Custom Tote Bags and Trade Show Swag: A Buyer's Guide for Businesses

TL;DR:
Custom tote bags and trade show swag cover two different jobs: totes are what you hand out or carry yourself, and table throws are what dresses up your booth. The Port Authority Improved All Purpose Tote is the most affordable giveaway option, the Port Authority Ladies Laptop Tote and Liberty Bags XL Shopping Tote cover conference and everyday use, and the Carhartt Utility Tote is the durable pick for field or trade crews. For something more premium, the Brooks Brothers Laptop Tote works well for client gifts. For the booth itself, the 6' Economy Custom Logo Table Runner is a full-color printed table throw that puts your branding front and center.

A Booth Needs Two Different Things From Your Budget

A trade show booth needs two different things from your branding budget: something to hand people as they walk by, and something that makes the booth itself look intentional. Totes solve the first problem, since they're useful enough that people actually keep them, and a table throw solves the second, because a bare folding table under fluorescent lights doesn't do your brand any favors.

Here's what to consider for both, based on what's actually in our totes and trade show collections.

Choosing a Custom Tote Bag

1. Best Budget Giveaway: Port Authority Improved All Purpose Tote (B5000)

$24.98. The most affordable tote in the lineup, a simple canvas-style bag that works well for conference giveaways or bulk orders where cost per unit matters most.

2. Best for Laptops and Conferences: Port Authority Ladies Laptop Tote (BG401)

$38.98. Built with a padded laptop compartment, a practical pick for conference attendees or staff who need to carry a device along with everything else.

3. Best Large Capacity: Liberty Bags XL 2-Tone Shopping Tote (8872)

$39.98. An oversized tote with a two-tone color option, useful when the giveaway needs to hold more than a brochure and a water bottle.

4. Best for Durability: Carhartt Utility Tote (CT89121325)

$74.98. Built on Carhartt's workwear fabric, a sturdier option for field teams, trade crews, or anyone who needs the tote to hold up beyond a single event.

5. Best Premium Gift: Brooks Brothers Laptop Tote (BB18840)

$172.98. The top-tier option in the collection, suited for executive gifts, client appreciation, or anywhere the bag itself needs to make an impression.

Dressing Up the Booth

6' Economy Custom Logo Table Runner

$229.98. A full-color, thermal-imprinted table throw that covers a standard 6-foot table and puts your logo at eye level for anyone walking the floor. Unlike the totes, this is a printed item rather than embroidered, which is why it can carry a full-color design instead of a single-color stitched logo.

What Else to Bring to a Trade Show

A table throw and a stack of totes cover the booth and the giveaway table, but booth staff still need something to wear. Our short sleeve polo and quarter-zip picks both work well here, embroidered polos read professional on the show floor, and a quarter-zip adds a layer if the venue runs cold. If you need something heavier-duty for loading in and out, the Carhartt Tool Bag ($88.98) from the same tote collection doubles as practical gear rather than a giveaway.

Quick Comparison

Final Thoughts

Totes and table throws solve different problems, so budget for both separately. Start with the Port Authority All Purpose Tote if you're ordering in bulk, upgrade to the Carhartt or Brooks Brothers option for smaller, higher-value gifts, and add the table runner once to cover the booth itself.

Ready to Order?

Browse the full totes collection and trade show collection to see current options. Every order includes free logo setup, and most embroidered items include free embroidery on your first logo.