When people think of using promotional products as a part of their advertising strategy, they usually do not think of handing them out to children as part of the campaign unless the promotional products – and usually the company itself – are aimed at drawing the children in and the parents behind them. By passing up the children, however, most companies are missing a great opportunity to spread the exposure to their company through the use of a child’s natural curiosity and their fascination with gifts.



Children have vivid imaginations, and they can put them to use finding a great use for just about any kind of promotional product, though some should be kept back from the kids for safety reasons. While you are keeping the parents amused with sales pitches, quotes, or other business, keep the kids happy, too, by providing them something to play with. You don’t have to get expensive for this – a paper and a pen are ideal for keeping most kids from around age four and up active.

Even better than a paper and pen is a pad of promotional printed sticky notes to color on, draw on, or play with. If you have time and the inclination, show them how to make a flip book out of your promotional sticky note pad or just let them go wild and draw away to their hearts’ content. Most children will be able to amuse themselves with your promotional sticky notes, and the occasional child might ask for a second booklet!

So how does letting a child waste your promotional products actually help you promote your business? When the parents are done and they are ready to leave, one of two things will happen. Either they will stick the printed sticky notes in their pocket or purse to better herd their child, or they will allow the child to hold onto the promotional sticky notes themselves as they leave. Children cling to their artwork – at least for a little while – and will not want to leave your promotional sticky notes behind! This means that your notes will end up in the home of the client.

From this place in their home, the promotional sticky notes will likely continue to provide a source of amusement for the child, ending with the exposure of the parents to the notes and possibly to keeping one or two masterpiece drawings around the house, too. If the parent placed the notes in their own possession, they might all be given back or the unused portion of the pad might be kept for notes and messages, just the way you would want it.

Another great way to get those printed sticky notes walking out the door is to match the one that the child is already carrying. Offer an additional pad of promotional sticky notes to the parents “just in case", and they will most likely end up keeping the second pad to use themselves when their children do not require the second pad to remain entertained (or when they become bored with drawing).