subject: Maximize Your Trade Show Space With A Portable Display [print this page] Maximize Your Trade Show Space With A Portable Display
Technically, every trade show display is portable. Any can be set up at the convention and dismantled afterward. The question is, how portable would you like it to be, how quickly would you like it set up, and what budget do you have. These three factors will generally determine what type of exhibit you should consider.
Size Does Matter
The first constraint you must consider is size. What is your exhibit going to do? If it's going to be used at a convention, you're likely seeking a booth to fit a 10 foot space or an 8 foot space. But if you're seeking a portable display to use elsewhere, perhaps in the aisle of a school or in the workplace, you have more flexibility about sizing. As a general rule, never allow the exhibit to obstruct traffic. Don't be concerned if the space you have seems too small to make an impact. A small exhibit can have a big impact, and will always be preferable to an overly large installation.
Talk About Budget
One of the easiest ways to determine what type of trade show display you want is to set your budget. The smaller the budget, the smaller the exhibit you'll want. Within each exhibit price range, there are many portable display options. But once you know your price -- which can be easily determined based on outside factors such as your company budget, etc -- you've got a good starting point.
What's Your Setup Timeframe?
The next question to consider is how quickly you'll need to set up. Generally speaking, the smaller the trade show exhibit you choose, the easier it will be to set it up. A portable display is typically small, and therefore typically simple to set up. If you need to minimize time spent working with the booth, you'll want to think about choosing the smallest size possible. There are other ways to minimize time as well. Choosing a ready-to-go design, such as a briefcase exhibit or a pre-bagged option, would be a good idea.
How Portable Do You Want It?
There are many different types of portable display. The key thing to consider is what portability means for you. Is your booth going to travel? Where? How far? If you only need fit it in a car, you won't have to be concerned with any complex cases, but you will have to ensure that everything you need can fit into your vehicle. If you're working with air travel, you should endeavor to have a booth that can travel with you on the plane.
If your booth doesn't fit, the alternative is shipping. Depending on how much your booth weighs, shipping can be an expensive proposition. Even for the most lightweight exhibits, shipping still presents hassles and requires extra time to arrange pickup. Although it is a hassle, some heavier trade show displays can only be shipped because of restrictions. Heavy exhibits are generally avoidable, but some specific styles may require exceptionally sturdy construction or other additions which make it overly heavy.
