Trade show displays can be the difference between having high traffic to your booth and having a poor turn out. And since there are many exhibit display designs to choose from, it's easy to find booth displays that will best highlight your company's products and services. For example, there are modular booths that come in many shapes and sizes as well as display banners that you can use as stand-alone displays or suspend from the ceiling. Whatever you choose to use for your trade show booth, you should make sure the design can draw interest in your products and services.

Here are some things to consider about making the most of trade show displays:

1. Generate business by using creative or customized trade show displays at your next convention.

2. Hire professionals to set up and dismantle your display exhibit.

3. Save money by purchasing used or discount trade show supplies for your trade show exhibit.

Action Steps for Buying Trade Show Booths
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Use customized or creative trade show displays to generate interest in your products and services

Generating traffic to your trade booth is key to your success, so using conference displays that feature innovative designs will really help you stand out from the crowd. Even better, hire a company to help you customize a trade show display just for your business.

I recommend: Purchase photo mural, pop-up and panel convention booth displays at Ace Exhibits. Go to CDS Corporate Display to have them create customized presentation displays for your trade show exhibit. It has a wide selection of designs available and will also rent display items. To various designs of trade show banners, including overhead trade show banners, go to Tradeshow Supermarket to find what you're looking for.

Get your trade show display set up and dismantled before and after shows to save time

Though many display exhibit booths were created to be easy to set up and dismantle, it will save you time and energy if you work with a company that has staff to this for you. Not only will it know exactly how to set up your trade show display properly, but the company might have knowledge about setting up a display that could be helpful toward the success of your booth.

I recommend: Hire E & E Exhibit Solutions to set up and dismantle your trade show display booth anywhere across the United States. It has a well-trained staff to help you get your trade show display up at a price you can afford. Work with the staff at Moose Displays and Logistics to help you set up, dismantle and ship your trade show display. Staff from the company can even supervise your booth during your show so you can network with key players in your industry during the show.

Buy discounted or used trade show displays to get quality exhibit supplies at affordable prices

You can find quality trade show displays and save money by purchasing discounted or used trade show displays and supplies. This is a great idea for new businesses or those with budget concerns.

I recommend: Purchase discount trade show displays and supplies at Monster Displays. This site also offers discounts on displays for convention booths. Go to Atlantic Display Alliance to buy used trade show displays items and accessories.

Tips & Tactics for Selecting Trade Show Booths

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be sure to have product samples and information, as well as promotional giveaway items, as part of your display exhibit. Doing so will help generate interest in your products and services as well as increase name recognition for your business.

Trade shows are a zoo, even when they're well run. Hundreds of trade show booths vie for the attention of thousands of potential customers, and the difference between stopping or walking by can be your message on a trade show display.

A trade show exhibit must be clean, inviting and tell the story of your company in a few seconds. Banner stands bring your brand to eye level, while convention display booths and exhibits create an atmosphere of professionalism and welcome.

When choosing displays and exhibit booths:

1. Compare before buying – there’s a wide variety of display booths available
2. Order custom-designed display booths
3. Budget for giveaways and supplies to outfit booths

Action Steps
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Trade show booths and displays vary widely in type and design

Ultralight fabrics and collapsible metal frames (like the kinds used in modern tents) have made display booths lighter and easier to set up than ever.

I recommend: Learn your choices for trade show booth decorating, including a pop-up display, exhibit booth kit and panel display, at Braingraphix, Smart Exhibits and Impact Displays.

Banner and other stands keep budgets low and impact high

Part of the value of a trade show booth is plain and simple signage: Your brand writ large on stands. Light and easy to transport, stands can also be used to point traffic at trade shows around corners and down hallways to your trade show exhibit booths.

I recommend: Take a look at the variety of trade show exhibit stands at vendors like First Trade Show, Trade Show Shops, Sugarhouse Banners and QuickScreen Displays.

A trade show exhibit can be custom-designed

Since the parts are interchangeable and the fabrics printable, a trade show exhibit is easy to custom order. You can make a statement that is professional and serious yet have a trade show display that is easy to break down and transport.

I recommend: Take a look at custom design options at trade show exhibit vendors such as Godfrey Group, Ace Exhibits and Multimedia Services. See more trade exhibit options at the Business.com categories on table top displays, trade show display services and banner stands.

After convention display booths, shop for trade show supplies

A trade show booth helps but there's more of course. Outdoor events have special needs, and you'll want branded goodies to give away to visitors who stop by your trade show booth.

I recommend: Carrot Top has tents, displays, lecterns and tons of other stuff that might not seem obvious at first but can be adapted to trade shows. PC Name Tag has, yep, things like name tags and other brand-able giveways, as does Branders. You can get stuff like wireless polling devices from ARS Technologies to lend a high-tech air to trade show exhibit booths.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Plan carefully. Make sure your smallest staffer can pack and carry whatever trade show display or display booths you buy. It might come down to that.
• •  A convention display can be quite a bit larger than what goes into simple display booths, while trade show exhibits are in-between. Consider buying detachable pieces so that, for smaller shows, a portion of your trade show display can be used instead of your full-scale trade-show booth extravaganza.

Since it can be expensive to exhibit at trade shows, it's important to learn about the pricing and costs of trade show displays so you can plan a realistic trade show budget. Doing research will help you find the trade show supplies you want at prices that fit comfortably with your budget. There are many companies that specialize in providing customers with exciting items and options for trade show booths at affordable prices. You can buy discount or used trade show items to save even more money without sacrificing quality. Other companies rent trade show items and booths, so there are many pricing options available for trade show vendors.

Here are some things to consider about display exhibit costs and pricing that will help you have a great trade show without breaking your budget:

1. Compare prices on the latest designs of presentation displays to attract attention and traffic to your trade show booth.

2. Purchase used or discount trade show supplies to save money.

3. Rent necessary convention booth displays from a trade show supplies company.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Compare prices of convention booth displays to find items that meet your budget

Prices of trade show booths vary according to size, the type of booth you want to use and the materials used for your booth. Tabletop models are the cheapest, selling for as low as a $300 for a three-panel tabletop unit up to 20-foot display units that cost more than $10,000.

I recommend: Purchase a three-panel tabletop display from Midland Display. Buy a 20-foot pop-up display from Smash Hit Displays, or go to First Trade Show, which offers competitive pricing to all of its customers on trade show exhibit displays and accessories.

Buy discount or used trade show displays to save money and get quality trade show merchandise

Buying used or discount displays for convention booths is a great way to get everything you need to create an exciting trade show display. An 8-foot pop-up display made of fabric can sell for as low as $1,000. Used trade show items are an even better deal, with some only costing around $200 for a tabletop display to $700 for a 6-foot display.

I recommend: Purchase a fabric pop-up display from Trade-Show.us. Buy used tabletop or 6-foot booth displays from Tradeshow Joe.

Rent trade show display exhibit booths and accessories from a trade show supplies company

Depending on the size, type and how long you need items, renting is the cheapest way to have a exhibit display. You can rent an 8-foot pop-up display for under $400 and trade show banners for as low as $60 a day.

I recommend: Rent trade show banners and displays at Trade Show Shop and Airborne Displays.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  There are companies that will buy your used trade show displays so you don't have to pay for storage for exhibit supplies you no longer need.

Trade shows displays require a lot of organization to be successful, and knowing common trade show displays key terms can help you plan. The type of trade show in which you choose to exhibit your goods can affect the key terms you may need to know. The style of exhibit you plan to use can also determine what knowledge you need. The terms that follow are basic trade show display key terms that you might encounter as you participate in any type of trade show.

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Services contractor

A trade show services contractor can be hired to set up your trade show booth prior to an event and dismantle it at the end of the trade show. Some services contractors also provide audio-visual equipment and setup, including any phone lines and Internet connections you may need.

I recommend: See the list of services offered by the services contractors at MCS.

Backwall exhibit

A backwall exhibit has a solid wall for the back of the display area. These are typically 10 feet wide. Larger backwall exhibits are sometimes available that allow you to do more with your product presentations.

I recommend: Read the information about backwall exhibits at Exhibitor Central.

Build and burn

A build and burn exhibit is one designed for one trade show only. While this may not seem practical, it may save money in the long run if you figure in costs of shipping display booths and show materials.

I recommend: Read an explanation of why build and burn exhibits work especially well overseas at Professional Exhibits & Graphics.

Exhibitor kit

The exhibitor kit (also called a service kit) is the vital information you need to navigate a trade show. It includes information about dates, times, show rules and regulations, and other pertinent information. Many trade shows now provide exhibitor kits online rather than publishing paper copies.

I recommend: Innovative Expo has a list of trade show events and each has a downloadable PDF exhibitor kit.

Table top display

A table top display is small enough to fit into a confined space. There are many varieties of eye-catching table top displays available and many are lightweight, making them easy to pack and ship.

I recommend: Impact Displays has a large selection of table top displays.