4imprint, LLC

| Updated: February 15, 2023

Editor’s Note: This blog post was originally published in August 2016 and has since been updated to incorporate 2020 Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) research.

5 uses for pen giveaways

  1. Use pens as giveaways to create connections at events
  2. Make new employees feel welcome
  3. Reward and recognize staff with unique pens
  4. Show customer appreciation with promotional pens
  5. Give pens to staff for note-taking during training

Grocery stores. Banks or credit unions. Schools. Restaurants. Just think of the many places you pick up pen giveaways each day. You’re not alone!

According to promotional products industry research, more than 89% of U.S. consumers own promotional writing instruments (PDF) like pens, pencils and highlighters. And, that’s what makes these tools such a great investment. They’re used so often that the cost for an impression of your brand is just 1/10th of a cent.

Here are five creative uses for promotional pens.

1. Use pens as giveaways to create connections at events

Promotional products commonly make appearances as conversation starters at events and trade shows. To amp up the ice-breaking potential of promotional pens, get them in different colors associated with your brand. Pose a question like, “Which part of the country has the best summers?” Then, ask passersby to “vote” by taking a pen representing a geographic location. This little bit of conversation gives you the opportunity to start a conversation.

A man distributes promotional pens at and events as a trade show giveaway.

 

2. Make new employees feel welcome

Make a great first impression while helping new employees feel at home with a first day, welcome gift. A tasteful pen, left at an employees’ workstation with a signed welcome card, is a great way welcome new members to your team. Best of all, employees can put these handy promotional tools to work for first-day note-taking.

A man welcomes a new woman to the office with personalized pens.

 

3. Reward and recognize staff with unique pens

Show your team you are grateful for their hard work with frequent, small tokens of gratitude for a job well done. (Research shows when they’re recognized on a regular basis, 63% of staff members aren’t likely to look for another job.) Fun and unique pens are an inexpensive, yet much-appreciated, way of showing the love—plus they come in handy for just about anyone. Bonus—when employees earn unique promotional pens, it’s a clear reminder of the recognition they’ve earned.

A person sits at a desk writing on papers with unique pens

 

4. Show customer appreciation with promotional pens

Show customers they matter. Imprint promotional pens with a fun message thanking customers for their business. Declare a customer appreciation day or customer appreciation week. Distribute the pens with a sincere thank you message from your team and invite customers to use the pens while filling out prize drawing entries.

A man hands a woman a pen

 

5. Give pens to staff for note-taking during training

Want new and existing employees to maximize use of your company’s technology tools? Invite visits by promoting the intranet, project management site or training site on stylus pens distributed during employee training. Include these useful tools with training materials to inspire note-taking while encouraging on-going engagement long after the training is over. Best of all, you’ll build internal pride at the same time!

A woman stands in front of a group of people while performing a training.

Whether for events, staff gifts or employee training, pen giveaways are the perfect way to make a lasting mark.