Deciding when the time is right to purchase a trade show booth is an important decision for most businesses. An exhibit can be a significant expense, even in profitable times, so it’s important to make the right selection the first time. Before your trade show booth designers start working on your design, ask yourself these three questions. Having the answers to these questions can help ensure you get the most out of your exhibit, maximizing your return on investment.
Where will your trade show booth be used?
Do you plan to use your display solely for a marketing event? Or will you be using it at other events, such as job fairs or even in the lobby of your own business? If you have a modular design with pieces that can be mixed and matched, it is possible to use certain elements in different ways. Banner stands, for example, can be used on their own in your office lobby, while smaller pieces like podiums and tabletop items can be ideal for smaller events where it doesn’t make sense to bring your entire display. .
Another reason it’s important to know where you plan to use your screen is that they can vary greatly in size. Whether you’re looking for a small tabletop display, a 10×10 display, or an even larger display, display space can make a big design impact.
Does your screen need to be easy to install?
If you only plan to attend large events, you probably won’t have to worry as much about setting up or taking down your exhibit. Often these events have staff members dedicated to organizing everything for you. However, if you plan to attend smaller-scale events, the set-up and tear-down tasks may fall to you and your staff. Because of this, it is vital that you have a display that is easy to install.
What do you want to pay?
On a full scale, a high quality trade show booth can cost well over tens of thousands of dollars. Some large companies have the funds set aside to cover the costs, but for many smaller companies this price is simply too high, even if they agree that a trade show booth is a useful item. If you don’t have tens of thousands of dollars available, you can still build a quality screen. Talk to your designer about any budget constraints you may have and see what they come up with. If you have your heart set on an expensive model, ask your designer if rental units are available. These rental screens will often have many of the features of some of the more expensive screens, but the rental fee is only a fraction of the price of buying a new one.
Knowing the answers to these questions can really help you determine what type of trade show booth is right for your business. Before you meet with a designer, write down the answers to these questions and more. Doing this will help ensure that everyone understands exactly what you’re looking for, leading to a more productive meeting and an eye-catching trade show booth.