FAQ

Trade shows and related events are an ideal way of accomplishing face-to-face contact with prospective customers. Especially since social media and email communications have taken such a prominent role in the B2B world. Trade shows give you the opportunity to make contact with those hard to reach prospects, as well as deepen current client relationships. People want to do business with people they know.

This depends greatly upon the show. However it is best to plan at least a year ahead of time in regards to your booth space. Some shows begin reserving booth space at the current show for the next year. If you want a good location, plan early in order to get a prime location.

In regards to your display, six to nine months in advance for a 20 x 20 booth space is an ideal timeline. This gives you adequate time to properly plan your overall display environment. New personnel or new product launches may need some additional time to ensure your event exceeds your expectations.

First time exhibitors or shows that occur every other year are good times to rent a display. Or if you only participate in one larger show a year or you want to test drive an exhibit are also good reasons. This allows you to be flexible and change up displays to always look fresh, plus it also can reduce your overall investment which saves money in your marketing budget. Rentals allows for a lot of flexibility while giving you a very professional appearance and maintaining your brand and product prominence.

Drayage and Material Handling are the same thing at trade shows. It can described as moving your displays, crates, equipment and products from your shipping carrier at the loading dock at an exposition center to your booth and back to the loading dock for return of your items. These costs are typically determined by its weight.

Your display and all its components should be cleaned, inspected, detailed and have ongoing maintenance to ensure it stays in good condition and useable for years to come. The inspection portion also allows you to determine necessary repairs and make sure all parts and pieces are present after the display returns from your shows. Regular usage of your displays causes normal wear and tear as well as shipping takes its toll on your components. The Refurbishing process ensures your displays stay in top condition and are ready for your next show.

The answer is Yes and No. It depends on the show. Here are the generic rules:

Portable type displays that don’t require tools or you getting on a ladder are okay for you to set up and dismantle. For displays that are larger in scale and/or requires tools and ladders, there are limitations and you should plan on and include in your budget the cost of using an Exhibit Appointed Contractor (EAC) or the union show labor.

We would typically recommend using an Exhibitor Appointed Contractor (EAC) since they are signatory to local unions. An EAC is an independent business that is very customer service oriented. They will generally do a good job because they want to please you in order to get more of your trade show labor business in the future. When we are organizing and supervising the installation and dismantle for our clients, we like to work with an EAC. If there is a problem during the show, they typically have people on-site to correct any issues.

Using the show provided union labor is still an option, but it’s recommended that you or someone you trust is there to supervise.

It depends on show location and exposition center. For example, the Las Vegas Convention Center and a number of other convention halls in Las Vegas have outlawed the usage of halogen bulbs due to fire and safety concerns. The numbers of shows and exposition halls are anticipated to grow in not allowing halogen type lights. We would recommend using the new LED lights on any new displays. They are versatile, don’t get hot and use less power than traditional halogen or incandescence bulbs.

The use of backlit graphics has grown tremendously in popularity. These types of graphics make a great first impression that will bring more new and existing clients into your display environment. Illumination truly helps you stand out and grab the attendee’s attention at a trade show. The bigger the graphic the better.

In the past, we were somewhat limited to smaller graphics however, as the technology has gotten better, printing larger sizes is now common and improved, large graphics are being utilized on a regular basis. They are very impactful, have become very cost affordable and are highly recommended.

Yes, double sided backlit graphics are growing in popularity, especially in island or peninsula type displays where you can view both sides of display. Backlit graphics continue to improve in quality and technology. They are very impactful and they draw attention to your exhibit environment.

Each shipment must have a completed Bill of Lading in order to ship materials from the show. All pieces must be labeled individually.

After materials are packed, labeled, and ready to be shipped, the completed Bill of Lading must be turned in at the general service center.

Make arrangements with your designated carrier to pick up your shipment at the address of the facility where the event is taking place. In the event your selected carrier fails to show, the shipment will be rerouted to the preferred carrier at the exhibitor’s expense.You must notify your carrier of the date and times of pick up.