How to Select the Right Exhibit Design House Partner for Your Next Trade Show

Selecting an exhibit design house can be like dating.

There are tons of questions and it takes a while to truly get to know the other person. Apple Rock would like to save you the trouble of kissing a bunch of frogs to find your prince, with a list of questions to ask when interviewing a marketing agency.

  1. Do you offer turnkey service? Turnkey in the trade show industry generally means the exhibit is designed, built, installed, stocked and ready to operate. All your company has to do is show up and wow prospects with your amazing exhibit.
  2. Does your company offer show support such as booth staffing?
  3. What is the scope of your technological capabilities?
  4. Can you help measure ROI (return on investment) and ROO (return on objective) after the show?
  5. How long have you been in business? Experience is a good quality to have.
  6. Will you provide me with references from past clients? Once you get these references, make sure you follow up. Good questions to ask would be “Did the exhibit design house become a true partner with you in your trade show? Were you happy with their work? Is there anything they could have done better? Do you recommend their services?”
  7. Has your company won any awards? If so, how many, in what field, and was it recently?
  8. Do you have a portfolio? Does their creative scope fit into your brand image or what you are trying to accomplish at your next face-to-face marketing event?
  9. Do you offer storage for exhibits after the show?


There are certain characteristics you should look for to ensure the selected trade show partner will meet your needs throughout the process of designing, building and displaying your brand at the next trade show. An exceptional partner is one that can not only design and build your exhibit, but one that offers full support within the many other facets of a trade show, such as booth staffing, pre-show marketing, public relations support, measuring ROI and much more.

When searching for the right exhibit house partner, price should not be the only factor. Although you do have a budget you must stick to, make sure you are comparing apples to apples. The cheapest company is not always the best. You have to look at what the design house is offering when it comes to materials used, structural integrity, quality, warranties offered and graphics. The adage, “you get what you pay for” is especially true when it comes to custom modular displays, therefore it’s in your best interest to ask these questions.  If you are ready to partner with an extraordinary exhibit design house, contact Apple Rock today.