Why Custom Tic Tac Boxes and Branded Gum Outperform Custom-Wrapped Chocolates
- Florida Custom Merch
- Nov 24
- 5 min read
When businesses plan giveaways for trade shows, conferences, or corporate events, one of the most common go-to items is the classic chocolate with a custom wrapper. It’s familiar, it’s easy, and it feels like a “safe” option. But if you look at the actual impact of these giveaways—how long they last, how often the brand is seen, and what impression the user walks away with—the chocolate wrapper strategy falls short.
Here’s the truth: You unwrap it, you eat it, you toss it, and you forget it.
That tiny window of brand exposure disappears in seconds.
Smart marketers and high-performing exhibitors are shifting to longer-lasting, more practical edible giveaways—specifically custom Tic Tac boxes and branded packs of gum. These items not only stay with the recipient longer, but they also keep your brand top of mind in a positive, repeatable way.
Below, we dive into why custom mints and gum outperform chocolate wrappers—and how you can use them to elevate your brand presence at your next event.
1. Longer Lifespan = More Brand Impressions
Chocolate is a single-use item. Once it’s eaten, the brand exposure ends instantly.
Tic Tacs and gum, however, last significantly longer:
A branded Tic Tac box can stay in someone’s pocket, bag, desk drawer, or car for days or even weeks.
A pack of gum can deliver 10–15 brand impressions—one for every piece a person pulls out.
Think about how many times people reach for gum during the day. Each time they do, they see your logo. So does anyone standing nearby. This turns a simple giveaway into a micro billboard that travels with your customer.
In marketing terms: Longevity equals value. The longer the item stays in use, the more impressions your brand earns—and the more cost-effective the giveaway becomes.
2. Stronger Brand Association (Minty Freshness > Sugar Crash)
There’s a psychological component too. Custom-wrapped chocolates usually leave the same impression:
Sweet
Disposable
Gone immediately
But mints and gum deliver something far more memorable.
Every time a person pops a mint or a piece of gum, they get a fresh feeling—and your brand becomes associated with that.
It’s subtle, but it matters. The brain loves patterns and connections. If your logo is the one sitting on the minty-fresh container they use before a meeting, before a conversation, or during a long day at a trade show, you become part of a positive sensory experience.
This is why some of the biggest brands in hospitality, real estate, finance, automotive, and tech have moved toward functional edible giveaways instead of disposable treats.
Freshness = positivity Positivity = brand trust Brand trust leads to conversions.
3. Practical Items Don’t Get Thrown Away
Most people won’t toss out a perfectly good pack of Tic Tacs or gum. They will toss a chocolate wrapper without a second thought.
Trade show bags fill up fast, and attendees become more selective as the day goes on. Items that serve no ongoing purpose get left behind in hotel rooms or thrown out before the flight home.
But useful items? Those get kept.
A mint or gum pack is a utility item.
People keep it. They use it. They appreciate it.
This is why giveaways like:
Lip balm
Mints
Gum
Hand sanitizer
Notepads
…typically perform better than giveaways that disappear or get consumed instantly.
Your goal isn’t just to hand something out—it’s to stay in the prospect’s orbit long enough to matter. And custom mints do that incredibly well.
4. Pocket-Sized = Perfect for Trade Shows and Events
When attendees walk the show floor, they gravitate toward small, useful items that fit easily in:
Pockets
Backpacks
Lanyard pouch pockets
Laptop bags
Tote bags
Custom Tic Tac boxes and gum packs are the perfect size—lightweight, portable, and not bulky. Unlike chocolates, they don’t melt, don’t get messy, and won’t ruin someone’s bag or shirt pocket.
From a branding perspective, portability is everything. Your logo travels with your prospect through the rest of the event—sometimes even into business meetings later that same day.
5. More Space for Branding Than You Think
One of the biggest misconceptions is that a mint or gum pack doesn’t provide enough branding space. In reality, the custom label can be designed to include:
Your logo
A QR code
Website
Social handles
Special offers
Taglines
Event messaging
Contact info
The print area is surprisingly effective for delivering both visual branding and a call to action.
Plus, the clean, modern look of a mint container makes your brand appear fresh, simple, and thoughtful. It feels intentional—not rushed.
6. Great Conversation Starters
Believe it or not, mints and gum are powerful icebreakers at trade shows. Handing someone a chocolate feels like giving them a quick treat. But offering mints with your branding? That sparks conversation:
“Want a mint?”
“Here—these have our new logo.”
“Check out the QR code on the back.”
People often open the container right away, which gets your brand in their hands instantly. And because the product is useful, they’re more likely to pocket it and revisit your brand later.
7. Custom Tic Tacs and Gum Feel Premium Without Being Expensive
Custom-wrapped chocolates feel like a budget giveaway because everyone uses them. Mints and gum feel upgraded and intentional—but you don’t have to spend premium pricing to get that effect.
Many businesses are surprised to learn that:
Bulk pricing is extremely competitive
Custom labels allow short runs for small events
Packaging options range from simple to fully branded
You get all the benefits of a premium feel without blowing your branded merchandise budget.
Final Thoughts: Give People Something They’ll Actually Use
If you want your brand to stand out at an event, last longer than a few seconds, and deliver ongoing impressions, ditch the custom chocolate wrapper. Instead, choose an item that becomes part of someone’s daily routine.
A box of Tic Tacs or a pack of gum gives you:
A longer lifespan
More brand visibility
Positive association
Practical value
Higher retention
More return on your giveaway investment
It’s simple: Usefulness beats novelty. Longevity beats one-and-done. And minty freshness beats forgettable sugar.
If you want your custom-branded mints or gum designed, produced, and delivered for your next event, I can help you put the perfect package together.
With so many options available, choosing the right branded promotional item can be overwhelming. Since 2016, we, at Florida Custom Merch, have helped numerous businesses achieve success through the use of custom branded promotional merchandise. Hiring an expert can help you select the perfect item, save time and money, and, most importantly, maximize your results.
Thank you for reading! We hope you found this article helpful!
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