Whether your company attends one big industry trade show a year or many, your trade show booth is going to be the most important part of your presence at the show(s). Prior to designing your trade show booth, there are numerous things your team must consider that may affect your design, such as:
Your Trade Show Budget All-In
It’s a very common occurrence for companies to approach an exhibit house and say they’ve got a budget of $50,000 for a 20×20 trade show booth. Then, when they see the design and price, they realize that budget was really inclusive of travel, per diems, the cost of the space itself, and then they feel deflated. It’s important to figure out the logistics early and have a realistic conversation with your team to determine how big the trade show booth space should be and how many people to take so you can ensure you have enough left over to design something special. Prior to price hunting, a firm budget must be established or it’s just a waste of time for all parties involved.
How Much Time is Necessary to Design the Trade Show Booth
Believe it or not, while trade shows are happening year round, there really is a season where construction of a trade show booth is at an all time high. A good rule of thumb is to start early, usually between 8-10 months before the trade show. This way there’s plenty of time to schedule design and fabrication of the trade show booth and you can take advantage of any early bird pricing. At slow periods, such as during the summer, it may be possible to design and build a trade show booth in a couple of months but you’ll likely also incur last minute rush fees as well. By starting early, your team is poised for the best experience and the best results for your trade show booth.
Your Exhibiting Goals
Yes, we all know we want to sell more products at a trade show. But what other goals does your business have? Do you want to engage more people with technology? Do you want to create a fun game for them tied to your product somehow? By defining your exhibiting goals up front, your exhibit house designer can best accommodate them in your trade show booth design. Not having clear goals can make it tougher to nail down exactly what your team is thinking and how you will use the space itself.
Whether You Want to Rent or Purchase the Trade Show Booth
A huge thing to consider prior to your trade show booth design is whether you’ll want to rent it or purchase it. Purchasing a trade show booth has some downsides such as storage, wear and tear, and an inability to scale depending upon the trade show. However, renting allows your business to change the theme and design of your trade show booth according to the show. It also allows you to scale up or down depending on the show, and there is no storage or maintenance necessary. Each time you rent the trade show exhibit, it’s new. Knowing these options up front can help you to make the decision that’s right for your budget and your exhibiting goals.
Prior to designing your next trade show exhibit, have a stakeholder meeting and make some decisions so you’re better prepared for the process. If you’ve got questions, they can help guide you in the right direction.
