The Exhibitor's Resource – Trade Show Marketing Blog

Rental trade show programs are an increasingly popular way exhibitors are participating in trade shows. But how does an exhibitor evaluate and select a trade show display rental provider? Here are some questions a trade show coordinator should consider when deciding on a rental trade show display agency:

Does the exhibit house have sufficient experience with custom rental projects?
Trade show display rental agencies with longevity are a better bet for reliability and satisfaction than a startup. The ability to demonstrate past successful rental projects should be a prerequisite for any exhibit house you are considering renting from. A trade show design agency should be able to provide a portfolio of past client projects, including photos from the show and summaries of how the rental program met budget constraints.

Is a standard rental package a good fit for my program?
You may consider renting from a selection of standard kits or packages, plus a short list of options. It’s becoming the norm that these standard trade show display rental solutions can meet exhibitors’ needs well, even without much customization, thereby reducing overall cost. There may be a range of display rental packages pegged to a tiered pricing structure, each level offering a little more in terms of design features, included services, and level of support.

What if more flexibility is required?
Although there are increasingly more sophisticated standardized rental packages available and more options to choose from, in order to allow further flexibility, you may decide that a trade show rental house that can also deliver custom components to pair with the standard kits is the way to go. This is where a creative rental trade show display house can really make the difference by figuring out how to maximize the use of standard components and saving cost there, but spending any extra budget on just the right custom elements to deliver a unique look.

Will you have adequate support on the trade show floor?
Trade show exhibitors should remember Murphy’s Law when selecting a display rental partner. The range of services that a trade show display rental company offers to its clients is an important factor to weigh when deciding on a rental display solution. Should something go wrong, can your rental provider promptly correct the problem by making immediate arrangements for repairs or replacements? What is their contingency plan and how do they manage the process of implementing Plan B? Will they be on-site to take care of your needs?

Popularity: 18% [?]

The creative, technical and project management expertise that Exhibit Resources has become known for is frequently tapped for projects other than just trade show displays and exhibits. We regularly design custom corporate interiors, retail spaces, showrooms, and welcome centers as well.

But we have a great idea for exhibitors who might want to bring the impact of large format graphics to the office right now: Why not set up your trade show display in the lobby of your corporate headquarters? After all, even though our custom modular displays are engineered to be light weight and compact for shipping, they are also designed to reflect a high-end and refined aesthetic. Displays like the Lumiture based one shown below can help with interior space definition while vibrantly welcoming your guests and introducing your brand. If your trade show display features integrated AV presentations or shows off product samples in display cases, even better.

Just keep in mind that as your trade show calendar fills up, perhaps with more vertical market or niche trade shows, you may decide to have a second display produced specifically for your lobby. And although it’s true that for more permanent lobby displays you have even more flexibility in how elements are integrated with the existing interior architecture, there is still good reason to keep lobby display structure at least somewhat mobile. With all of the strategic trade show marketing you’ve been doing, along with the positive impression you’ve made on visitors to your facility, you’ll be moving to a larger office space soon, and you’ll be able to bring your lobby display with you.

Popularity: 26% [?]

Exhibit Resources was recognized at the 2009 Top100 NC Small Business Event at the Sheraton downtown Raleigh tonight. President and CEO Lana Calloway accepted the award to cheers from fellow small business leaders and their guests.

Business Leader Magazine named Exhibit Resources to the list from more than 260 nominations based on its business success and community leadership over the past year. The publication limited the criteria to include only companies with fewer than 100 employees and that also do a majority of their business in North Carolina. The full rankings will be published in Business Leader Magazine’s June issue.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Exhibit Resources has been notified that we will be receiving a National ADDY Award at the AAF National Conference in Washington, D.C. at the Crystal Gateway Marriott. The award is for the trade show exhibit we designed and produced for Burt’s Bees. Erin Snow from Burt’s Bees will be on hand, along with Exhibit Resources representatives, to accept the award at the ADDY Dinner, Show and Gala on Saturday, June 6. The annual event wraps up the four day conference, which also includes seminars, workshops, forums and an expo for the advertising industry.

Popularity: 28% [?]

We had a blast at the “Southern Fried” ADDY Awards at the new DPAC in downtown Durham last night. Exhibit Resources took the Gold ADDY in the “Trade Show Exhibit” category in this year’s competition for the “Burt’s Bees Green Exhibit” we produced.

In addition to the fun of winning, we also got a kick out of all of the myriad of interpretations of “Southern Formal” style. There were enormous cowboy hats, frilly Southern Belle dresses, “Colonel Sanders” style string ties, and lots of retro southern panache.

Popularity: 14% [?]

Exhibit Resources will be hosting the 2009 WorldQuest for Business event on Thursday, March 26th.

There is no question – the world has changed and continues to change. For better or worse, we are all being pushed into the global arena and must be quick on our feet. WorldQuest for Business is your best opportunity in the Triangle to grow your knowledge of world affairs and culture. And because WorldQuest for Business is comprised of four-member teams, you and your colleagues will benefit from the opportunity to work together toward an end goal. You’ll also enjoy outstanding networking opportunities among companies of all shapes and sizes as well as local professionals who register individually. Best of all, you’ll have a GREAT time!

WorldQuest for Business 2009

Popularity: 12% [?]