Trade Show Resources

http://www.tsnn.com/
http://www.fita.org/conferences.html
http://www.tsea.org/
http://www.ceir.org/

How Do I buy a display

First, we suggest you visit our “Choosing the right trade show booth” section in order to select your criteria for choosing a display. Begin by browsing our selection of displays and accessories. Once you have chosen a display or accessory that fits your needs, simply add it to your cart. Be sure to choose your options and colors when available. You will be able to browse sections for pop up displays, panel or modular displays, banner stands, table top booths, flooring, literature racks, truss structures as well as many other sections.

Choosing the right trade show booth

The first criteria you should consider when looking at a trade show booth are your goals. Your goals should center around obtaining the very highest return on your investment. Some companies use trade shows to increase brand recognition, others use them as a way to introduce new products and services and still others exhibit at shows because that would be suspect for not showing up. Your goals really do drive the type of exhibit or accessory you need.

Once goals have been established, you are ready to find shows that meet your requirements. Visit our “Trade Show Resources” section to find helpful sites that are dedicating to trade show information. You will want to determine the right shows for your company. You may find that going to more Tabletop shows is better than attending one major show or that you should remain on the perimeter of the show rather than exhibit in an island configuration. Finding the right shows help make your trade show investment pay dividends over time.

Tabletops
Why choose a tabletop display. Sometimes, shows only permit the use of tabletops, these kinds of events tend to be regional in nature and geared around speaker events.

There are several kinds of tabletop designs to choose from that range from briefcase-sized to 8’ wide, 5’ tall. Breifcase tabletops are great for reps who work in the field a lot and travel from one office to another. Pharmaceutical sales reps tend to use these kinds of booths.

Panel system tabletops are next in line, they typically are combinations of several 2’ x 4’ panels with fabric on both sides. These kinds of booths are the oldest trade show technology, sometimes, they are called “Science Fair Booths”.

Another genre of tabletop booth comes to us from the full size Pop Up style display line. Pop Up tabletops tend to be a little more expensive than Panel systems, however, they appear far more sophisticated and pack lighter. These displays are the most popular style of tabletop today.

Lastly, there are hybrid tabletop displays. These displays use everything from aluminum posts to stretched fabric graphics over Pop Up frames. Hybrids are for the type of person who really wants to stand out using the lastest technological innovations available.

Freestanding
Freestanding booths are a relatively large step up from tabletop displays. Freestanding booths give you more surface area for graphics, ultimately, they give the impression of a more seasoned company. They allow for great interaction between attendees and exhibitors as well. Freestanding booths, in this reference refer to 10’ x 10’, 10’ x 20’ like booths where the depth is 10’ and the width can vary. Freestanding booths are typically 8’ tall, these booths are found along the perimeter of shows.

Panel freestanding booths tend to be a series of connected fabric panels that stack. They pack in cases that are typically 25” x 50” x 12” approximately. Most people will add backlit headers and detachable graphics to these kinds of booths. One key hidden feature is that you can use the base panels as a tabletop when necessary.

Pop Up freestanding booths are the most popular perimeter-style or in-line display. Pop Up’s derive their name from they way the frame expands and pops up into place. Fabric or Mural panels are added to finish off the frame. Pop Up’s pack in wheeled tubes that normally measure around 40 x 14 x 14 roughly. Another advantage the cases offer is that they can be transformed into counters and podiums.

Custom Modular displays are fabricated using aluminum or steel frame that are laminated to appear to be custom wood panels. Custom Modular give you the look of custom without the bulky large wooden crates. Custom Modular displays pack in cases or pallets depending on the complexity of the design.

Hybrid displays cover the last freestanding grouping. Hybrid displays, like tabletop Hybrid units, utilize aluminum posts, tension fabric and sometime pop up frame technology to create a unique and attractive package.

Peninsulas
Peninsulas are the first step towards getting into an island configuration. Peninsula displays typically allow you to have the height of an island booth but restrict what you can do with your physical real estate.

Islands
Island booths range in size from 20 x 20 to 100 x 100. Essentially, you are paying a premium to utilize the air above your trade show floor. Islands allow for larger product demonstrations, speaker engagements and theater arrangements. When you have graduated into this area of the trade show floor, allowing your goals to dictate the direction of the booth becomes paramount.

Trade show booth ideas

In the section labeled “Choosing the right trade show booth”, you learned about the different size and styles of booth technology available generally. In this section, we will look more closely at the different technology and when to use it. According to the Center for Exhibition and Industry Research says that there are several tactics that you can utilize to enhance your chances of making a positive impact on an attendee.

Computer Demo’s
Today, flat screen technology has allowed us to come up with innovative and unique ways to demo computer-related products. Demo stations are no longer simply a table with a laptop. Aluminum posts with brackets to support monitors are in wide use. These posts allow for designers to push the envelope when it comes to merging utility with design. You can also use Pop Up towers to hide monitors behind fabric walls, again, to enhance the user’s experience. Utilizing truss technology is probably the most classic way to support monitors for demo’s. Truss allows for vertical mounting off legs and horizontal mounting from horizontal sections.

Graphic Branding
Every style of booth technology allows for Graphic Branding. The biggest challenge today is to come up with a unique and powerful delivery method that reinforces your message.

Movement
Using movement in a booth is important because it attracts attention. The difference between a static element and one that is constantly moving can dramatically alter the perception of the attendee about your company. Using motors, fans or even your product is an easy way to ensure you are remembered.

Backlighting
According to a study that was done regarding backlight kiosks at a shopping mall, backlighting triggered a 300% higher retention rate of the message being delivered. At trade shows, the same is true, backlighting helps your target attendee cut through the clutter. Lighting like movement simply takes you to a higher level in the mind of the attendee.

Choosing Effective Colors

In kindergarten or elementary school, we learned that there are three primary colors, Red, Blue and Yellow. You may have even learned about complimentary colors, secondary and tertiary colors as you got older. You may know that red will jump off a page and blue will recede. In this section, we will examine general color theory.

There are three primary colors, red, blue and yellow. If viewed on a color wheel, they form an triangle when connected. Secondary colors include orange, violet and green and when connected, form an upsidedown triangle and are created by combining two primary colors. Complimentary colors are just as the name states, they compliment eachother, these combinations include Red-Green, Blue-Orange and Yellow-Purple just to name a few. Complimentary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel as well.

Passionate or call to action colors include Red’s, Oranges and Yellows while Blues, Violets and Greens tend to be passive colors. Each color represents an emotional or “feeling” equivalent. From www.infoplease.com, here are some generally accepted feeling-color combinations:

Black is the color of authority and power.

Brides wear white to symbolize innocence and purity.

The most emotionally intense color, red stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing. It is also the color of love

The color of the sky and the ocean, blue is one of the most popular colors. It causes the opposite reaction as red. Peaceful, tranquil blue causes the body to produce calming chemicals, so it is often used in bedrooms. Blue can also be cold and depressing.

It is a calming, refreshing color. People waiting to appear on TV sit in "green rooms" to relax.

Cheerful sunny yellow is an attention getter. While it is considered an optimistic color, people lose their tempers more often in yellow rooms, and babies will cry more.

The color of royalty, purple connotes luxury, wealth, and sophistication. It is also feminine and romantic. However, because it is rare in nature, purple can appear artificial

Solid, reliable brown is the color of earth and is abundant in nature. Light brown implies genuineness while dark brown is similar to wood or leather. Brown can also be sad and wistful. Men are more apt to say brown is one of their favorite colors.

Trade Show/Convention Checklist

This section will provide with a simple checklist of actions you might want to take to ensure a successful show.

Pre Show

Advertising on your website about the show
Post Cards or Letters to clients
Develop a Premium Item campaign to attract specific targets
Develop specific goals re: leads, sales, demos

At Show

Assign specific tasks to key individuals: lead caretaker, etc
Train your staff and give them specific goals to achieve

Post Show

Leads need to be followed up within 7 days of show
Evaluate results to target goals

Convention/Trade Show

Book your space early, be prepared for changes to floorplan
Order your electrical as early as possible to get discount
Order your carpet
If using another source for Labor, get your EAC form in
Calculate your Drayage
Order Ancillary items: flowers, trash, cleaning

Booth

Start your booth planning 3 months before the show