Renting an exhibit - still a popular option

I have this conversation a lot with clients: Why should they rent their exhibit? 
Because it makes sense. 
Not for every exhibitor and not at every event - but in many instances I see our clients benefit from renting instead of buying their exhibit.

We created this advertising piece below (it was a double sided card - so the text below is the back). It summarizes the key reasons for choosing a rental booth.

In essence - it's about flexibility and making your show budget go further.
At least that is how I like to look at it.  

Gone are the days when Marketing Managers had 'unlimited' trade show budgets like in this custom exhibit with intricate mill work at the 1893 Chicago World Fair.

1893 Chicago World Fair - Michigan Exhibit (Source:PeriodPaper)

Today we are still focusing on cutting costs, economical solutions, minimizing expenses, and maximizing your show R.O.I.s (while still trying to impress your attendees with an amazing booth!)


We have seen many clients go from a 600 to a 200 square foot space, and vice-versa.   This may be a result of changing Marketing budgets and because they invest in different sized spaces at different shows.  Add another dimension, that these shows don't happen every year, and now what do you do with a booth purchase that only fits the space for one of your four events?


Almost all our clients change their exhibit from one event to the next.  Even if it's just adding seating or a meeting room, changing the layout, enlarging the storage room, or changing the size - you can always make improvements to your booth and I like that a rental exhibit gives you this type of flexibility.

Unless you know that you will be using the same booth, in the exact same configuration for at least 4-5 shows, consider a rental exhibit.  If there are some core elements that can be used at every event and in every size configuration look at a hybrid solution (a combination of custom purchased components + rental components).  Hybrid solutions give you a little more customisation and unique elements within your rental exhibit.


A lot of our exhibits are a mix of custom elements (purchased) and rental components, like this 20'x20' exhibit we designed for Pure Hothouse. The glowing pedestals, dimensional lit letters, and graphics were custom/purchased components and most of the structure is rented.  That is why you can also see a 10'x20' concept in which a combination of custom components and rental structure is used.  For the 10'x20' they only rent the exhibit structure they need instead of carrying the cost of the full 20'x20' version.

I am sure we will come back to this rental discussion over the lifetime of this blog and even though I can appreciate that a rental exhibit is not the right fit for every company I think renting a custom designed display will continue to be a popular choice.

Excitement this week? A really cool time lapse device.

I was contemplating what I could share with you this week and even though we are currently gearing up for some major trade shows in the next month I kept thinking about this very cool product:
"RADIAN - a motion time lapse device for everyone" Kris Cheng - co-founder
(I'll post another update with photos on the exhibits we are building for Kruger and Flakeboard in the next couple of weeks so stay tuned).

Back to Radian.  I know it's not directly trade show related but I'm sure a lot of you photography enthusiasts, IPhone lovers, Engadget readers, builders, stagers, designers, artists, and of course exhibitors....will appreciate this gadget.

(if this great video does not show up in Internet Explorer - watch it here!)

Radian: a motion time-lapse device for everyone from Kris Cheng on Vimeo.

A time lapse video is a very unique way to showcase changes over time.  As you can see in our recent exhibit build for Microsoft on YouTube, it's a great way for an exhibitor to see their booth come to life.  I used to believe that  things like this were only for photography professionals but Radian is compact, has a very clean design, can move from side to side, tilts up and down, is programmed with your Smartphone app and on top of all that - it is extremely affordable even to the casual user.


It's not yet in production (we came across it through a great program/site called Kickstarter "a funding platform for creative projects.")  I'm not using this post to get you to pledge, I just wanted to share a very cool product because we love to support innovation and the entrepreneurs who create, design, and bring them to us.

I believe the reason we relate to things like this is because we are a small boutique exhibit house.  We like to push our boundaries, we like to try new products, and we like to design & build exhibits with the same enthusiasm that these entrepreneurs do.

Here are some more images:
(Source - Kickstarter)

 

Booth Flooring: carpet, vinyl, interlocking tiles, grass,...

Booth flooring is an important component in the exhibit design process.

Work with your exhibit house to make your space stand out - review design options, look at samples, consider 'green' solutions, think about longevity, and imagine it in the context of your booth.

Flooring can definitely set the tone for your entire exhibit.  Take a look at Outotec's booth as an example. One design uses a white carpet - the other shows a grey option.

They have very different  'feels' depending on the colour choice for the flooring.

Which one do you like?  I immediately fell in love with the white carpet but started worrying about visitors spilling drinks, dirty shoes leaving their marks, and all the other practical concerns I have!

Once again it's a form versus function debate:  Yes, dark flooring is practical.  Yes, it will be stain resistant. Yes, it will last longer. BUT - Our designer has won me over....I love the white flooring in this booth.

(For those of you who are not convinced - keep a carpet cleaner handy during the show, have your carpet washed after a couple of events, and set some funds aside to splurge on a fabulous new white carpet when the old one starts to show some wear and tear!)
 

Here are some tips on why carpet (don't worry - it does not have to be white) is still a popular choice:

Carpet is still the most popular choice

• It comes in a wide range of colours
• You can choose eco-friendly products
• It is easily installed & dismantled  for an event
• It provides comfort (with underpad)  if you are standing for hours
• You can easily hide cables 
• Carpet is customizable (printing or inlays)
• It is one of the most cost-effective solutions (purchase or rental)

Here is a short video on some of the other flooring products we use for trade shows (I always thought the artificial grass was neat and am pleasantly surprised about how good roll-able vinyl flooring options have become).

In the video you will see samples of carpet, vinyl flooring, synthetic grass, LED light tiles, printed tiles, printed carpet & underpad. 

This is Mucci Farm's exhibit where we used a 'wood' vinyl flooring along with a charcoal grey carpet.

Even though we are not always able to use residential or commercial flooring products at events - there are many great flooring solutions available that are made specifically for the 'temporary nature' of trade shows (interlocking tiles, 'easy' raised flooring, printed carpets, textured vinyls, etc.).

As I mentioned above, choosing the right flooring is an important part in the exhibit design process and in setting the tone for your booth.  Look at samples, trust your designer, and take advantage of all the new flooring products available.

*If there are any cool flooring products you would like to share - please feel free to comment!*

Exhibit Rendering or Exhibit Photo?

I was looking at an image today and could not tell if it was an artist's rendering OR if it was a photograph.  Today's post is not very serious, nor does it make us experts in the latest design technology - but I believe it does create a little bit more awareness and appreciation. 

As recently as 10 years ago our exhibit designers only sketched and drew booths using pen and paper (As an exhibitor, or even someone hiring an architect to remodel your home, you will probably come across a rendering or two.  Because we are so used to seeing pretty pictures and photographs instantly we often forget the amount of time and effort it takes to create these digital masterpieces.  These drawings bring the booth ideas to life and help us imagine them on the trade show floor.  In the last few years I have truly gained an appreciation for the artistry and technical skills required to develop exhibit renderings or 3D animations.  Hours of work on the designers part leave you with images that are so realistic - the lines between the booth photo and the renderings start to blur.  Here is an example of Intelerad's 2011  exhibit for RSNA's 2011 annual radiology meeting.  Can you tell which one is the photo?

You can also see Intelerad's 2010 exhibit renderings and photos on our site www.exhibit-solutions.com.

Here are some other cool examples I found:

Studio clues - Digital rendering vs product photography

Ronen Bekermans - render vs photo review