How Many Custom Cookies Should You Order for a Trade Show?
Our Event planning tips to attract attention, spark conversation, and maximize your investment
If this is your first trade show, you’re likely asking one of the most common (and important) questions:
“How many custom cookies should I order?”
It’s a smart question—because order too few, and you miss opportunities. Order too many, and you risk waste.
Start With This Simple Rule
For first-time booth buyers, I recommend planning for: 60–80% of expected booth traffic. Not total event attendance—your booth traffic.
Why? Not every attendee will stop. But when you use custom cookies strategically, you can dramatically increase that percentage.
Quick Quantity Guidelines
Here’s a practical starting point based on event size:
Small booth (100–300 visitors expected)
→ Order 75–200 cookiesMid-size booth (300–800 visitors expected)
→ Order 200–500 cookiesLarge booth (1,000+ visitors expected)
→ Order 500–1,000+ cookies
If you’re unsure of traffic, ask event organizers:
Past attendance numbers
Average booth engagement rates
Foot traffic flow (prime vs. low-traffic location)
Pro Tip: It’s Not About Giving One to Everyone
This is where most first-time exhibitors get it wrong.
Custom cookies are not meant to be a “grab-and-go snack.”
They’re a conversation starter.
Instead of placing a pile of cookies on the table, use them intentionally:
Offer cookies after a conversation starts
Use them as a thank-you for engagement
Tie them to a demo, scan, or interaction
The goal isn’t distribution—it’s connection.
How to Display Cookies to Stop Traffic? Your display matters just as much as your quantity.
1. Elevate, Don’t Hide
Place cookies at eye level—not flat on a table.
Use risers, trays, or branded stands so they’re instantly visible.
2. Make the Branding Clear
Your logo should be seen from a distance.
This is what stops people mid-walk.
3. Keep It Clean + Intentional
Avoid clutter. A simple, polished display feels premium and draws attention.
4. Pair With a Simple Invitation
Train your team with an easy opener:
“Would you like a custom cookie?”
It’s approachable, disarming, and highly effective.
How to Stretch Your Order (Without Losing Impact)
If budget is a concern, you don’t need thousands of cookies to make an impact.
Dessert-size cookies for sampling
Alternating designs (logo + message)
Timed distribution (don’t put everything out at once)
VIP-only cookies for high-value conversations
The Bigger Picture: Why This Works
At a trade show, you’re competing for attention.
Custom logo cookies do three things instantly:
Stop traffic
Start conversations
Create a memorable experience
And that’s where the real return comes from.
Final Thought
If you’re a first-time exhibitor, don’t overthink it—but don’t under-plan it either.
Start with a realistic quantity.
Display with intention.
Use cookies as a tool—not just a treat.
Because the right cookie, at the right moment, can turn a passerby into a conversation… and a conversation into a client.
If you’re planning your first trade show and want help determining the right quantity or strategy, we are always happy to guide you.
Sweetly,
Annette & Team - Edible Impressions