We’re in the swing of trade show season, and conference centers are once again filling up with attendees from all over the world. The excitement is palpable, especially after many of these events were relegated to screens or went totally silent just a few short years ago.
Related: Placing a Promo Item Order: What Info Do You Need?
With trade show attendance up again, it’s the perfect chance to take advantage of the in-person meet-ups with some well-designed and thoughtfully curated company swag and branded corporate gifts. The entire year is ripe with opportunities to show your customers, prospects, and employees you care. Statistics show that 66 percent of people view a brand more positively when receiving swag. That’s a big effect for sure!
We’ve put together a comprehensive calendar of deadlines so you’ll be prepared no matter what pops up, from trade shows to company events, to holiday gifts for employees or customers. Use this guide to find unique promotional items, branded corporate gifts, and company swag that delight your audience every time.
Related: 11 Insights to Kick-Start Your Trade Show.
Whether you’re looking for something tried and true or searching for the next trend, all of these items have the wow factor that comes with gifting people branded corporate gifts that are both useful and coveted.
Here are the best promotional items for 2024:
The general rule of thumb is to order at least 90 days before your event. This gives you time to avoid any supply chain delays that can derail delivery as well as other unforeseen snafus. This timeline covers printing, packaging, and delivery, with a small cushion to ensure you have all your company swag in hand before the event.
If you’re within that window, but you still need your items, don’t worry. Some promotional products have a quick turnaround and if they’re already in stock, we can help you print them much quicker.
This calendar gives you a sampling of events you can start planning for now. We added trade shows to almost every month since they generally run most months of the year. Use these dates as inspiration for other gifting opportunities too. Some holidays are more widely celebrated than others, but all provide an opportunity to provide prospects, customers, or employees with meaningful and unique promotional items:
2024/2025 Promo Calendar |
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Order By |
Delivery By/Events |
January 1st |
April 1st Trade Shows Celebrate Diversity Month World Health Day Earth Day |
February 1st |
May 1st Trade Shows Asian Heritage Month Skin Cancer Awareness Month Teacher Appreciation Week International Nurses Day Memorial Day |
March 1st |
June 1st Trade Shows LGBTQ Pride Month Higher Education Day World Oceans Day Juneteenth |
April 1st |
July 1st International Plastic Bag Free Day Independence Day World Chocolate Day Social Media Giving Day National Clean Beauty Day |
May 1st |
August 1st National Financial Awareness Day National Dog Day |
June 1st |
September 1st Labor Day National Hispanic Heritage Month World Alzheimer's Day Back to School |
July 1st |
October 1st National Cyber Security Awareness Month International Coffee Day International Teachers Day World Mental Health Day Indigenous Peoples' Day Trade Shows Halloween |
August 1st |
November 1st Veterans Day Trade Shows World Kindness Day Thanksgiving |
September 1st |
December 1st International Day of Persons with Disabilities Christmas Hanukkah Kwanzaa |
October 1st |
January 1st New Year's Day Ditch Your Resolution Day Community Manager Appreciation Day |
November 1st |
February 1st Black History Month Groundhog Day International Day of Women and Girls in Science Galentine's Day Valentine's Day President's Day |
December 1st |
March 1st Women's History Month World Wildlife Day Trade Shows International Women's Day Global Recycling Day Easter |
Source: Hootsuite
Related: Your Survival Guide to Promotional Planning: Products and Branded Merchandise.
In the world of promo, ordering sooner is always better. With a 90-day window, you’ll be sure to get the availability you need for the best promotional items without any expedited costs or other premium charges. When you work with a partner like Ironmark, we can help you find the promotional items that work best for your objectives, and get you the choice and the buying power.