1.  Try to bring only "just enough" literature and give-aways to hand out.  Keep giveaways useful like a travel mug with your company logo printed on it.  Useless giveaways, no matter how clever, always end up in the trash at the close of the show.

2.  Offer a business card and simple flyer that directs potential clients to your website to find more information on the products and services that you offer.  Business cards travel well and we rarely find them on the show floor at move out.

THINK RE-USE!

1.  Try to avoid dating your informational handouts so they can be re-used again at a different conference.

2.  Take it home.  Promotional items are very expensive.  Taking your promotional literature and giveaways home saves your company money and lots of time. It also keeps them from being thrown into the landfill. 

THINK RECYCLE!

1.  At the close of the event if you still have things that can't be re-used and it's impossible to take back home then it's time to recycle them.  As you get ready to head home, consolidate recyclable items and place them in the provided recycle bins placed about the exhibit area.  If no bins are available at the facility then place your recyclables in one place in your booth so our clean up crew can get them to the proper bins. 

2. Use the available trash cans for non-recycle items such as food, food containers and plastics.

3. Empty water bottles and place them on top of your booth table or leave them on your chair so our crew can gather them up for recycle.   

Here is a list of items you may have in your booth that can be recycled:

• Aseptic packaging and cartons (empty drink boxes you often find in packed lunches)
• Corrugated cardboard
• Brown paper
• Magazines and catalogs
• Office paper
• Plastic bottles (please empty contents before you leave)
• Glass bottles (please empty contents before you leave)
• Scrap paper
• Junk mail
• Tin and Aluminum cans (please empty contents before you leave)
• Packing peanuts
• Shrink wrap
  

BUY RECYCLED PRODUCTS TO CLOSE THE LOOP

The collection of recyclable materials is only the first step of the process we call recycling. Interesting new products are being manufactured from your recyclables and turning up in the marketplace. When you buy goods with recycled content, your purchases help to create a demand for materials collected in recycling programs. Remember to ask about a product's "post consumer content." This means the product was made from materials that were used and recycled by consumers, rather than from manufacturing wastes.

IDEAS FOR USEFUL GIVE AWAYS:

These ideas are based on items we rarely find left behind when offered as giveaways.  All of these items can be donated very easily if left behind.  Add your logos and marketing message to the packaging.

• Travel mugs
• Golf balls
• Candy / Snacks / Mints
• Energy drinks
• Tissue boxes
• USB flash drives (portable storage devices)
• Compact flourescent bulbs
• Gift cards for popular coffee / espresso shops / restaurants
  

Another idea is to have a drawing for a larger gift.  You get your potential client's business card in exchange for a chance at a great gift.

Let us know if we can help you in any way.  We are now in the process of collecting information on companys that offer eco-friendly marketing giveaways and marketing tools.

We would love to hear from you if you have ideas for environmentally friendly giveaways or suggestions for exhibiting companies to stay green while marketing themselves on the road!

Thank you!

All of us at Pacific Exposition Decorating Company
Contact us via email at csr@pacificexposition.com