Preparing for Autumn Trade Shows: Why Now Is the Right Time to Plan Your Gifts

Published: May 9, 2025

Even though summer hasn’t quite said goodbye, now is the perfect time to start thinking about fall business activities – especially trade shows, conferences, and B2B events that kick off as early as late August. One of the key elements of your presence at such events is promotional gifts. If you want to order them on time, thoughtfully, and without stress, June or July is your last chance to plan smartly. In this article, we reveal why early planning is essential and how it saves you money, worries, and poor compromises.

Lead Times Are Longer Than You Think

When it comes to promotional gifts, selecting the item is just the beginning. It also needs to be customized, printed, packed, and delivered on time. In peak season – August and September – production and delivery times significantly increase at most suppliers.

• Personalization (printing, embroidery, engraving) usually takes several working days – more if the design is complex.
• Stock of popular products runs out fast – top items often disappear by July.
• International shipping (e.g., from EU central warehouses) can take up to 10 business days or more.

If you want full control over selection and quality, now is the time to research, request quotes, and place your order – not just before the event when time forces compromises.

More Time = More Creativity

With enough prep time, you can create truly unique gifts – not just generic ones. Instead of quickly picking from a catalog, you can allow for creativity and develop products that leave a lasting impression.

• Custom colors matched with your brand or event theme.
• Advanced printing – multicolor, special techniques (e.g., 3D print, foil, UV varnish).
• Gift sets with complementary products – not just randomly chosen.

Fall trade shows are a great opportunity to stand out – but that takes time for your idea to mature into a high-quality product. Planning in summer allows that – stress-free.

Autumn Events Require a Strategic Approach

A trade show isn’t just a place to hand out a hundred pens with your logo. To make an impact, you need to know what, to whom, and why you’re giving something. Early planning gives you time to build a strategy – rather than improvising on event day.

• Segment gifts by audience – one for passersby, another for prospects, another for VIPs.
• Align the gift with your main event messaging – it should support your campaign or slogan.
• Add an element of surprise – a QR code, secret message, prize game, or unboxing moment.

The more your gift ties into your story, the more impact it has. So it's not just about placing an order – full preparation matters. And that starts now.

Lower Costs, More Options

Those who plan ahead often pay less. With promotional gifts, this applies to both printing and product selection. If you wait until the last minute, options are limited, prices are higher, and risks increase.

• Early orders often come with quantity discounts and better terms.
• Wider product and color selection allows you to tailor to your brand.
• Lower shipping costs since express shipping isn't necessary.

Planning ahead saves more than money – it saves a lot of stress. That advantage often reflects in a better show performance, where you present yourself confidently and prepared.

Those Who Plan in Summer Shine in Autumn

Your trade show performance is always a reflection of your preparation. And although autumn is still weeks away, now is the perfect time to secure the best gifts, optimal conditions, and enough time for quality execution.

A promotional gift isn’t just an item – it’s a message carrier, an extension of your brand, and an invitation to further contact. By planning in summer, you ensure that come autumn, your presence is not only visible but unforgettable.