February 20, 2013in Hybrid Displays 0 Likes

How To Protect Your Displays During Shipping

After spending countless hours designing the perfect marketing strategy for your trade show booth—not to mention countless dollars on custom signage with compelling graphics—you will definitely want to do everything you can to protect your exhibit products when they are being shipped to each expo. Here are a few tips to help you do just that.

1. Select the right shipping containers.

The biggest mistake that companies make when it comes to shipping exhibit materials for a tradeshow booth is to ship them in containers that are the wrong size. There are a variety of products on the market that are designed specifically for tradeshow products. For instance, our half-hard case built to perfectly fit 6 foot and 8 foot tabletop pop up displays and ready pop fabric displays. You won’t have to worry about the popping mechanism getting damage during transit, bouncing around in the back of a truck or as it is thrown into the cargo area of a plane. Similarly, digital displays will require special protections such as monitor cases and the like.

2. Choose durable materials.

Obviously, you aren’t going to ship your tradeshow displays in a cardboard box; plastic tends to be the material of choice. Shipping containers that are rotational molded, however, tend to be stronger than those that are injection molded. The rotational molding process also allows the containers to be designed with a more customized fit for the product and manufactured using the optimal thickness to protect the product. In other words: the shipping containers will fit your display materials like a glove!

3. Look for features that make it more convenient to transport.

Your exhibit displays will be less likely to get damaged if you also look for features that make it easier to move from one location to the next—from the truck to the dock, from the dock to the expo floor, etc. Such features include:

  • Wheels
  • Handles
  • Locks

You may think of locks as a security feature rather than a transportation feature, but locks also protect the case from accidentally being popped open in the event that the container is dropped during the loading and unloading process.

4. Hire a reliable shipping company.

Most likely, the products you will be shipping are heavy and oddly shaped, making it more cost efficient to select the services of a specialized shipping company rather than a general parcel service. Often, the venue will offer a list of preferred providers that they recommend you use. Don’t hire a company without first checking a few references to determine their reliability. Nothing will make your company look more unprofessional than being forced to use displays that are damaged or broken or, worse yet, haven’t arrived on time. You will also want to inquire about other services the vendors may or may not offer such as:

  • Less than truckload service
  • Inside pick-up and delivery
  • Flexible scheduling
  • On-site assistance
  • Unpacking and debris removal

If you follow this advice to pack and protect your tradeshow displays, you can be sure that your investment will arrive in tact, attract potential customers and pay off at many tradeshows to come.

November 4, 2011in Trade Show Display Rentals 0 Likes

Renting Your Trade Show Exhibit

Creating an exhibit for a trade show is expensive and time consuming. If your company does not attend more than four shows a year it may be more cost effective to rent your exhibit. There are six things you should consider when looking into an exhibit rental company.

Experience is an obvious area of concern. Be sure to inquire about the experience of each person, from each department that will be handing the creation of your exhibit; especially if you are using their graphics department. Check out client reviews and don’t be afraid to ask for three referrals with contact information.

Exhibition halls each have their own set of rules for exhibits, as do the individual shows. You will want a rental company that can offer a wide variety of package options. Chose a company that can provide different styles, sizes and setups to accommodate any show you might choose to attend. Be specific with your questions and be clear about what you need, be prepared for the unexpected and double check their support policies. Each package will have it’s own level of support and you need to make sure the support you need is included with the package you choose.

Along with their variety, do they offer flexibility? If your show has a requirement that isn’t spelled out in one of their packages are they able to work out a custom solution? Flexibility is a much appreciated characteristic of a great Exhibit Rental Company.

Since we are a society that loves visual stimulation you will want to pay close attention to the expertise of their graphics department. Ask for photographs of work completed by the current in-house team. You will want high-impact, easy to read designs of the highest quality. Get details on the process of design, the time constraints, and how the company handles the creative collaboration with you.

The final concern is that of logistics. Will the rental company transport the exhibit to and from the hall for you (for a fee)? Will they install it as well? If not, then is the exhibit something you, and your staff, can assemble with ease?

You want a company offering quality and value and it may take time to find the right match for your needs. The time spent now will save you much grief in the future.

March 27, 2007in Trade Show Display Rentals 0 Likes

Three Tips for Attending a Trade Show on the Cheap

Get Exposure Without Going Broke

It’s no secret that there are monumental benefits to attending a trade show – exposure to a targeted audience, opportunity to express your unique selling point, generating leads and soaking up industry knowledge at seminars and discussions. But when budgets are tight, your company’s accounting department is going to want you to trim the fat a little on your trade show budget.

You can use ideas usually overlooked for cheaper transportation, plan and negotiate to get discounted room & board and get trade show booth rentals rather than purchasing trade show displays. Here are a few tips to help you keep costs down, but still create impact and get the most from your trade show experience.

Transportation

Depending on where you are traveling from, how far in advance you make arrangements and the mode of transportation you choose, you can spend a little or go over the top on this one. Obviously, you can’t control where you are traveling from, or where the conference or trade show is held. But you can plan ahead, and be open to different travel options.

As with anything else, don’t wait until the last minute to make travel reservations. Sometimes this can’t be avoided, but if you plan your trade show schedule six months to a year in advance, and make your reservations several weeks prior to the event, you can save the company hundreds of dollars.

And when planning travel, remember that the plane is not the only way go. If the event is only a couple of hundred miles away, renting a van for the group, or partnering with another company who is also attending the event, renting a charter bus and splitting the cost could be a cheaper option. Also, riding the train, which many people overlook, is an affordable option. Attendees get to sit back and relax and meals are often included in the price.

Room & Board

Conference organizers often block off a number of rooms for attendees at a motel or hotel with a discounted rate. But if you don’t have this option available to you, there are several options for keeping costs in check.

First, keep in mind the distance between the hotel or motel and the conference. Booking rooms at an economy motel 15 minutes away from the event may seem like a good idea – at first. But keep in mind the costs of taking a cab back and forth can quickly add up. And, the inconvenience of being far away from a quick change of clothes, or grabbing something you may have forgotten can cause unnecessary duress. Instead, pair employees up (make sure they are compatible so that you don’t end up with an episode of Big Brother) and have them share a room.

Second, if you know you will be attending several events over the course of the year, shop around at the different hotel chains to see what kind of special discounts they offer for repeated hotel stays. Some of them offer discounts if you sign up for a special program, or you can get a free night’s stay after you’ve booked a certain number of nights.

Third, try getting a room at a hotel that includes a continental or buffet breakfast to further cut on expenses. And if the establishment also has a restaurant, that can save you and your team the headache and cost of going elsewhere to eat.

Fourth, and last – avoid room service if you can, as this can add unnecessary costs to your budget.

Trade Show Booth Rentals

With a trade show booth rental instead of a trade show display purchase, you can save hundreds of dollars. Your space represents the image your company wants to project to the public – and for some of your future customers, this is the first time they will be meeting you.

While you can purchase smaller trade show displays and even table top panel displays to keep costs down, trade show booth rentals are even cheaper. This is a great option for companies:

  • • wanting to cut costs in the short-term or long-term
  • • that infrequently attend trade shows
  • • wanting to try out a few different styles before deciding on a purchase

Before you enter into a trade show booth rental agreement, make sure you read the fine print, ask plenty of questions and understand the terms. For example, what accessories, if any come with the trade show booth? What is the timeframe for you to return the product? What are the terms for any damage incurred?

Also, make sure you look into options for enhancing your trade show booth. Banner stands, literature racks, lighting, and other accessories can drive traffic to your space, increase the generation of leads, and directly influence your bottom line.

Attending a trade show needn’t put you in the red. There are economical alternatives to what you may have done in the past. Take a look at the bigger picture, get creative, and you can plan your event on a shoestring budget without sacrificing the value of attending and participating in a trade show.

August 25, 2006in Trade Show Display Rentals 0 Likes

Stretching Your Marketing Dollar: Maximum Exposure on a Budget

You can’t get customers without exposure and you must invest some money to get that exposure. But you don’t have to go broke doing it.

Following the old, basic marketing model – putting a sign with your company’s name on the door; sprinkling your advertising budget across print, radio and television campaigns; and paying a graphic designer for a slick brochure or pamphlet – minimizes your impact in the marketplace. An important step in expanding your customer base is gaining exposure to generate interest in your brand. And if you were thinking that you couldn’t get a lot of exposure because of a limited budget, keep in mind that there are always effective, low-cost marketing options to attract potential customers.

Here’s a look at a couple of ideas to stretch your advertising dollars.

Website

Just under a decade ago, only the large companies were using their websites as effective marketing tools. Today, almost every business needs one. Your website serves as an essential piece of your overall marketing plan that fuels a sense of legitimacy for your business. If you don’t have a website, potential customers may be turned off because these days, the perception is this: if you are a legitimate professional, you have a website. It’s as important as having a phone number for your business. (more…)

February 10, 2006in Trade Show Display Rentals 0 Likes

Trade Show Display Rentals: A Good Idea!

Trade shows can be a great way to win new business, make new contacts and unveil new products to the marketplace. Exhibiting at a trade show means you are going to need to a trade show display to attract attention and showcase your company and products. The benefits of renting a trade show display, instead of purchasing one, can be numerous for small businesses or start-ups attending their first trade show and large businesses looking to increase interest at their next show. Below are some of the reasons why renting a trade show display is a good idea.

Convenience
The convenience that provides, as opposed to buying one, can be one of the most important factors in one’s decision to rent. Renting a booth for your first few trade shows will allow you to get a feel for these shows and how much money you may be able to make by attending them. You don’t want to make a big investment in a trade show display only to find out that the trade show scene is not for you. Using a rental gives you the impact of having a customized trade show display and the convenience of not having to commit to a specific format. (more…)

November 24, 2005in Trade Show Display Rentals 0 Likes

Trade Show Display Rentals from ExhibitDEAL Help Small Businesses

Trade show display rentals help start-up and smaller businesses exhibit at trade shows without large cost commitments.

Santa Monica, CA (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) November 15, 2005 — ExhibitDEAL, the Original Exhibit Wholesaler, introduces their newest service – trade show exhibit rentals. Developed as an alternative to purchasing, exhibit rentals provide a solution that meets the needs and budgets of new and small businesses and gives customers who already have a trade show booth a convenient way to add to it. To read more about the new rental service please visit, http://www.exhibitdeal.com/rental.html. A trade show exhibit rental is a viable option for first-time trade show participants.

It lets them experiment and decide what type of display is right for them. It is also ideal for a company that is interested in testing different sizes and options. Mat Kelly, president of ExhibitDEAL, discusses the benefits of renting, “It gives our customers flexibility. A company attending its first trade show might not know what size display they need or what information to include on the display; using a trade show exhibit rental lets them experiment without spending too much. And we’ve had some of our current customers choose a trade show display rental when they are looking to expand their trade show booth to create a larger, more dynamic selling environment.”

The new trade show display rental service includes detachable graphics giving each company the ability to customize their display. ExhibitDEAL ships the rental display to the trade show and afterwards the customer keeps the graphics and sends back the hardware to ExhibitDEAL. Renting also means there’s no hardware that needs to be stored. The 21-day rental package comes with an option to buy allowing customers to keep the hardware for their next trade show. “The ease and convenience of a pop-up display can be a surprise to people whose trade show display experiences have included hundreds of pounds of equipment.

Once they use a pop-up display and see how easy it is to transport and set up, they often decide to buy,” says Kelly. If a customer opts to purchase their rental booth the price is discounted.ExhibitDEAL chose to rollout the new service in late 2005 so companies could consider it for their spring trade shows. ExhibitDEAL has already received orders for rental displays and anticipates a healthy demand for rentals in 2006. Kelly explains, “Our 20-foot and 10-foot pop-up displays are very popular so we chose them for our rental services. In the future we may expand our rental service to include some of our other lines.”

Additional information on the new rental service is available at: http://www.exhibitdeal.com/rental.html.About ExhibitDEALFounded in 2000, ExhibitDEAL is The Original Exhibit Wholesaler offering portable trade show displays at nearly half the market rate. We specialize in trade show exhibits, booths and displays as well as banner stands, literature racks and portable tables. We offer a variety of styles and set ups – and we build custom trade show displays. ExhibitDEAL is the only company in the industry – the only one out of 400 – that offers a 100% money-back guarantee. ExhibitDEAL can be found on the Internet at http://www.exhibitdeal.com/.

Contact:
Mat Kellyhttp://www.exhibitdeal.com/
Phone: 866-577-3325

Press Release
Contact:Alyssa Duvall