Choosing a trade show exhibit which suits your company
If you hear the phrase “trade show exhibit” you probably imagine a 10 x 10 foot area with a traditional 3 panel display board. However, table top displays, trade show exhibits, pop up displays etc now come in a large choice of shapes and sizes, and made of a number of materials. Learning a little bit about each style of trade show exhibit will help you to choose the right one for your next trade show.
Using a Small And Versatile Trade Show Exhibit
Table top displays are the smallest trade show exhibit. They can be used in a variety of ways. A table top display stands on a table and has graphic panels attached with Velcro, magnets, or fasteners. They pack away small, they are easy to set up, and the graphic panels are easy to change. You can update the graphics as often as you like, which makes this a good choice for a small, growing business as it won’t go out of date quickly (or if it does you can fix it cheaply!).
An addition to the table top display is a custom printed Table Covers. Trade Show Exhibitors can add their logo or slogan to their table. Anyone can set up the table cover and they are easy to transport to the trade show, set up, and then pack it away nice and small. Buying a custom printed table cover is surprisingly inexpensive and can be purchased on the internet or from your local signs or graphics company.
Many people are looking for a lightweight and portable trade show exhibit which is simple to install and takes up little storage area back at your office. They usually comprise of one panel and frame, they might be a banner stand or pop up display. Portable trade show displays can be used on their own, individually, but they also make a bigger impact in a series.
A Quality, Flexible Trade Show Exhibit
Hybrid, modular trade show exhibits can also be lightweight but are much more complex than portable trade show displays. They generally have more parts, and although they are improving all the time, still take a bit of skill to put together. (Imagine putting together IKEA furniture – simple when you know how, but takes a bit of getting used to) Instead of a one dimensional banner stand, they create a 3-D exhibit, and you can connect company literature, lighting, sound, computing equipment and LCD displays to the hybrid modular exhibit stand to create a very cool effect. While still pretty easy to transport, the increasing difficulty and complexity will probably require training for your staff or you could hire a professional trade show installer to set up the trade show exhibit. The cost is obviously more expensive than table top displays, but less expensive than a custom exhibit.
The panel and frame systems are highly popular, and have been for a long time. When you attend a trade show, or some other kind of expo you are commonly offered a 10 x 10 foot area. Usually, trade show exhibitors will fill the rear of this area with a 3 or 4 panel display with a frame. They’re often called in line displays, or back wall displays. It’s quite a good idea to hire a professional exhibition services company to sett up these trade show stands. Storage and transporting of the trade show display could also be managed by a professional exhibition services company. Note: If you decide to save money by putting the stall together yourself remember to wear jeans and a t-shirt or a coverall when setting up – from experience it is a horrible feeling to be a sweaty, dusty mess in a suit and tie!
A Custom trade show exhibit is the most elaborate option available. The word “Custom” really says it all; they can be made from any variety of materials to create a unique spaces in a trade show exhibit. Exhibitors who run large, island booths are most likely to create a custom exhibit. Storage, setup and transportation are generally all handled by professionals.
Choosing The Right Trade Show Exhibit
While there are many options available, choosing which one isn’t as complicated as it might seem. Some factors are dictated for you by the Trade Show organisers itself. For example, the exhibition space you are allotted. Some exhibitions limit exhibitors to table top displays, where others will give you a 10 x 20 foot area. It doesn’t look great for your stall space to look empty, so having a few pop-up displays or something flexible which you can alter to accommodate your stall area is a good idea. Likewise, don’t try and cram everything you have from the trade show display storage unit into your trade show exhibit.
Note: Trade Show Visitors enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. You want them to feel they can browse and chat to you or your staff, so put A FEW brochures out, not piles of 50! Clutter and “too much” causes agitation. Having organised literature stands can help with this.
Cost is also something to consider. If you choose a large and elaborate exhibit, the higher the cost will be. Some of the smaller, portable trade show displays can be used for events other than trade shows, although a custom trade show exhibit or panel and frame systems are generally sturdier and will last longer. These long term costs and benefits should be factored into the purchase decision.
Note: Quite often it is the packing up after the trade show, and transportation of the display to and from events which causes damage. It’s really worth assigning a fresh staff team/person to perform these tasks or think about hiring the professional exhibition services to help. Being tired and eager to get home at the end of a trade show can result in losing parts of your display or not packing them away carefully enough, and damage ensuing on the journey home.
Many companies often end up buying a few kinds of trade show display to suit different occasions. A big recommendation is to plan ahead, note the various sizes of stall you plan on using, and think about how you can be flexible with your trade show display. Plan for different circumstances, set up your stall ahead of time, and make check lists of things you need to bring along (and take home!)
Understanding the available options for a trade show display will go a long way to investing wisely, whether it is a small table top display or a multi-purpose custom trade show exhibit.
Read more articles about trade show displays
Twitter