If you're hoping to promote your business at local vendor fair, craft sale, business expo or similar event, you need promotional materials that stands out from the crowd. Promotional products can also be handed out at business fairs or even used as business cards when you meet people who could become potential clients.

The most common promotional tools are things like pens and t-shirts. However, with more creativity, your products could be useful, memorable, and create more exposure than a simple pen. Here are some unique business promotion ideas to consider.

1. Auto Accessories

How many people drive? Most Americans own or frequently use a vehicle like a taxi or rental. If you hand out things can be used to make a drive more enjoyable, you'll stand out. For example, you should have your company logo printed on air fresheners for the car. Whenever your customer drives, they will see your logo and remember it, and whenever they drive another person, that person will also see and remember.

Scent is one of the most effective triggers for memory, so even getting into the car and smelling the scent can cause a person to think back to when they met you or heard about your business in the first place. 

Another cool car gadget could be a USB charging adapter for the cigarette lighter. Always useful, these can become fixtures in any car, and someone will see your logo printed on it on a daily basis. 

2. New or Cool Technology

Some things are simply useful, and many young people find that tech gadgets are among the most useful (read: least likely to be thrown in the trash). However, basic tech promo items like USB drives are overdone and becoming outdated. Instead, why not pass out a few rechargeable battery packs for cell phones with your logo printed on them. These are small enough to hold in your hand, but they can charge your phone if you're out on the go, and they're useful enough that many a millennial will keep one in their purse or backpack. 

Other cool tech ideas include:

• Wireless earbuds with bluetooth connection. The days of wired headphones are on the way out, and you can easily brand a pair of earphones. These won't be thrown away, but instead will become a regular fixture in the pocket or gym bag.
• Remote camera shutters for taking arm-free selfies. Selfie sticks are cumbersome, but a small shutter you can put on your keys is almost invisible. In the age of sharing, this is a cool and useful promo item. 
• Bluetooth trackers. These trackers can help you find lost items using a bluetooth connection. Never lose your keys again! Your customers will be grateful every time they use it. 

Based on your audience, cool or useful technology gadgets can make your company stand out, especially if you're competing against others who are also trying to recruit customers in the same age group.  

3. Outerwear

Move beyond basic t-shirts (these just end up at the gym or in the bottom of the drawer), and give out some items that can be used every day. For example, if you live in a cold climate, you might give out gloves (touch screen enabled) with an embroidered logo. You could also hand out some simple umbrellas. These are items that people use, but they don;t think about, so when they get one from you, they keep the item thinking about how they could actually use it. Then when the rain is pouring and the only umbrella in the house is the one with your company name, you get some instant advertising. Be sure to keep these items in line with your climate and brand.