When considering a new trade show exhibit, one of the most important decisions that you need to make is whether you will buy or rent it. Obviously, if you do one show a year, versus ten, renting is a more economical solution. But what if the number of shows you exhibit in is somewhere in between? There is no magic formula to help you decide, you will need to weigh the pros and cons of both in order to make a financially sound decision.
Renting an exhibit presents many flexible options for each show you attend. For example, renting vs. buying allows you to rent flashy, large exhibits for your most popular events and then maybe a miniature version for the smaller shows you attend. Consider several factors – which show do you need to make more of an impact, what kind of ROI do you need to achieve at each show, etc.?
Another factor to consider is geography. If you plan to participate in some shows on the East Coast and some on the West Coast, or even abroad, renting is a very practical option – especially if your display vendor has multiple locations to accommodate your geographical needs.
Here is a list of some of the pros for renting an exhibit:
- You can attend very different types of trade shows and have flexibility with space and design for each
- You can have different configurations or styles from show to show
- Renting eliminates the cost of ownership, maintenance and storage
- Most rental companies provide turnkey solutions including shipping, logistics, set up/break down, storage
- The money you save from storage and logistical costs will allow you to create new graphics with custom messaging for each specific show
- You can rent all the AV and technology equipment as part of your booth design and not have to worry about updating or replacing electronics each year
On the con side, most rental fees are going to constitute approximately 25% of the total cost of purchasing a new exhibit. You must keep in mind that these fees usually include shipping, drayage, labor and other basic show services expenses as part of the rental fee. The other consideration with renting trade show displays is that you cannot usually make custom changes to the exhibit structure. When you buy a customized exhibit, you get to choose colors, designs, and layouts that truly compliment your organization’s marketing message. You may end up finding that you will spend slightly more money renting exhibits. However, do not forget about all of the time and trouble you will save yourself over those years. These types of things add significant value to rental displays.
While we have only outlined some of the important things to consider, you should always weigh all the pros and cons before making your decision. Some display companies, like Apple Rock, offer you custom rental solutions, reconfigurable designs, and lease to own options. This is another important question for you to ask your current display vendor. When the time comes to make a final decision, simply choose the most logical solution for your company’s situation.
