Post-it comes in handy all the time! Your business can give away pads of sticky notes that are printed in full color with your logo at promotional events like trade shows and fundraisers.

According to 3M, the average professional receives 11 messages each day on a Post-it Note.

#8: Food & Snacks

If you position yourself as the business that always give away free popcorn at the front door or M&Ms after a transaction, people are going to keep on coming back. After all, the key to the heart is through the stomach!

More than half of Americans consider themselves “foodies.” Their favorite snacks include: potato chips, assorted nuts, cookies, and milk chocolate.

#9: Luggage Tags

Airline travel can be a nightmare, which is why people are sure to appreciate custom luggage tags from your business! It makes life easier at the baggage claim, and travelers can worry less about their bags getting misplaced.

25 million bags are lost at airports every single year! A luggage tag helps ensure it’s returned to the owner.

#10: Stress Balls

Personalized stress balls are arguably the least trendy and useful items on this list, but they make up for it by having the most personality! You can find stress balls in a ton of unique shapes like tacos, puppies, footballs, and even squishy rainbow brains!

A 2016 study found that tactile activities, like squeezing a stress ball, can increase our attention by about 33%.