Autumn is upon us. That means tradeshow season—and all the work that entails—can’t be far behind.

Every year, preparing for upcoming events raises a number of questions and concerns. Some of these are new and unique to the current season, but most are recurring issues or themes that are critical to effective planning but are also easy to forget. Learning from the past can help you prepare for the future, but it’s hard to remember all those details when you’re busy with all your other important projects.

As you well know, there are lots of factors you need to think about ahead of any new trade show season. You want to be as prepared as possible to avoid the normal chaos that surrounds every event. Effective planning means not having to scramble at the last minute to get materials produced, or resort to expensive expedited shipping methods to get those materials to your booth on time.

Over the past several weeks, to help customers navigate the evolving tariff landscape (and avoid the related costs), we’ve produced a series of blogs covering various branded promotional items made in the U.S.A.  

The first chapter in this story covered promotional giveaways under $5. The second offered insights into branded items priced between $5 and $10, while the third covered items priced between $20 and $50—nice corporate gifts typically given to customers, partners or employees. The most recent entry focused on higher-end executive gifts priced $50 and up—the types of items that celebrate a specific accomplishment or milestone.

The tariff situation remains up in the air. Once day they’re on; the next day they’re off. Deals are struck; deals are abandoned. Rates are up; rates are down.

As the U.S. threat to impose oppressive tariffs continues, businesses are uncertain about how to proceed with their summer plans. For those in the market for branded promotional giveaways, it’s not clear what the economic impact will be from one day to the next on products purchased or sourced overseas.

This series shows there are ways around this situation or strategies for avoiding it altogether: purchasing promotional items made in the U.S.A. This entry is the third in this series, offering suggestions on branded merchandise we’ve found are either produced entirely in the U.S. or made using pieces produced overseas but assembled domestically (qualifying them to still be labeled “Made in the U.S.A.”).

The current state of tariffs is still in flux. One week they’re on; the next week they’re off, reduced, or delayed. At any given moment, it’s not clear what the economic impact will be on promotional items purchased overseas.

One way around this situation—or at least a way to avoid it altogether—is to purchase promotional items made in the U.S.A. This blog is the second in a series offering suggestions on some branded merchandise either assembled or produced entirely in the U.S. (remember, a product labeled “Made in the U.S.A.” may be composed of pieces produced overseas but assembled domestically).