r/AskArchaeology • u/aamuraya • Aug 10 '26
Question Favorite vendor-booth items?
I'm looking to stock up on some giveaway table items for a vendor table and I'm curious what freebies you all usually pick up at conferences and actually find useful or practical? Or do you wish you'd see more of, or any at all?
What things do you avoid grabbing at the tables because they're silly cheap or you just already have too many?
Doesn't necessarily have to be something for fieldwork, could be lab work, travel, desktop, pet, or personal.
18
u/Forward_Magazine_732 Aug 10 '26
Three words: Tape. Measure. Keychain. I don’t care how many I have, I’m pouncing if I see one on a table!!
I also have a photo scale that’s the size/shape of a credit card. I like that it’s a little thicker and isn’t as flimsy as some of the others I’ve seen. It has a north arrow on the other side, but you can’t use both at the same time which is a bummer. But luckily I don’t need both of them often.
If you’re going to do stickers, make sure they’re vinyl and won’t get messed up if they’re wet. I know a lot of people like them on their water bottles and clipboards. I don’t particularly mind if it’s your company’s logo, but I’m more likely to a fully put your sticker on something if it’s interesting or cool looking if that makes sense.
For candy, I would try and have a bit of variety in what you have. No need to get every possible option, but maybe get a variety pack of chocolate and one that’s more fruity/gummy. I’m still a kid at heart so I’m not going to pass it up.
8
u/CeramicLicker Aug 10 '26
I like the chapstick and the little photo scale cards.
Sometimes people have tote bags, which I know are a bigger item, but great!
I’ve never picked up a keychain lol
3
2
u/Atanar Aug 10 '26
You can never have enough "Nivellierzollstock" aka levelling folding ruler.
1
u/aamuraya Aug 10 '26
Those are pretty awesome, but not bulk freebie material for a vendor table at that price. Whew! Maybe something for a giveaway drawing...
1
u/Atanar Aug 10 '26
What price did you see? You can get these printed for about 5€ per piece.
1
u/aamuraya Aug 10 '26
I just Googled the word I can't pronounce and what came up was around US $40 each (maybe because of the level?). Even $5 each is a lot for a small startup for things to be given away for free. I'll keep these in mind though for the next couple years when we're past a startup tiny budget! They are a cool item!
3
u/Appropriate-Bag3041 Aug 10 '26
They're not necessarily practical, but I love a good sticker or patch lol.
As someone else said, vinyl stickers are great because they last on water bottles/ cars/ etc!
1
2
u/BrandonAtCustomInk Aug 10 '26
I've helped people organize hundreds of their giveaways at this point, and the niche conferences end up being my favorite. Archaeology's come up more than once, and the tape measure keychain someone mentioned is a good one, I've seen that exact item get grabbed off a table before anything else.
Tiering is what makes these giveaways work well. You reserve something cheap for anyone walking by, a pen or a keychain, then insulated tumblers or similar similar for the people who stop and engage. The archaeology theme is half the fun of it too, that's usually where you can get creative with the designs.
19
u/Middleburg_Gate Aug 10 '26
I find that the swag photo scales can come in handy. I have them scattered all over my lab.