Designing A Trade Show Display

Trade shows have been around for decades. Big ones, small ones, and even ones that hardly anyone has ever heard of, plus international, national and local shows can be found in almost every city for every reason. If you are planning on attending a trade show, you need to understand that your trade show display means everything. It helps determine your success or your failure. Are you going home with new customers? Or did you waste your entire advertising budget?

Your display doesn’t only include your literature, logo and backdrop. It also includes where you are located on the show floor, and how large your booth is. Most organizations that put together these trade shows will allow you to rent what you need and bring and set up what you own. The basics of any booth or display are a banquet sized table, a tablecloth that reaches the floor, and a sign with your company name on it. All these can be made for the show at a small price or rented.

Most large firms employ professionals who do nothing more than manage their annual trade show circuit. The larger the company, the more shows they usually attend. Their on staff managers will make certain that all display materials are shipped to the proper location, they arrange for set up and frequently go to do it themselves, and then they arrange for break down and shipping the display to the next location, or back to storage.

It is vital to secure what is considered prime floor space. Newcomers to a particular trade show find themselves at a disadvantage because the companies who come year after year usually are given the privilege of all prime space if they secure it early enough. Prime space is considered any booth that is located directly inside the front entrance or visible from the front entrance. This is why your trade show display must be top notch.

A typical booth is 10 x 10 feet or 10 x 5 feet depending on the location. It’s basically enough for one table, an overhead sign, your banner with company name, and maybe two chairs. If you have your own display set up, fine. Otherwise you can either rent what you need from the trade center, or in some cases, these items are provided as part of your show fee. Display booth rental fees depends on your location.

Most show space have their booths set as 10 x 10s and anything larger is rented in multiples of this. You can have two booths, three booths, etc., up to what is usually the max of 100 x 100 feet. It’s best just to rent the size that accommodates your display. You don’t want to much empty space unless there is a reason for it.

Most large firms stick with the 100 x 100 size – ten booths. They also aim for prime space on the floor. Most places have a limited number of what they consider to be these oversized display areas. A regional hotel might have none; a large international trade show center might have many, depending on who is registering for the show.

Your display will dictate your success.

Designing your display is extremely important for your trade shows. We offer design services and well balanced displays, ranging from roll up stand, banner stand, and of course, trade show displays. Check us out!