The thought of a completely custom trade show display might send visions of dollar signs dancing through your head. However, creating a cost-effective, one-of-a-kind event marketing platform on a tight budget is possible when working with a full-service trade show house. Smart design, fabrication efficiencies and hard-won show floor spending experience gives you more booth for your buck.
Modern materials, unique ownership options and show floor strategies intelligently utilized can help stretch those budget dollars and opens up new levels of affordability that you may have considered out of reach. This first installment of a multi-blog series will hopefully give you some inspiration on how to be thrifty with your budget and how an experienced builder can stretch those dollars and make that custom and visionary trade show display a reality.
Tight trade show budget? You can still go custom. Here’s how:
1. Modular Structures
Plug and play booth components allow you to mix and match configurations while still utilizing full graphic, branding and color customization. Modular options cost less and weigh less, packing down into fewer, lighter crates for lower shipping and drayage fees. Using more extrusion and fabric helps fill your space with brilliant hues and imagery without draining your budget.
2. Purchase + Rental
Many highly effective exhibits utilize a smart combination of rental and purchase options. Core display structures can be purchased and then supplemented with rental components to tailor the booth to fit each specific show. It is a savvy strategy that allows flexibility in layout, size, graphics, and budget.
3. Flooring
Should you rent or purchase? There are many fantastic looking custom options for a display floor and if that look is important to you and you have multiple shows each year it may make the most sense to purchase a floor. But there are also amazing flooring options that won’t break the bank and gives your exhibit space a specific look and feel to separate you from the competition. Once again, a seasoned display builder knows flooring and how to make it work within your budget.
4. Hanging Sign Alternatives
Large, layered hanging signs can certainly get the heart pumping but the rigging fees can send your budget into cardiac arrest. Captivating canopies added to your base structure can add multiple height layers to your display at a fraction of the cost. Large and economical lightwall towers stand out among the sea of signs with glowing graphics. The only one who knows you trimmed your hanging sign budget will be you!
5. Printed Collateral Materials vs AV and Digital Content
The days of printing large quantities of marketing materials have passed. Printing is expensive and more often than not the pieces end up in the trash can after the show. Instead, allocate those dollars toyour AV and digital content that will capture your audiences’ attention more and it can be used over and over again, or be changed easily if need be. There are many ways to display, showcase and disseminate digital content to show attendees without filling up the local landfill.
Remember, you don’t have to settle for a cookie cutter, stale display because your budget is tight. Talk with a knowledgeable trade show expert to design and build the perfect event marketing platform, all within your timeframe and budget allocation. Custom is within reach for everyone.
