You’ve booked your next trade show and it is only months away. You're all set for the show except for your booth. The previous one that has been used didn't properly showcase the products or services you're trying to sell, or it was too difficult to set up and too expensive to ship. You are now faced with having to build a new display and aren't quite sure where to start.
A great exhibit starts with great initial planning. If you want your next exhibit-building experience to be a success, start by nailing down the answers to the following six questions. Once you have an idea of how you would answer these questions, sit down with an exhibit house that can help you build the display that is perfect for your company.
1. What is your goal for the show?
Your exhibit supplier should know what your top exhibiting goals are. Are you trying to sell product on the floor, identify new prospects, promote a new product or service or are you trying to make sure your brand gains more exposure in your market place? Your goals should permeate every aspect of your exhibit, from the booth size, type of display, layout, in-booth activities and graphic design. A clear goal is the number one step you need to decide when initially planning a new display!
2. What size of booth space do you intend to book in the future?
This is crucial information. A booth designed for a 20′ x 20′ space can be difficult to downsize for a future 10′ x 10′ space if it's not planned for this downsize. Knowing what kind of space the display has to fill is the starting point for any booth design. If you're starting with a 10' x 10' booth space, choose the right system and it will be easier to expand upon in the future. Any future exhibiting plans or significant change in booth size should be discussed in the initial planning.
3. When is your next event?
Turnaround times vary. A portable display like a Pop Up or Banner Stand, can be printed and installed in five to seven days. Whereas a 20′ x 20′ Octanorm display can take about six weeks to complete from initial design to final build. Custom built displays can take 3 to 6 moths to build from conceptual design to completion. For this reason, it’s a good idea to talk about this turnaround time, to let those who are creating the booth know exactly how much time is available to design and build your new exhibit.
4. How many times will you exhibit each year?
If you only exhibit once a year, a rental display might be the right option for you. If you have a different event to attend every three weeks, you want to make sure your display is portable, shippable, and can be set up / taken down easily.
By their very nature, trade show displays are prone to a lot of wear and tear. Knowing how much your display will have to face will help ensure the right materials are chosen for the job.
5. How long do you expect your setup to take?
Some of our customers are happy to spend a half hour setting up their portable or modular 10′ x 10′ display. Others think spending 15 minutes on the setup is too much and prefer to use banner stands. What are your expectations? How many people will help you with setup? Do they have exhibit setup experience? Or, do you want to skip the manual labour and pay for install & dismantle services? Your expectations really drive the kind of display system that will work best for you.
6. Do you have a budget in mind?
A simple, non-retractable banner stand can be a few hundred dollars where as a custom 20′ x 20′ modular display can run into tens of thousands. Budget drives the size of the booth, the type of display options available, the materials used and the amount of customization available. If you’re reluctant to provide an exact number, or you’re not really sure, at least have a ballpark number available. You may be picturing a custom look with a small budget. There are options available such as renting or leasing but talking about the budget initially will save you time and money.
Building a trade show booth can take quite some time and be overwhelming if you're not sure where to start. Download the Ultimate Exhibitors Guide for even more information on what you need for your next trade show experience!
