September and October bring the highest concentration of trade fairs, congresses and sector exhibitions in Spain. From Barcelona’s Mobile World Congress to FITUR, plus dozens of specialist fairs across technology, food, construction, fashion and professional services.
If your company is taking part as an exhibitor, sponsor or attendee at an autumn trade fair, merchandise is a critical part of your presence. And this year, making it eco-friendly isn’t optional: it’s what’s expected.
The role of merchandise at a trade fair
At a trade fair, your stand is competing with dozens or hundreds of other exhibitors for visitors’ attention. Merchandise serves several purposes:
- Drawing traffic to the stand: a good promotional product is a magnet for visitors.
- Starting conversations: the gift is the excuse for a first contact.
- Extending recall: every time the product gets used after the fair, that’s a brand impression.
- Qualifying leads: the higher-value products get reserved for qualified contacts.
A tiered merchandise strategy
Not every visitor deserves the same gift. A smart strategy segments into three tiers:
Tier 1: General foot traffic (low cost, high volume)
Low unit-cost products handed out to all visitors:
- Bamboo pens (0,40-0,60 EUR): practical, with an immediate eco message.
- Organic sweets or chocolates wrapped with your branding.
- Stickers or pins in recycled materials with an appealing design.
Tier 2: Qualified leads (mid cost, moderate volume)
For visitors who leave their details or show genuine interest:
- Recycled paper notebooks with your logo (1,50-3,00 EUR).
- Organic cotton tote bags (2,00-4,00 EUR).
- Wood or bamboo USB drives with your digital catalogue (3,00-5,00 EUR).
Tier 3: VIP clients and decision-makers (high cost, low volume)
For your most valuable contacts, private-room meetings:
- Engraved stainless steel thermal bottles (6,00-12,00 EUR).
- Gift boxes with a premium pack (bottle + notebook + recycled metal pen).
- Recycled PET backpacks with a laptop compartment.
Trade fair preparation checklist
- 8 weeks out: define products, quantities per tier and personalisation designs.
- 6 weeks out: confirm the order with Greenly. Approve the print proofs.
- 4 weeks out: production underway. Check the logistics for shipping to the venue.
- 2 weeks out: materials received. Check quantities and quality. Prepare the tiered distribution.
- Fair day: stand set up, merchandise organised by tier, team briefed.
Mistakes to avoid at trade fairs
- Ordering at the last minute: there’s no fixing a delay once you’re at the fair. Always plan ahead.
- A single product for everyone: tiered segmentation maximises ROI.
- Products with no real use: the product needs to actually do something. Decorative items with no function end up in the hotel bin.
- Forgetting the bag: if you’re handing out several items (brochures, samples, merchandise), visitors need a tote bag to carry it all in. With your logo on it, of course.
Prepare for your trade fair with Greenly
Visit our catalogue and select your product mix for each tier. We offer tiered volume pricing that improves significantly on larger orders.
Got a trade fair in September or October? Get in touch now to guarantee on-time delivery. August lead times are critical.
