Trading Item Questions!

[Kailey1023bx]

What are the most popular trading items? And Whats the best website?

[BrendanB]

Buttons are the most popular, although teams will do different things. We do bouncy balls AKA: Mini Mayhem Makers (they really do and we have gotten yelled at!) Some teams will find other cool handouts: keychains, pens, mini tools, rubber bracelets, light up pins, bead necklaces, you name it and it will be at a competition. Don't know where to get some of these items.

Good luck!

[Vermeulen]

Yeah, buttons are usually the most popular giveaway, but some teams give out different things, like last year when my team gave out vials of simulated moon dust.

[viper110110]

custom engraved jaguars

just kidding, buttons are usually popular

I would personally like to do tshirts though

[hyperdude]

We hand out notepads. Lots and lots of notepads.
Each year the prevailing reaction is "Finally, something I can use!"

But yeah, most teams hand out buttons or little toys of some type. I've also seen cards detailing robot specs, packets of Band-Aids, you name it.

[Tetraman]

174 is famous for it's laser-cut FIRST logo keychains. Back when I was with 174, we would make about 300, and they'd disappear after the first hour of competition.

I think it's great when I go to FIRST events and see team member after team member wearing them, sometimes on their ears like earrings. I had to put many of them together, so it's good to know everyone loves them.

[James Tonthat]

I remember the frisbees you guys gave last year. Those were great, we caused some havoc in the pits over those things.

[Phoenix Spud]

I would say, find something unique about your team and make a give-a-way based on that. Given your team name, what about little mini trains?

[Cynette]

The real challenge is finding something fun to give out that doesn't cost a lot for each item. That's why buttons are so popular, they are relatively expensive to buy or produce. Things that your team can make themselves are wonderful (such as custom keychains ). We usually try to find something unique to give out on a very limited basis in addition to the buttons. Sometimes we give something that is one per team or only to rookie team members. The past few years Team 1511 has done sever different designs of buttons in a "collect them all" fashion!

Look on-line for trade show give-aways for some good ideas!