Trade Show Display For An Island Booth

This is a hub that was originally posted in 2007. In the meantime, much has changed in the trade show industry in that the vast majority of companies exhibiting at shows are now electing to rent their exhibits as opposed to purchasing. However, if you are on of those that still prefers to own your own exhibiting property, this hub is still pertinent.

Selecting a trade show exhibit for an island booth is challenging because they keep getting more and more sophisticated and unique. Custom exhibits and portable/modular are no longer worlds apart.

The latest exhibiting systems can do almost anything. Truss exhibits, like tension fabric displays, have been around now for over a decade but recently both have evolved dramatically in terms of aesthetics and function. In fact, while truss has traditionally been heavy duty designed to hold a lot of weight, there is a new portable truss display system available that provides the advantages of truss and is lightweight. When you consider that you can use the same exhibit components if both an island exhibit configuration and in a 10 x 10 in-line booth, this represents a breakthrough in exhibit design.

Of course there are things that you can design into an exhibit if you are not worried about portability and for some companies this is important. For instance, a nice wood laminate with back lit graphics provides a very established appearance that works well for both businesses that have been around for years as well as the newcomers.

The latest trend within the world of trade show exhibits is to not even worry about the portable versus custom question by renting. Rental options have been greatly expanded over the last eighteen months so that now it's possible to get a very customized rental exhibit that looks as though you own it instead of the prior very generic looking models.

Here is a rule of thumb to keep in mind when deciding as to whether to rent or purchase a trade show exhibit. A rental display will usually cost about one third the cost of purchasing brand new, comparable booth. If you are exhibiting three or more times a year it might be more cost effective to purchase. Keep in mind, however, that you will then be responsible for storing and shipping the exhibit as well as arranging for installation and dismantling and other show services. It will probably be into your second year with the booth before the costs begin to even out.