Archive for category Trade Show Booths

Booth Display Ideas for a New Trade Show Exhibitor

Posted by on Sunday, 16 May, 2010

If you have not participated in a trade show exhibition before, it can be a little daunting setting up your booth display so that you get maximum returns for the money invested into the exhibition. There is something to be said for having had prior experience with trade shows, as there are some tips and tricks that can help things to go more smoothly, which are not always that obvious to a casual observer. Following are some important details that will help your exhibition to be more successful.

Plan Well in Advance

You can never to be too prepared for a trade show. Preparation does not start one or two days, or even one or two weeks before the show either, if you want to be sufficiently prepared you should start planning months in advance. Research is important. If you think you would like to attend a specific trade show it is very helpful to attend a similar trade show as an attendee only, as you can learn a lot from looking at what other exhibitors are doing. You can also check out the demographics of who is attending so that you can plan your exhibits and your booth display with that section of the population in mind. If the show is open to the public for certain days, check out what section of society attends. Look at where the most popular booths are located.

When it comes to the actual trade show, one of the earliest things you should do is book your booth location. The earlier you are able to do this, the better location you will most likely be allocated. It is an investment to attend a trade fair, but do not over-extend yourself, or your budget. If it is your first trade show, start relatively small; do not invest more into the show than you can comfortably afford to lose without any returns. While everybody always hopes for some returns from attending a trade show, it does not always happen the first time. Go for a smaller sized booth in a good location.

Setting Up Your Trade Show Booth Displays

It is a great idea if you can plan the basic layout of your booth before you go to set it up. Decide how much table space you will need, what shelving is needed, whether you will have any audio-visual presentations and if so, where they will be located. You should also decide in advance where your posters and display stands would be placed. The more you can map these things out in advance, the easier it will be for you on the set-up days prior to the exhibition opening.

Decide on your color scheme for your booth and booth displays. Either have it revolve around the basic colors used in your logo and branding, or coordinate it around your products. Try to have a consistent color theme throughout all of your display stands, posters, table-covers and any other items on display. You should stick to using two or three main colors only, as too many colors can tend to look garish rather than professional.

You will also need to decide on whether you will have a table at the front of the booth, or if you will design your booth to be more open. If you are starting out with a smaller booth, you will want to provide easy access into and out of your booth. If you must have a table at the front of the booth, have it flush against one of the booth walls, as that will hopefully avoid a lot of traffic walking directly behind you. Try using round tables with chairs scattered around them, rather than a long table.

Rather than buying all the items needed for your display booths, you could consider either renting your trade show display booth or the shelving and tables you will use. You can often rent pop up display booths or portable display booths fairly cheaply, oftentimes from the people who are organizing the exhibition. A pop up display booth is very easy to set up, which is a real plus if you do not have a lot of time available for the actual set up. Renting trade show display booths is a good option if you are not sure how often you will be attending and exhibiting at a trade fair.

It is also possible to purchased used display booths that have all the items needed for relatively good prices. However, the downside of this is that sometimes they are not in very good condition. Before buying a used booth make sure to examine it carefully first. You may end up paying more for buying the used booth and making the needed repairs and redecorating than you would if you bought a brand new one.

Careful planning in advance should ensure that your first exhibition is not only a success, but an enjoyable experience as well.


Pros and Cons of Buying Used Display Booths

Posted by on Saturday, 1 May, 2010

Buying used display booths for your trade show can be quite costly. Of course, the costs do vary quite a lot depending on what size you need and how fancy it is, what brand name it is, and what material it is made from. Generally speaking, however, booth items of any kind that are good quality are also quite costly, which is why many companies that are a bit short on money opt to buy used booths for the trade show fair.

Used trade show items of any kind can be a bit tricky to buy. It is impossible to say across the board if they are a good buy or bad buy, as there are a good number of different kinds and in different conditions too. What can be said for certain is that many people who go to your booth or even walk past it will be forming their impression of your company or business by looking at your booth. If your booth looks shoddy or it looks obvious that the booths“title=”" >display booth is old and used, it will be counterproductive, to say the least. You need to have something there that is good quality, even if it has been used before. It needs to look very nice and there should be nothing broken or ripped on it.

There are many reputable places that sell used trade show equipment and if you are buying used displays then it pays to check them out thoroughly and make sure they are in tip top condition. While many people oft for buying what they need online, when buying used display booths this puts you at a disadvantage, as you will not be able to check out what you are considering buying. It is also important to note that the item or items you are buying may not have any kind of warranty to them and if for any reason something breaks, you may be stuck with a large bill to fix it, or in the worse case scenario, have to buy something all over again. This is why it is important to seriously consider the pros and cons and whether buying used trade show display booths is a good idea.

It is also possible to rent the display booth or booths that you need and many companies that sell the items new will offer you the option of renting the display booths if you so desire. This offers a number of advantages in that you do not have to worry about the high cost of buying what you need, as even used equipment can be quite expensive if it is in good condition. Renting the items you need also allows you flexibility in that you do not have to re-use the same trade show display booths and banners and the next trade show; you will have a totally different set up. However, renting the trade show items you are planning to use also has its disadvantages, the main one being that it will end up costing you more over time to keep renting the items you need as opposed to buying them and having what you need.

Whether you end up choosing used or new display booths, it is important that you get the right size. Measure your booth early on and plan out what you want it to look like – where the tables will be and how long they will be, if you will have shelves and where they will go and then, plan where the display booths will go. You do not want them to be either too small or too large, or to block out the TV if you have on set up as part of your booth. Measure the space the displays will go in so that you know what size you should be looking for.

When buying used displays, it is also important to buy as far in advance as possible. You may find that with used displays, you do not have as large a selection of good quality displays as you would have with new displays. You absolutely have to get something that is good quality, something that does not look old and used and the earlier you decide what you need, the more likely you are of getting what you had in mind. If you wait until the last minute, it is quite likely that what you are looking for may be unavailable.

Used displays or other used equipment can be a great asset to your booth if it is in good condition, as then you have a good quality booth set up at a low price, or it could be a detriment if it is old and does not compliment the look of the booth, so make sure to choose carefully.


From Diners to Trade Shows: Booths

Posted by on Wednesday, 17 February, 2010

Booths are indispensable. The idea of a booth carries a lot of meanings. A booth could connote a booth at a fair or a type of seat at a restaurant. Booths are incredibly popular and they are used in so many different types of industries. They are used from fast food restaurants to family dining type restaurants. Colin Farrell and Forest Whitaker made a movie that pretty much surrounds itself around a phone booth, in fact, that was the title. One person died near the telephone booth and for about 75 minutes, this movie was stuck right near a booth. Jay Leno, when he hosted The Tonight Show, used to have a hilarious segment that took place in a photo booth. There were some funny photo booth effects in this comedy routine as well but nothing to do with a photo booth download.

There are companies that strictly deal in this industry. They have state of the art equipment that will customize your booths so they fit perfectly inside your establishment. Whatever your taste is, a manufacturer will quote you a price and put together the type of upholstery and seating you desire. They even offer large construction templates so you know what you are paying for and what the end result will look like. Bar booths come in all different sizes and shapes, there is not any that are exactly alike.

Car shops use paint booths to paint cars. These spray booths are pretty much air tight so the toxins in the spray do not spread around the environment and the outside air and dust does not tarnish the paint job on the car. Sometimes people try to duplicate this at home to a mixed affect. People try to make their own spray container but unless it is completely sealed and totally clean, the paint job will not look as good as it could. However, it will save you many of hundreds of dollars.

Trade show booths are everywhere. There were these last Saturday at Chase field promoting the Diamondbacks baseball to families. There were about 10 booths spread around the field on the dead grass. Nevertheless, these items are used for all sorts of things. They can be specially made for the user but many are archetypical and of the same lot. So there is not a lot to discuss there but we can dive into the description of some of these items.

One client wanted his item to resemble a clothing boutique. It needs to match or personify the brand name and type of fashion he wanted to sell. Yes, these portable houses made for trade shows can be made to look like anything. To continue, he wanted the colors to be appealing but not too obstreperous so they would not turn away potential clients. This trade show item would be stocked with shelving for racks of lights and small compartments for tiny but necessary accessories.

Another customer wanted his booth to be 8 x 10 feet. Inside this item would be black carpet that runs all over the displays as well. The black carpet would run up alongside the walls and there would lights on top of this trade show item. The large wooden container needs to have a message that alternates so that it is not the same at every event.

Another company wanted a feature display that consisted of water in the booth. A paver display as well which is another reason the trade show item was specified to be built larger.

Another merchant wanted his trade show container to look like a cabin. This log cabin would appear to be in the forest and this was for a large trade show. This was to promote their sportsman theme. They wanted to sell or try to attract customers to their products. Their product would be guns and ammo, fishing gear, hunting equipment, camping materials, outdoor clothing and the like. This trade show wooden container would give that mountain cabin feel. This would certainly appeal to a lot of guys, it may cost extra but it would pay for itself. The old adage is that one must spend money to make money. This seems to the case here. Imagine being at this event and seeing all these normal trade show containers and then all of a sudden, there is a trade show container that resembles a mountain cabin. You may want to go hiking right there. You may want to roast some marshmallows right there on the spot with the sales clerk of that sharp, visionary, witty, and ingenious company. This company would be the vanguard of the trade show. It would not matter where this trade show container was located in the massive exhibition theatre, it would be the spectacle to behold.


Your Trade Show Display Booth

Posted by on Monday, 15 February, 2010

Choosing the right trade show display booth is often the key to a successful show. Trade show booth displays should be designed around your marketing intentions for the duration of the show you are attending, and since they can become pricey rather quickly, they should definitely conform to your budget.

A trade show display booth is quite popular and necessary in many different forums. We will discuss the various kinds with are available for you to purchase or rent. There are several companies which only deal in this type of product. This is their specialty. The downtown Phoenix Convention Center is world class and there are so many different types of events there it is hard to fathom. The one thing that those events have in common is they will attract suitors that will want to use a trade show display booth to position themselves to spread their message and to sell their product. It is their portable retail store even if they are not a retail organization. In this circumstance, they are all a retail outfit. These booths represent their home to them, a transportable home that represents something much bigger.

Trade show booth displays can include banner stands and even displays which can be propped up in a short amount of time. Modular displays are a little more complex but it does not matter the task or purpose, there seems to be an exhibit trade show booth display for you. Not only are your needs important they are covered. Do you have trade show booth display ideas? You mean like graphic design possibilities; those options are available as well. Whatever type of logo or decal you want posted up, they are available. It does not matter if your event is designed for families and it is at Chase Field and it is baseball related or it could be in a hotel advertising spas, there are trade show display booths of all makes and models.

The trust trade show display booth is framed my aluminum. This is not uncommon. Truss refers to the structure, what is it made of and how it is put together. A ladder may be necessary to frame some of these booths unless you are 7 feet tall. If David Robinson is not available, this is something to consider. There are many different sizes though since customers have so many varying needs. What is special about the trusses is that they can be manipulated and built to accommodate any need. It does not matter how many trade show booths displays that you want to have around the booth, the truss can be made to incorporate this look and expectation.

These booths are tremendous marketing tools. They are portable stores, they may not have an electronic cash register machine but they can still allow for the transaction of business. A pop up booth are some of the easiest booths to set up. They do not weigh much and they are not awkward to carry around. They can be set up by one person. So a company can just dispatch one of their employees to the site about 30 minutes before hand, actually about 5 minutes before the event begins and this display can be up, ready for battle, ready to host an organization’s team. These pop up demand not one tool which may disappoint a do-it-yourself retail store but this is the truly do-it-yourself mate, the pop up display. They also are created to host their fair share of graphics. The pop up is fascinating because of its ease of use.

Some booths have displays which are comprised of fabric. Usually it is weather and water proof vinyl but this does not mean this is the only way they are made. This allows the graphics to penetrate the material to its core. The images now just leap out and strike someone, they garner more attention. This is ideal to be at an event that is not food related. The client that wants to use fabric probably should not be doing any cooking inside the booth but a fabric booth can be utilized by every taker. The structures for these booths do not involve a 30 page manual on how to set up, it is pretty self explanatory and the manual is pretty simple to follow.

The modular booth is perhaps the most dynamic. They are the Burger King of trade booths. They are the Whopper of all the booths. They made not taste good but they look spectacular, they are a few meters ahead of everyone else in a 100 meter sprint. They can be configured in so many methods; you will never see the same one twice. Their style can be manipulated by the client and their charm is that can be accompanied with so many accessories. It is like all those choices that Subway offers us when making a sandwich. There is literally not two alike because every group that buys or rents one has their own ideas for them. The only limit is the human imagination.

Truss booths have been mentioned before but there was a point missing. Their purpose is to offer that powerful or construction look, like something a drill or cement manufacture would be attracted too. They have industry swagger about them. They are under the modular display family and they are astonishingly flexible. They are often preferred by retail organizations.

It does not matter if you want a hanging display or something that is fixed into the ground; there is a manufacture for you. It does not matter if your event is outside in the fairgrounds or inside a magnificent convention center like the one in downtown Phoenix, there is a booth for you. Sometimes the temperature cannot be controlled, there our booths designed to persist despite Mother Nature’s presence. These booths are amazing since they can project your theme and offer some privacy to your workers at the same time. They are like a portable little inner sanctum but they can connote broad appeal and are meant to transfer your organization’s message to the potential customers. The only thing that should go up after this is your company’s membership.


Pop Up Booths Save Both Time and Money

Posted by on Sunday, 14 February, 2010

If you attend many trade shows, you will know how expensive it can be to first travel to and then to set up at a trade show. That is not to mention all of the other expenses incurred during the trade show, such as paying for the attendee’s accommodation, food and transport to and from the trade show. Companies regularly spend thousands of dollars a year attending trade shows.  Of course, for most companies it is money well spent as the returns from new customers or new trade relations can really be worthwhile.

However, probably your company is interested in saving wherever they can when it comes to trade shows.  While there are some unavoidable expenses, there are other ways that you can save both time and money.  Many companies these days are investing in custom designed pop up booths, and using these at trade shows. There are many advantages to using a pop up booth, and they are becoming increasingly more popular.

The pop up booths“title=”" >display booth is designed to either stand-alone or to fit inside an existing trade show tent or booth.  They come in many different sizes and styles, and whether you are looking for something very simple and economical or you want to invest in something that will showcase your company and bring a lot of people to your booth, you should be able to find something that is suitable and within your price bracket.

Setting up for a trade show can be very trying.  Often there can be delays in receiving your posters and displays on time, which causes the whole initial setup process to be very trying and stressful.  You also have the added stress of trying to decide which poster and which stand should go where. Invariably one piece of the display is forgotten or has gotten broken in transit, and you have last minute repairs or replacements to come up with.  Of course, there is always a lot of pressure to have everything set up and ready for when the doors open that first day.  By investing in a pop up trade show booth you will avoid all of those problems.

There are different types of pop up display booths, but most are designed in a similar fashion. The keys elements to their design should include things such as:
* Fast and simple assemble, preferably without having to use any tools.
* Include items that you need to set up and operate, such as side tables, plenty of display space, spotlights.
* Should also have additional accessories that you can purchase to suit your specific needs, such as adjustable tables, bookshelves, different shaped display tables, a variety of different lighting.
* Preferably, you should be able to attach graphics and posters either magnetically, or by using Velcro.
* Different sized units, in dimensions that would fit inside standard sized trade show booths.

Prices for pop up trade show booths vary, depending on both the size and the accessories included with the booth. Naturally the simpler, smaller booths cost quite a bit less than the larger, more accessorized booths.  Generally speaking, they retail for anywhere from $3,000 to $5,500.  Most come with basic accessories, however you will most likely need to invest another $1,000 to $2,000 for additional items that will enable you to set the booth up completely. It is possible to trim costs on the accessories, by using tables and lights that you already have. However, with time, it is much better to buy matching accessories, as they not only look a lot better but also they are designed to fit the trade show pop up booths exactly.

Ideally, two people should be able to set up a booth completely in a couple of hours. Compare that to the often whole days or whole mornings that it can take two to three people to properly assemble and set up tables, displays and shelves.

Just by saving all that manpower alone, at every trade fair you attend, will mean that you are saving money.  You will also end up saving money in the long run by having one set piece that you take with you to every trade fair, as opposed to having to constantly come up with new displays and display ideas.  The only thing you will need to remember to do before any trade fair is to decide if you want to change the posters or display graphics from those used last time.  When you are not using it, the pop up tradeshow booths can be neatly and compactly stored away in their own cases.

If your company attends trade shows on a regular basis, you will not regret investing in pop up booths. They look great, and make the trade fair that much more enjoyable, with all the worry of setting up and then closing down at the end taken care of in a couple of hours.


How To Set Up Display Booths

Posted by on Sunday, 14 February, 2010

You have your first trade show to attend, and you are excited at the possibilities that are before you. You will most likely meet new customers, make new friends and form new business relationships.  You may even snag that big international sale.  However, many months of planning goes into attending a trade show, and one of the first considerations is negotiating a location and then paying for a display booth.

I have attended trade shows, and I know how important it is for your tradeshow display booth to be set in a good location. Here are some suggestions of good locations for booth displays:

* Corner booths –  Corner booths are great because you get traffic from two aisles at the same time. Double exposure really can be a big help.
* Facing incoming people — If you are fortunate enough to get a booth close to either an entrance to the trade show or an exit, you will enjoy a lot of people dropping by your booth.
* Beside other busy booths — Yes, that is right! People may target your competitors, but chances are if your booth is nearby, they will drop by your booth as they leave.
* Where you do not want to be! — At the very end of the hall, or on the very last aisle, or near a service entrance.

Sometimes there is not a lot you can do about your location, as in some instances you are simply assigned a location without being able to specify exactly where you would like to be. In other situations, you get what you pay for. If you want a top location, then you need to be willing to fork out top bucks for it.

Setting Up the Booth

You will need to set up your trade show display booth well in advance. Depending on the size of the actual trade show and the number of attendees, you will be given one or two days in advance of the opening of the show to set up your booth.  It can be a lot of fun setting up display booths, providing you have done all the needed work and preparation beforehand. One of the most stressful situations you can find yourself in is waiting at the trade show for either your display posters, or new display stands to arrive.  There will invariably be delays in getting things ready for the show, so give yourself plenty of time. Trade shows can be very exciting, but they are also a lot of hard work where you are often on your feet for over twelve hours at a time, sometimes longer. They can be stressful and tiring, so do yourself a favor and prepare well in advance.

The exact layout and design of trade show display booths depends on what is being showcased. Do you have products, or do you provide a service. Chances are, if you sell products you will have shelves and counter-tops displaying samples of your goods. If you are a service company, you may be more likely to have large poster displays, and audio visual presentations. One thing that is often overlooked for first time trade show attendees is having a table and chair set where you can sit down, on site, with respective clients. If someone comes to your booth, interested in what you have to offer, you will want to sit down with him or her right away, then and there.

Many different things can help make your life much easier when it comes to setting up your display. Purchasing a pop up display booth will greatly simplify the whole initial set up time, and you can buy additional accessories that match exactly with the display, which gives your how booth and display a very professional and coordinated touch.  This portable display booth is really a great idea if you are short on people to set up and man the booth too, as it is very simple and easy to put together.

If you want to cut costs, you can also quite often buy used display booths, quite often from the same companies that sell portable booths or who sell booth accessories.  If you shop around, it is possible to find used booths that are still in very good condition.

Generally, when setting up trade show booth displays it is a good idea to have bold, colorful large sized posters set around the back of the display booth. You also need to make sure that you have sufficient smaller display stands and decide if you need a floor display stand. Sometimes it is enough to have shelves, with one rotating display stand on the corner counter for example.  Layout is very important, you want to first have something that will immediately catch someone’s eye, and then lead him or her into your display area. A good way to do this is by using smaller photo displays, or a poster up with interesting text that people stop to read.


Welcome to Exhibit Booths 101

Posted by on Sunday, 14 February, 2010

Trade shows are the heart and soul of the marketing campaign for many companies.  Exhibit booths put a face on a business, so it is essential to invest a good degree of time and thought into selecting this foundational advertising element.  Companies will need to decide on an exhibit booth that is a purchased build, custom rental item, or a combination of the two, in which large items are rented and smaller items are purchased.

Trade show exhibit booths must communicate a fresh image and be able to accommodate different life cycles of a product over a period of time.  Flexibility is a good quality of success in any endeavor, and a good trade show exhibit booth must incorporate this quality as well.  If an exhibit booth design looks extravagant, it can obscure the message.  While capturing the attention of potential customers, it may be a representation of misplaced priorities and a poor business model.   Increased traffic should translate into increased sales.

Exhibit booth rental is a practical option when allotted floor space varies from show to show.  The number of trade shows attended annually also weighs in the decision whether to rent or purchase exhibit booths.  If a company participates in twenty trade shows a year, the shipping costs and time for transporting one purchased unit from location to location could be prohibitive.  Purchasing a second trade show exhibit booth may be impractical or just plain too expensive, whereas exhibit booth rentals could solve the problem.
Another perspective on purchase versus rental is from the company balance sheet.  A purchase may be amortized over a period of time and requires a large upfront outlay.  Rentals are an advertising cost and appear only as a monthly expense.  Rather than making a decision based upon cost savings alone, factors must be considered that will guarantee a return on investment.  Are the exhibit booth displays appropriate to the content and is there quality in the workmanship and materials?

Analyzing booth exhibits may be expedited by establishing a few categories as proposed in a 2008 white paper of Catalyst Exhibits, Inc., and available from their website.  Considering trade show units as panel and frame systems, modular systems that are lightweight, used exhibits, and inventory rentals is a helpful point of reference.  Pop-up portables and pop-together units fall under modular systems, whereas panel and frame structures are the very common, multi-purpose projects for display, retail sales, presentations, and exhibiting.  Inventory rentals offer a wide selection of parts that some firms will customize with graphics.  Only now is this branch of the trade show industry stepping up to the plate as a marketing arm, versus simply providing a work space.

As companies continue to evolve, adding and removing products, and responding to customer input received at industry conventions, presentations will need to keep step.  Purchasing a show unit has intrinsic costs including storage, maintenance, repair, and expansion for new features of the program.  Rental units from a quality firm will engage the rental company on a marketing level, adding energy and ideas to the company’s team while including a new set of presentation tools.  If graphic design is built into a rental – purchase cross, the reuse of the graphics can reduce costs.  Revisiting the concept of the rental company as a marketing partner, ask if there is staff available for setup and take down as well.  This can relieve much stress from the presenters, and knowledge of the unit will facilitate the assembly.

When considering extra staff to set up the presentation area, an indispensable group is a services team that provides audio-visual equipment and connections for Internet and any land line phones necessary to the project.  Backwall exhibits, branded give-aways, and table top displays are integral to most trade show marketing campaigns.  Arranging these details for display takes time from those manning the booth, so help with the larger lifting and moving must always be part of the planning.  By downloading an exhibitor kit ahead of time from the trade show website, or requesting and receiving it by mail in advance of the show date, the entire experience can be optimized.  Floor plans, rules and regulations, and any other necessary and pertinent information for trade show participants are published in the exhibitor kit.

Banners are very important in catching the attention of the many people milling about a trade show floor.  There are telescoping banners, retractable banners, counter top banners, pop up banner frames, hanging banners, motorized banner stands that allow scrolling messages, and banner combination products that provide room for literature and merchandise on the supporting pole.  Whatever banner is used, the message should be eye level, have simple recognizable graphics and lettering, and be well lit with no glare.

This short introduction to the world of exhibit booths can open the door to marketing success.  A right objective will result in a product or service mutually beneficial to buyer and seller.