January 04, 2021
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT EXHIBTION BOOTH BUILDER OR EXHIBITION STAND CONTRACTOR?
Read on and we will explore some of the potentially hidden costs that go in to exhibiting and how you can best source a supplier that will help you to come in on point and on budget.
What do I need?
First things first what do you need. You have decided to exhibit at a trade show and for the purposes of this blog we will assume you have booked a space only stand. In booking a space only stand you will need to organise everything you require from the stand itself to the utilities you will need such as water and waste, electrics and WIFI. Depending on your level of experience you may be able to organise and source some of this yourself but for the majority of marketing professionals out there organising an exhibition stand is an unwelcome distraction. Below we will look at some of the services you will require in order to exhibit successfully.
Exhibition stand design
First and foremost you are going to require an exhibition stand design. In an ever competitive world of advancing technology making sure you stand out at your next show is absolutely vital to its success. You need to research thoroughly the type of stand you require as there are many options out there. For maximum impact choosing a bespoke exhibition stand design to be manufactured to your exact specification is essential, however cheaper options are available.
Exhibition stand build
Once you have an exhibition stand design you are happy with you will need someone to build it for you. Exhibition stands require specialist builders who specialise in timber and metal construction as well as a multitude of other construction techniques. Exhibition stands need to be built quickly and efficiently and be able to be installed and dismantled in a very short period of time whilst giving the impression of permanence. You cannot build an exhibition stand yourself, a regular joiner cannot build your exhibition stand and if you choose to use a none specialist construction team then you are setting yourself up for a multitude of unforeseen problems.
Graphics
Your exhibition stand will require graphics. Modern print techniques mean that the options open to you regards the type and design of the graphics you want are endless but alas, you will require a specialist to design print and install any graphics and images you require on your stand.
Transport
Once your exhibition stand is designed, built and ready for install it will require transporting. Transport is one of the most common hidden costs in exhibiting. Logistics are often difficult to organise given the tight timeframes involved with exhibiting and the nature of getting large vehicles in and out of exhibition halls all at the same time as everybody else.
Site services
This is the big one. There is no avoiding them and no matter how great your exhibition stand design is, big, small, modern, vintage the cost of site services will remain the same. It is often forgotten in the cost of exhibiting. Your electric feed, fork lift truck and heavy plant hire, waste, water, Wi-Fi it all adds up and you need to make sure you bear them in mind when sending your design brief out to tender as part of your budget.
Audio/Visual
iPads, LED screens, Computer monitors etc. etc. If your stand requires any Audio visual equipment it will often require specialist installation. There is a cost of hire and installation that needs to be considered. Getting AV wrong can be a disaster for your show so make sure you research your supplier well.
Storage
If you are planning on exhibiting at multiple shows you may want to consider storage. Often times this is cheaper than having a new stand built each time but there will always be a re-furb cost due to the nature of dismantling an exhibition stand which has to be done often under very restrictive time frames.