For about 3 years now, my event planning business has been using personalized pencils as a marketing tool.  Many of our jobs are non-repeat business, so it is important to establish an audience for new business.  When we stage our events we include our personalized pens and pencils in areas where people will congregate.  This will increase the chance that people will pick up and take home our pencils.  We even include a discount code on our pencils so we can track how successful the placement is.  We have found certain areas and in certain events create more business than others.  Personalized pencils are a great way to generate new business through existing business.