Setting Up Your Trade Show Display

Exhibiting at a trade show is all about furthering your brand, gaining leads and trying to increase sales. Whether you attend just a few trade shows or exhibit at many, you always want to make sure that the return is greater than the cost. There are many details and tips that may seem trivial but can ultimately help you save some money or help your success at trade shows. Here are some things to consider when setting up your trade show booth.

Location: Get a look at the floor layout and try to predict traffic patterns. This is easiest if you have any experience exhibiting at trade shows, specifically ones you are planning to attend, but even if you don't it doesn't hurt to try. The obvious places that see heavy traffic are towards the front, aisles, near restrooms and concession areas. Just because those are areas might have decent traffic doesn’t mean it’s the best fit. Concession areas might have people standing around your booth eating or leaving cups and wrappers. Weigh the risks. While you want to sign up to exhibit as early as possible to ensure a good space, signing up a little later and might mean being able to check where your competitors are.

Timing: How early are you allowed to set up and run through the intricacies of your display? You’ll have to check with the venue to see when you can begin setting up. Take advantage of whatever time they're willing to give you because you will want that extra time to make sure everything is in order. Check electric outfits, internet, and lighting to see if you need to make any adjustments or ask event staff for any accommodations. Setting up your display and other items in a rush isn’t ideal before a big show.

Plan, plan, plan: Before booking a booth space at a trade show and before you purchase a display, a lot of planning should go into how your display is going to look and what it is going to involve. The design, graphics and information your display is going to have is essential to your success. With the amount of money that goes into booking a show, travel and display costs, there is no such thing as over-planning for a trade show.

Bring your tools: You never know what might happen to your booth during set up or shipping. It’s always a good idea to have tools to help make setup easier or fix and tweak things as needed. Basic items like adhesive tape, extra extension cords, Allen wrenches, and scissors can help more than you think. Your neighbor might need to borrow them, too, and in the event you run into them at another industry show down the road and need something they might be able to help you out.

Be organized: It’s awfully difficult to invite attendees in and present your business when your booth display isn’t organized. When planning out your display, consider designating different areas for presentations for your staff and inviting attendees in. Any materials such as videos, catalogs and pricing sheets or demo products should have designated areas so if you have multiple staffers working with these items your booth has some semblance of order and organization to it.