Welcome Bag Program

A proven successful marketing program available to all exhibitors!

Here is your chance to take advantage of this terrific marketing program by participating in the Welcome Bag Program. Let the early rising buyers know that you appreciate the fact that they arrived at the convention center extra early and stood in line to receive one of the most sought-after items at the trade show – The Welcome Bag!

On both Saturday and Sunday, 150 buyers will receive an AETA tote bag full of useful and attractive items donated by the exhibitors. On Monday, 100 buyers will receive bags. That’s a total of 400 value-packed bags during the three-day show!

Raise Your Visibility at the Trade Show

All exhibitors are eligible to participate!

• The initial donation must have a minimum wholesale value of $50. This donation can be 50 or more small-valued items (example: key chains, pens, mugs, hand-wipes, candy, etc) or several larger-valued items such as saddle pads, helmets, or apparel, as long as the total value is at least $50 wholesale. Use your imagination to help us drive traffic to your exhibit!
• Once you have met the minimum donation, a promotional offer for your company may be included. Examples include: printed discount certificates or promotional flyers with a maximum size of 8.5” x 11”.

What does AETA Need?

• Small-value items to fill 400 bags in multiples of 50 or more if possible. We encourage you to attach a business card to each item if the item is not imprinted with your company name or logo.
• AETA encourages donations including at least one larger-value item so that each promotional bag will include one. Larger items will be attached to bags with zip ties or string. Anything breakable, you can create a voucher that will direct the buyer to your booth for redemption.

How will AETA Acknowledge You?

Your participation will be promoted on the AETA website, in the AETA newsletter, and on special logo signage at the show entrance and in pre- and post-show publicity.

Contribution Deadline

Submit your Contribution Form to the AETA office by August 5, 2013. Click here for a PDF of the form.

Donated Items shipped to the AETA office must arrive by August 5, 2013. Donations not shipped must be delivered to our team of volunteers at the greater Philadelphia Expo Center by 9 a.m. Friday, August 16, 2013. If you anticipate difficulty meeting the deadline or getting your items to the AETA office, please contact the AETA office in advance of the deadline: 717-724-0204.

Welcome Bags FAQs

Q: How do I meet the minimum donation?

A: The minimum donation is $50 wholesale value – how you meet that donation is up to you. You can donate any combination of items to make up this $50, from one $50 item to two $25 items or 50 $1 items. AETA would appreciate a spread of items so we can try to include at least one larger-value item in all the bags as well as a robust selection of smaller donations. Ultimately, however, the exhibitor decides how to structure his or her donation to get the best results from the program for his or her company.

Q: When and where do I drop off my donations?

A: Items shipped to the AETA office should arrive by August 5, 2013. Donated items delivered to the team at the Great Philadelphia Expo Center need to arrive by 9 a.m. Friday, August 16, 2013. Please contact Jen at the AETA office with any questions: 717-724-0204.

Q: How do you handle large items that will not fit in the tote bags?

A: Large items are encouraged. The Welcome Bag team has gotten incredibly creative with zip tying larger items to the bags. It creates excitement within the line of retailers when a larger item is hanging out of a bag and retailers vie for that bag.

Q: I meet the minimum donation and also want to put promotional flyers in the 400 bags. Do you create those?

A: No, it is the responsibility of the company to create and deliver their own promotional literature. To track the effectiveness, include a code on the promotional piece that in the future can be traced back to the show.

Q: Who gets the bags at the trade show?

A: We have set up an honor system where all buyers receive a bag but with posters and signage, we ask that husbands, children under 18 and guests abstain from receiving a bag.

Q: Do you have any tips on promotions that have worked in the past?

A: The success of any promotion depends on the appeal to the buyer. Be creative! In the past, exhibitors have provided such things as one of a pair of gloves or socks with an attached note directing the buyer to the exhibitor’s booth to obtain the second item of the pair. Another popular promotion was an offer to match AETA Bucks with a discount.

Q: Can I provide specific flyers or giveaways for each day?

A: Unfortunately, we cannot segregate the offers in the bags based on the day they will be handed out. However, it would be possible to do different offers by printing a flyer that explains the specific offers for each day. For example, if an exhibitor wanted to give away a specific item each morning to the first person to ask for the offer at the booth, they could print up a flyer showing all the offers and include it in all 400 bags.

Questions? Please contact Jen Cramer at events@aeta.us.