It's a fact. Promotional products increase the likelihood that a trade show attendee will visit a trade booth - according to the PPAI 2004 study on the effectiveness of using promotional products to generate traffic and sales leads at trade show exhibits.

In the 2004 study, an experimental design was conducted at a medical supply and ingredient business trade show in Baltimore, MD. The pre-registered attendees were divided into three groups, and each was given different treatments as described below.

Results show that including a promotional product in a pre-show mailing or an offer for a promotional product at the booth increases the likelihood of the attendee stopping by the exhibitor's booth. It also found that promotional products of greater value generate more potential sales leads than products of lower value.

In the 2007 study, an experimental design was conducted at a medical supply and ingredient business trade show in Baltimore, MD. The pre-registered attendees were divided into three groups, and each was given different treatments as described below.

• Group A received a postcard inviting the recipient to stop by the respective exhibitor's booth at a trade show.
• Group B received a magnet custom imprinted with the respective exhibitor's company logo and an invitation to visit their booth at the same trade show.
• Group C received a postcard offering a t-shirt for redeeming the postcard at the exhibitor's booth at the trade show.

Results show that including a promotional product in a pre-show mailing or an offer for a promotional product at the booth increases the likelihood of the attendee stopping by the exhibitor's booth. It also found that promotional products of greater value generate more potential sales leads than products of lower value.