Trade shows, festivals, grand openings, markets, and community events happen all year long in Ocala and Marion County. If you are showing up to one of them, you want people to remember you after they walk away from your booth.
That is where promotional items come in. The right branded item stays with someone for months, sometimes years. The wrong one ends up in a hotel trash can before the event is even over.
We put together this list based on what actually works for local businesses in the Ocala area. These are the items people keep, use, and notice.
The Top 10 Promotional Items for Ocala Area Events
1. Custom Pens
Pens disappear from desks, purses, and pockets constantly. A quality branded pen with your logo, phone number, and website is one of the simplest ways to keep your name in circulation long after an event ends.
Best for: Contractors, real estate agents, insurance agencies, medical offices, and any business that hands a customer a form to sign.
One tip: Spend a little more on a pen that actually writes well. People hold onto the ones they like and toss the scratchy ones immediately.
2. Koozies
This is Florida. A koozie is not a novelty here, it is a necessity. Custom koozies are affordable, easy to hand out in quantity, and they show up at cookouts, tailgates, and weekend events for years after you give them away.
Best for: Restaurants, food and beverage brands, landscapers, construction companies, and any business with a following that spends time outdoors.
One tip: Bold logo, high-contrast colors. It needs to be readable when someone is holding a cold can in the sun.
3. Branded Tote Bags
People reuse tote bags for groceries, the farmers market, the beach, and the gym. Every time they do, your brand goes along for the ride.
Best for: Boutiques, salons, wellness businesses, nonprofits, and event organizers.
One tip: Screen printing or sublimation on a canvas tote looks clean and professional. Add your website URL below the logo so people know where to find you.
4. Custom Mugs and Tumblers
A branded mug or tumbler gets used every single morning. That kind of daily visibility is hard to replicate with most other marketing. Sublimated mugs with a full wrap design hold up through repeated washing and look far better than a basic logo slapped on a white mug.
Best for: Office-facing businesses, real estate teams, healthcare providers, and anyone doing corporate gifting.
One tip: Full-wrap sublimation lets you use your actual brand colors across the whole surface. It looks like a product you would buy in a store, not a freebie.
5. Custom Lanyards
At trade shows, conferences, and school events, lanyards go on and stay on. Everyone wearing one with your brand on it becomes a walking ad for the duration of the event.
Best for: Schools, event organizers, healthcare facilities, and businesses that sponsor or host events regularly.
One tip: Add a badge holder or a useful clip attachment and people are much more likely to hold onto the lanyard after the event is over.
6. Branded Phone Wallets
Phone wallets have quietly become one of the most-kept promo items out there. People stick them on the back of their phones and use them every single day to hold cards and cash. Your logo is literally in their hand constantly.
Best for: Retail businesses, restaurants, real estate agents, and brands targeting younger buyers.
One tip: Keep the design clean and simple. A small logo on a quality phone wallet feels like a premium item even when the cost per unit is low.
7. Custom Lip Balm
Cheap to produce, practical, and gets used right away. At outdoor Florida events especially, lip balm with SPF feels like a genuine gift rather than a throwaway freebie.
Best for: Health and wellness brands, salons, spas, outdoor events, schools, and family-focused businesses.
One tip: Custom label with your logo and tagline. SPF lip balm is a small upgrade that people notice.
8. Branded Notepads
A notepad sits on someone’s desk for weeks or months. Every page they use is another impression. These work particularly well for B2B businesses that are trying to stay in front of other business owners or decision makers.
Best for: Accountants, attorneys, contractors, real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and B2B service providers.
One tip: Put your logo and contact information at the top or bottom of every page. Every sheet that gets torn off and used still carries your brand.
9. Custom Water Bottles
Reusable water bottles get used at the gym, at work, and on job sites. In Florida, staying hydrated is not optional, so a quality branded bottle is something people genuinely appreciate.
Best for: Gyms, wellness brands, outdoor businesses, schools, and corporate event sponsors.
One tip: A clean screen-printed or laser-engraved logo on a stainless steel bottle signals quality. It will outlast a cheap plastic bottle by years.
10. Custom Stickers and Decals
Do not sleep on stickers. They are one of the lowest-cost items you can produce and they end up on laptops, water bottles, coolers, and bumpers. Die-cut vinyl decals in the shape of your logo look sharp and hold up outdoors without peeling or fading.
Best for: Schools, youth sports teams, local events, food trucks, and any brand with a strong visual identity.
One tip: Skip the basic rectangle. A die-cut sticker shaped like your logo looks intentional and gets placed in visible spots far more often than a plain label.
How to Pick the Right Item for Your Event
Three questions worth asking before you place an order:
Who is walking up to your booth? A contractor at a home show and a mom at a school fundraiser are going to respond to completely different items. Match the product to the person.
Will they actually use it? Useful items get kept. Gimmicks get tossed in the parking lot. Every time you are considering a new item, ask yourself if you would personally keep it.
Does it reflect your brand well? A poorly made item with a blurry print can actually leave a worse impression than handing out nothing at all. Quality matters more than quantity.
Order Your Promotional Items Right Here in Belleview, FL
Crafty Cristy is a local print and embroidery shop serving Ocala, Belleview, and Marion County. We help businesses, schools, teams, and organizations get branded promotional items that look good, arrive on time, and do not break the budget.
Whether you need 50 koozies for a grand opening or 500 tote bags for a trade show, we handle the production from start to finish. You can see examples of past orders in our work gallery.
Here is how to reach us:
- Call or text: (352) 615-6888
- Email: sales@craftycristy.com
- Visit us: 11435 SE 80th CT, Belleview, FL 34420
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum order quantity for promotional items?
Minimums vary by product. Give us a call at (352) 615-6888 or shoot us an email and we will walk you through what works for your budget and quantity.
How far out should I order before my event?
The earlier the better, especially if you have a hard event date. Reach out as soon as you know what you need and we will give you an honest turnaround estimate.
Can you help with the artwork?
Yes. If you have a logo file ready, send it over. If you need help with artwork, let us know and we can talk through your options.
Do you serve businesses outside of Belleview?
We work with businesses all across Ocala and Marion County. Reach out no matter where you are located and we will figure out the best way to get your order to you.
What file format works best for my logo?
Vector files like AI, EPS, or PDF are ideal. If you only have a PNG or JPG, send it anyway and we will let you know if the resolution works for your chosen product.