How to Shop for a Custom Trade Show Exhibit and Exhibit Builders

  

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Great news! You finally received the marketing budget to invest into a new custom trade show exhibit for your company! So how do you begin the process of shopping for a new custom trade show exhibit and finding a strong exhibit builder to partner with?

• Talk with Marketing Contacts you may have – Find out who they work with, the pros, the cons, services offered, and past experiences with the exhibit builder
• Research, research, research! – Do you want to work with a local exhibit builder or are you comfortable with having your exhibit built in another state? Do you want an exhibit builder that can handle everything from design to on-site show management and warehousing? There are many options. Determine the priorities for your program, then….
• Write an Exhibit RFP. This process helps you organize your objectives, goals, marketing communications, schedule, budget, etc…
• Meet, Video-conference, or Speak with a few Exhibit Builders you are considering to gauge their interest and to determine a key contact.
• Send the RFP to the key contact at each exhibit builder and make yourself available to provide any further information needed to clarify the RFP. Prepare any past booth photos for discussion about what you liked and disliked about the exhibit used in the past.
• Keep to your timeline! The trade show industry is detail and time-sensitive, so your exhibit builder bidders should be accustomed to meet the deadlines specified on your RFP.
• Be Open-Minded about received booth designs. Understand that the exhibit builder is looking into your company and industry from an outside perspective, and that fresh, unique look may need to sit on your credenza for a week or so, before you can fully digest and appreciate the perspective. See what comments you receive from your co-workers about each design. Have a team meeting to discuss likes, dislikes, and possible revisions that may help the design work better for you.
• Provide Honest Feedback to each bidder. Did the design meet your budget? Did it meet your specified requirements? Determine which exhibit builders will move on to the next stage of the process
• Carefully Review Second Round of Designs and balance of the response to your exhibit RFP to ensure it meets your needs, is complete, and includes turnkey pricing (if desired).

The process to invest into a custom trade show exhibit is a process and takes time. But the process is well worth the reward of a well-built custom trade show exhibit that represents your company well, engages attendees, and is within budget when you choose an experienced custom exhibit builder that focuses on providing a final product that exceeds your expectations. Interested in an interactive exhibit design? Check out this interactive exhibit design case study.