Trade show table top displays are an effective marketing tool for businesses of all sizes. Tabletop displays are not just for trade shows, but can highlight your company's achievements in the lobby of your building, share new campaigns at sales meetings, attract new recruits at job fairs or showcase your company's community service efforts at local gatherings.

Table top display boards are strong and versatile visual elements that are eye-catching as the focal point of your table display or as part of a larger display. A key benefit of trade show tabletop displays is their compact size and portability. Before attending your next event, capitalize on marketing opportunities for your business by making the most of table top displays. Be sure to consider the following:

1. Customize your pop-up or tri-fold table top displays to reflect your business branding and identity.

2. Create an eye-catching exhibit by making the most of table top displays accessory options.

3. Sell your company products or services with strong, bold graphics and concise statements.

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Enhance your marketing with branded trade show table top displays

Your briefcase, pop-up or tri-fold table top displays should be an extension of your company's marketing. Make sure your exhibit tabletop display features your corporate colors and logo, and that all graphics are consistent with your company's branding and identity standards.

I recommend: The ShowMax Self-Packing tabletop display at PosterGarden.com comes in burgundy, black, purple, blue or silver to create an effective backdrop for showcasing your corporate colors. Get a free Idea Tool Book at The Godfrey Group for tips and advice on how to customize your tabletop displays for conventions and best reflect your corporate image. ImageWorks Studio offers a Branding Blueprint to ensure your custom table top displays reflect your corporate identity.

Design an attractive exhibit that gets noticed with tabletop display accessories

Table top display accessories are the icing on the cake for marketing displays. Draw attention to your exhibit with tabletop display accessories like lighting, table covers, brochure racks, chairs and detachable banners.

I recommend: For a professional, eye-catching exhibit tabletop display, add a customized table cover available at Impact Displays. Create dramatic effects for your exhibit table top display with lighting accessories at Displays2go. Shop for tabletop display booth supplies and accessories like table runners, literature stands, lighting, chairs and projection screens at Tradeshow Supermarket.

Make a statement with exhibit table top display graphics

Graphics are key in attracting attention to your tradeshow table top displays. Look for bold, simple graphics that create a central theme to your display. Because table top display boards are typically just six or eight feet, limit your graphics to a few images or even one large image, and avoid graphics with lots of text.

I recommend: Pink Displays provides pop-up tradeshow table top displays that can be customized with full-color graphic center panels. Attract attention to your next product launch or service campaign with custom trade show graphics from youHuge.com. Purchase high-quality graphics for affordable prices at Shop for Exhibits.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Banner stands are eye-catching tools to complement trade show table top displays. Banner stands are especially effective when placed next to your table top display boards because the banners draw attention to your booth, increasing the number of visitors to your exhibit.

To succeed as a trade show exhibitor, you need an attractive booth. Table top displays can do the trick. Colorful, versatile and informative, trade show displays can entice attendees to stop at your booth rather than walking by. For the average 10 by 10-foot booth, table top displays are the best route to go. They are easy to transport, can be set up quickly and are relatively inexpensive. Before you buy trade show displays, you need to decide:

1. How often your table top displays will be used. If it is infrequent, make sure to keep it evergreen rather than about product information or business details that frequently change.
2. The quantity of trade show displays to order. If you have a large sales staff that attends trade shows regularly, you might want to invest in table top displays for each sales person or team.
3. Which type of trade show displays will work best for your message and your transport needs.

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When Velcro display boards are your best option

Velcro display boards are ideal for trade show displays that need to be changed or updated regularly. The loop fabric on the Velcro display boards allows you to place or graphics and pages on the board using Velcro backing.

I recommend: North Sculpture Displays offers custom built Velcro display boards made in any color and size, with two to five panels and 360-degree metal hinges. Additions Exhibit Systems offers Curve Lite, flexible panel Velcro display boards with a carrying case and shoulder strap for easy transport.

Light up table top displays

Backlit trade show displays are a great option for your booth. Table top displays with backlighting tend to stand out from the crowd. By backlighting the display, your graphics glow and are easy to read.

I recommend: Smart Exhibits Trade Show Displays offers several options of backlit table top displays. ExpoDepot.com makes backlit headers that attach to folding panel displays.

Folding panel table top displays

Folding panel trade show displays use a series of panels joined by hinges that fold up. These table top displays are great for sales people who travel by air because they take up less space than some other options.

I recommend: The Godfrey Group has multiple packages that include folding panel kits for trade show displays complete with lighting, graphics and end wraps. Easy Displays makes briefcase table top displays that fold into a compact plastic case when you are done with it. Check the Business.com directory for additional suppliers of trade show display boards.

Pop-up trade show displays

Pop-up table top displays are made of an accordion-style folding frame and are covered with magnetic backed fabric or plastic imprinted panels. They are easy to put together and pack up compactly.

I recommend: Nomadic Display has a variety of pop-up trade show displays in flat, fold-up and curved options. Advatum makes full photomural pop-up table top displays. For more vendors of pop-up trade show displays, visit Business.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When shopping for table top displays, find out what electrical or battery needs the display will require for lighting.
• •  Consider the weight of trade show displays and inquire about carrying cases for easy transport.
• •  Make sure you add up all additional charges before deciding on table top displays. Set-up fees, add-ons and shipping charges can make displays costlier than advertised.

Trade show table top displays are an effective marketing tool for businesses of all sizes. Tabletop displays are not just for trade shows, but can highlight your company's achievements in the lobby of your building, share new campaigns at sales meetings, attract new recruits at job fairs or showcase your company's community service efforts at local gatherings.

Table top display boards are strong and versatile visual elements that are eye-catching as the focal point of your table display or as part of a larger display. A key benefit of trade show tabletop displays is their compact size and portability. Before purchasing an exhibit table top display, research table top displays basics to determine what kind of tabletop displays for conventions are best for your company and consider the following:

1. Lightweight pop-up displays offer quick assembly and a professional marketing presence for an affordable price.

2. Inexpensive tri-fold table top displays in a panel format provide trade show versatility.

3. Self-contained briefcase displays feature convenient portability and simplified assembly.

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Select lightweight pop-up displays for quick assembly and a professional image

A pop-up exhibit tabletop display is a lightweight, easy to use marketing tool that can be assembled in just minutes. Most pop-up tradeshow table top displays are constructed of a rigid tubed frame made of aluminum with magnetic bars that snap together, and are widely available in standard 6-foot or 8-foot display options. Pop-up trade show table top displays come with storage cases for table top display accessories like lighting.

I recommend: The Evolution pop-up unit at First Trade Show is easily assembled in 10 minutes and can be customized with a variety of tabletop display accessories. Choose from six, eight or five-foot curved or straight pop-up display packages at Ace Exhibits. Compare competitively priced pop-up table top displays at Affordable Exhibit Displays.

Choose panel tri-fold table top displays for expanded versatility

Panel or tri-fold table top displays typically feature three panels and a header panel. The panels are hinged for easy assembly and often are reversible with different color options on each side (for example, black on one side and navy on the other). Panel displays come standard as 6-foot or 8-foot displays with shippable storage cases featuring room for tabletop display booth supplies and accessories.

I recommend: Purchase affordable stacker table top panel displays with or without header panels at Camelback Displays. Select arch or peak style panel table top displays at Displayit. Choose from 11 folding table top display packages at Crilex.com.

Purchase self-contained briefcase displays for portability

Briefcase tabletop displays are portable, self-contained and a breeze to assemble. Because they are self-contained, there are no cases to store during your trade show. The briefcase display is generally available in 4-foot or 6-foot styles.

I recommend: Check out options available with the ShowMax Briefcase display and ShowStyle Briefcase display at The TradeShow Display Store. Superior Displays offers four or six-foot briefcase displays with arch-top headers. Purchase a briefcase tabletop display system in your choice of colors at TradeShowShop.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Banner stands are eye-catching tools to complement trade show table top displays. Banner stands are especially effective when placed next to your table top display boards because the banners draw attention to your booth, increasing the number of visitors to your exhibit.

Table top displays consist of any type of structure built to display items on a table, usually for trade show purposes. Manufacturers often make table top displays as smaller-sized versions of those meant to sit on the floor. Display items are foldable and lightweight and easy to store and ship, but also make a good impression on potential customers. You can find table top display tables that you can handle without help, even when you need to transport and set them up.

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Table throw

Table throws and covers add color to and dress up a display. You can get them printed with your company logo or slogan, and they come in a variety of colors to identify your brand. Various types are available, including those with three and four sides. You can also get fitted table throws.

I recommend: Find a brief explanation of table throws, with photos and a discussion of the various styles, at TradeShow-Stuff.com, a division of Allegro Marketing.

Pop-up displays

Pop-up displays are becoming a familiar trade show display, because they are easy to assemble and lightweight. Usually pop-up displays offer some type of vertical effect.

I recommend: Read an explanation of pop-up displays, including different styles and their costs and benefits, at Everything Displays.

Lecterns

Lecterns and podiums are handy items to have when speaking to a group. Sometimes, one can act as an extra surface to hold sales items and other materials. Foldable lecterns, some of which contain sound amplification equipment, sit on a table

I recommend: See a description of portable podiums and lecterns and discover how they can enhance your display at Displays2Go.

Literature racks

Literature racks hold and display brochures and other sales literature. You can have these custom made and you can also specify whether you want them to hold posters. Many styles fold for easy storage or shipping.

I recommend: Check out a short description of literature racks and see photos of several different table top models at BizTradeShows.com.

Panel display

Panel displays typically contain several panels that fold up so you can store them flat or nearly flat. Most open up to become three-dimensional. While you can display some models on a table top, others sit on the floor.

I recommend: Browse through many different designs of panel displays and see how you can use them in your display at American Image Displays.

Banner stand

A banner stand is a structure that holds a fabric sign or other flexible material, which allows you the ability to display it more easily. Many banner stands work similarly to portable screens used with projectors, and all collapse to take up only a small amount of space.

I recommend: Look at photos and descriptions of many different types of banner stands at TradeShowPlus, a division of Ecertco Incorporated.