Identify Which Type Of Trade Show Exhibits Will Suit Your Company's Image The Best

By Mark Delacruz

Selecting the right trade show exhibits is critical to the success of 
your booth at a show. There are five basic types of exhibits and you 
need to identify them and then decide which one will suit your:

• Custom
• Custom modular
• Pre-owned
• Portable
• Rental

The custom trade show booth will be built with based on exact specifications of the space allotted to your booth at an exhibition. This custom-built booth can be innovatively designed to make it unique and stand out in the crowd. This kind of custom exhibit is the best choice, when announcing a most important breakthrough product, or when establishing superiority over competitors.

A custom unit is very expensive to build and can be used only in specific spaces. The custom modular exhibit is cheaper than the custom model. This offers the owners flexibility in reconfiguring or redesigning the booth. This is especially useful when the size of the booth space changes from show to show as it normally does. The unit has inter-changeable components like counters, back walls, exterior panels and display pedestals. Custom modular units are usually lightweight and hence easy to assemble and take down.

It also comes in space-saving packs that make them easy and cheap to transport and store when not in use. Some of the materials used in custom modular exhibits are Plexiglas, aluminum and high-grade fabrics. If you want a high quality, yet flexible display unit then go in for this booth model that is affordable also. Many companies that sell trade show exhibit items also have a large inventory of pre-owned displays. These help a company save money while at the same time having a striking display.

Many big companies with a large marketing budget will keep changing their booth displays very often. Instead of condemning their old exhibits, they will sell them to these companies that sell trade show display items. By purchasing one of the pre-owned units, you can save on construction costs to a large extent. If you look carefully, you will find good quality options that can be modified slightly to suit the image of your company. First measure the space of your booth and then select an appropriate display that can fit in easily. After this, you can go about modifying structural elements, graphics and such. Companies that wish to participate in exhibitions but are facing a temporary credit crunch can go for this pre-owned display option.

The portable display unit is the cheapest type of exhibit that a company can own. Built specifically for those who participate in multiple shows, these lightweight units are easy to install, transport, dismantle etc. It is often constructed with a basic skeletal frame with detachable panels that can be set-up into multiple styles. These portable units can be made into island displays or tabletop displays every easily. Use backlights, counters, bridges or alcoves to enhance the look of the display and it will have a new image at different shows.

Since it is so flexible, portable units can be used in various types of spaces and being easy to store and transport are the most economical of all units. First-time exhibitors who do not have a large budget can go in for this option. Those who participate in smaller trade shows in far off regional areas can get a portable booth. The best and most economical option is the trade show booth rental. This is the perfect solution for start-ups or those who participate in limited shows.

This is also a good choice for those who want to take part in multiple shows around the same time and do not have the resources to own multiple displays. Sometimes, companies may own the basic booth framework and then get exhibit rentals at different venues. Booth rentals have several key advantages like customization and flexibility, lower costs, scalability and portability. By renting out booth displays, you can customize them to suit the space at each exhibition hall. You have the flexibility of not having to follow the same display design, which could be the case if you own exhibits.

When you buy a display unit, you need to spend on maintenance, transportation and disposal costs. When you rent, you do not have these costs but just the rental costs. Renting booths also means you can participate in several shows at the same time and save on transporting your exhibits from city to city. So, explore all these alternatives and go with the one that suits your company's needs the best.

Article by Mark Delacruz of PopAndExhibits, who is a specialist in exhibit displays. For more information on trade show exhibits, visit his site today.