Many questions can pop up to a person’s mind when preparing for a trade show. One question that goes through the minds of many business owners is whether to buy or rent a trade show display. In this blog, you will know that Should You Rent or Buy a Trade Show Exhibit (Tips to Consider When Renting a Trade Show Booth)
The answer to this question is not as obvious as it seems. It is largely dependent on your activity.
If you attend many trade shows, then you might want to buy your booth. But if you attend once a year, then renting a booth may seem like a more conscious decision.
However, to arrive at your decision, there are some factors you need to consider. In this post, we shall look at the pros and cons of renting or buying a booth. Should You Rent or Buy a Trade Show Exhibit –
Let’s get started:
Pros of Buying a Booth
You can save time and money by having your own booth. For every trade show you attend, you don’t need to look and pay for a rental company. Depending on the traffic at the exhibition show, you’ll get a return on your investment.
Assuming that you attend the same shows as your customers, having the same booth at every show you attend can give you visual recognition and excellent exposure. This will allow the attendees who didn’t get a chance to visit your booth the previous show to do so.
Cons of Buying a Booth
Initial Investment – The cost involved in building and buying a trade show is not cheap. With a rental booth, there is no initial investment.
Storage, Shipping and Repair Costs – With your own trade show booth, you’re responsible for shipping, repairs, and maintenance costs. Keep this in mind when deciding between owning and renting.
Lack of Flexibility – As your business and its offerings change, so is the market and design trends. Updating the look and feel of your trade show exhibit from one show to another can be much costly.
Pros of Renting a Booth
No Shipping or Storage Needs – Owning a trade booth comes with storage and shipping costs. With a rented booth you’re not responsible for storing the booth once the show is over. This will save you time and money.
Offers Convenience – Convenience is a valuable factor especially when it comes to exhibiting at a trade show. Some displays can be set up in a few minutes, allowing you more time to engage with attendees.
For increased convenience, you can have your provider install the booth for you.
Offers Flexibility – Your business can benefit from the flexibility that comes with the rental trade show booth. As an exhibitor, you can rent a certain booth and try it out. If it doesn’t feel right, you can try another until you find the one that works best for your business.
You can also rent components to add to your current display if you want to expand, or if you’re attending a certain event that requires a larger display.
Cons of Renting a Booth
Availability – Since you don’t own the booth, failure to plan ahead can cause availability issues.
What to Consider When Choosing a Trade Show Booth
Budget
While it makes sense to spend a little extra on your trade show booth, you should be able to determine the difference between an excellent display and the return on investment.
Be sure to prioritize companies that provide a wide range of options to suit your budget, while still providing high-quality, customized exhibit.
Turnaround Time
Although most trade shows are planned well in advance, sometimes the nature of the business is not predictable. Some companies can help ease the dilemma by providing prebuilt booths that can be delivered immediately and that require just a few company graphics to give it a professional feel and look.
Support Staff
Depending on your display’s intricacy, you might be required to have on-site personnel to handle technical issues while you focus on customers. If this applies to your booth, be sure to choose a company that offers this service. If you have a smaller display, having the booth company there for assembly and breakdown is enough.
Design Options
Sometimes your customers might become familiar with your displays after seeing them in the previous trade shows. Updating your booth with small but impactful changes can help attract potential customers.
Things such as graphics, furniture, and flooring can change the look and feel of your display without adding a dime to your budget. Be sure to work with a company with skillful and excellent designs. Their development teams should also be willing to go with you every step of the way.
