This blog post was originally published in August 2017 and has since been modified to incorporate updated research and the latest open house giveaways.
If you’ve hosted an open house before, you know the basics: choose your date wisely, offer a special, and showcase your products and services. But for a memorable event, you’ll want to hand out the best open house giveaways to everyone who comes through the door. Open houses give clients, prospects and even potential employees a fun, relaxed opportunity to learn more about your company. Giving guests cool event swag will ensure your celebration stays in their minds for weeks to come.
Putting time and effort into planning your open house will set you up for success. Decide what you want the event to showcase. Maybe you want to introduce a new product or inform customers of a new location opening soon. Plan activities that focus on your goal and make sure your event giveaways make an impression on all guests.
Pique interest: Include cool event swag with your invite
About three weeks before your open house, send out invitations and include a branded giveaway to promote your big day. Approximately 85% of promo product recipients (PDF) remember the brand that gave it to them.
After you mail their invite, follow up. This will show customers your appreciation and encourage them to attend. Give each customer an extra invite so they can give it to a friend or family member. Send along an open house giveaway that will be useful at home or in the office. The pocket-sized Memo Book with Pen and Paper includes a calendar that can be referenced daily, along with your brand. For something more unique, choose the Clipster USB Drive. It stores 4GB of files and easily clips onto a keychain, making it easy to transport important files.
Quickly impress with the best event giveaways
Studies show that you have seven seconds to make a positive first impression.
Your open house is a quick way to impress new prospects. Greet guests as they walk in the door and introduce yourself. You may only have a minute or two to talk, so make the most of that time by focusing on what your company can do for them. And remember to give them something to make it easy for them to get in touch later.
Our Pocket LED Flashlight is small but makes a big impression. This bright promotional product is sure to shine a light on your brand. Sticky Books are perfect for the office because they help keep desks organized. And you can’t go wrong with branded pens. They’re always an open house giveaway favourite, and they’re budget-friendly. Try the Krypton Pen or Simplistic Grip Pen and keep your message at their fingertips.
Putting out refreshments and snacks is another great way to make a positive first impression. Plus, having food will keep guests at your open house longer, giving you more time to network. Serve coffee in an Insulated Paper Travel Cup or cold drinks in a Colourware Paper Cup. Provide a stack of Colourware Beverage Napkins to give your table a professional look. Our Tasty Treats Starburst® and Tasty Treats Tootsie Rolls® make a great sweet snack that can be eaten at the open house or saved for later.
Get even more event giveaway ideas for other events.
Increase engagement with social media
Use social media before, during and after your open house to boost attendance and engagement. Around 73% of event planners say social media is the most effective tool for promoting events.
Create a Facebook® event and offer a promotional product to everyone who responds. During the event, promote a hashtag and give out cool event swag to those who use it on social media.
Open house giveaways with a tech theme will encourage social media engagement. The Louvre Smartphone Wallet and Stand is useful and budget-friendly. It sticks to the back of a smartphone and holds business cards or a credit card. It also transforms into a stand. There’s no better place to put your company’s phone number than on a smartphone.
Ear buds and speakers are among the best event giveaways for tech-lovers. The Addi Bluetooth® Speaker is sure to pump up the volume and your brand recognition. Its wireless capabilities and small size make it easy to take anywhere. The Ear Buds with Traveler Case allow them to listen to music on the go, making brand impressions along the way.
Stay top of mind long after the event with the best open house giveaways
After the open house ends, be sure to follow up with all new contacts. In-person meetings are the most valuable, so try to schedule a time to get together and discuss your business. If you have time during the event, make future appointments with new contacts before they even leave the open house. The time and effort you put into planning your next open house are sure to pay off when you follow these tips and choose the best open house giveaways.