How To Buy A Trade Show Exhibit
It used to be that purchasing a new custom trade show exhibit was pretty easy. Once one selected a local custom exhibit builder, the company would begin work on a nice exhibit design. The exhibit would be made of plywood, covered in laminate, packed in crates and all was well. The great news is that there are now many more options for the buyer. The challenge is to figure out how to get the most exhibit for your budget (hopefully you have one) that will be functional, aesthetically pleasing and yet well branded. This page is designed to provide some clues as to what is available and as to how you might start. One of the most important starting places is to figure out what you need to spend in order to be where you want to be in relation to your competition. For this reason, some sample prices are included. To be clear, all of the links lead to my company's web site for two reasons; 1). Ours includes sample pricing and 2). Promotion. I admit that it is a little self serving. Please take this into consideration. I encourage you to also look at other web sites. I started out as a Credentialed Secondary Teacher (History) in California, and still enjoy the role of the teacher.
The Cool Factor
Is It Worth It To You To Pay A Little More To Be Cool?
$14,500.00
Sometimes you just want to stand out from the crowd. At the following link, you will see several cool 10 x 10 custom trade show exhibits, including this one for the iPhone.
This is not for everybody. Spending this amount of money on a 10' exhibit is not necessary. You can get by for a lot less. Still, if being cool is a part of your company image, it might be money well spent. Particularly when amortize the expense out over a few years. If having a booth that can ship via UPS is important, for $1200.00 you can ship in smaller cases.
Trade Show Booth Truss
A Nice Mid-Budget, Multi-Purpose Solution
$6-7,000.00
An exhibit genra that didn't exist only a few years ago are Trade Show Truss systems. They are available in a variety of kits that include lights, graphic production, and shipping cases. Custom designs can be done.
Here is the deal on truss. They represent an upgraded look from the less expensive Pop up, which has now been around for nearly 30 years. They are very functional, sturdy enough to hold large plasma sceens and other products and at the same time display graphics very well. The pack out is not as convenient as a Pop up or simple panel system, but the more sophisticated your booth, the more likely it is that you are going to compromise the ease of shipping.
Truss is modular, meaning the components that go into a 10' system can later be incorporated in a custom island truss exhibit.
Upside: Sturdy looking, a step up from what most starter companies purchase. Functional. Good with graphics. Good choice if you need plasmas.
Downside: Set up is doable by one person but might be a challenge for a woman working alone. Shipping is more expensive than a pop because truss is heavy but comparable to the higher end customs.
The Economical Pop Up Display
Prices Have Dropped To Under $2000.00, But It Still Delivers
$1200.00 to $2000.00.
Portable pop up displays remain a very attractive option for both established companies like Amazon and for start up companies. They should be listed in wikipedia.com as a definition of the word "portable". They pack into cases that can ship via UPS, they set up in under 30 minutes (for most people) and, especially with mural graphic panels, they still excel at commanding a space and communicating a message. The popularity of pop up is also a down side. There will be a lot of them at a large show, making it more challenging to stand out in a crowd. Amazon uses them for smaller regional shows like those in hotels and smaller convention venues. Nonetheseless, given that you can spend $1000.00 renting one from a show, they remain an excellent value if you are testing the trade show waters or building your business.
Custom Island Exhibits
Turss versus Customs
$40,000 and up
The place to start with a custom island exhibit is with a budget. You can waste a lot of your time if you don't provide an exhibit company with a price framework. Next, figure out what you need in your booth. Do you need work stations, a presentation area, product display areas, storage, counters, high visibility, conference rooms. How is your product best displayed?
The less expensive way into an island is, again, with a truss island booth , which will save you about 1/3 or more of the cost of a custom laminate system.
Multilevel Exhibits: The Fun Of Going Up, Up, Up
Double Deck Booths Are Impressive Marketing Tools
They are not for every company. Not only is there the initial expense in purchasing a Multilevel Exhibit, but there will be the ongoing shipping and set up costs to consider. However, there is nothing quite like sitting at a conference table on the second floor and looking around the exhibit hall. It is darn impressive. The booth conveys a sense of class, leadership and, importantly, a willingness to stand out in a crowd.
Figure $100,000.00 plus.
