If you are planning to attend a trade show or exhibit for your company, one of the most critical factors for its success will be the design of the display booth.
At trade shows, it is vital to stand out among hundreds of displays. Therefore, the display should be well thought out and planned to match the target audience’s needs.
There are three general types of exhibits used at trade shows: portable, permanent, and custom-designed. So if you’re interested in taking your next exhibition to the next level, keep reading.
What Is a Trade Show Exhibit?
Trade shows serve multiple purposes simultaneously. Primarily, they are marketing opportunities for those who have set up a booth at a trade show.
There are three main categories of expos:
- Industry trade shows
- Consumer expos
- Trade shows that appeal to both industry and consumers
The type of trade show being executed makes a big difference in how you should market yourself. Some expos are industry-specific, like businesses that manufacture and sell electronics, while other trade shows could focus on finding new staff.
Understanding the audience of a trade show is vital if you are hoping to have a successful booth.
Different Types of Booths at Trade Shows
There are four main types of booths for exhibitions; however, the best one for you will depend on the kind of expo you’re attending. We will discuss each below for more clarification and how they can work with marketing at trade shows.
Peninsula Booth
A peninsula booth is often found at the end of an aisle and has three out of the four sides exposed to foot traffic. Typically, these types of booths are shared with other businesses.
The most common starting size for a peninsula booth is 20 x 20 ft or larger and offers more flexibility when it comes to your design, display height, and layout.
The primary benefit to peninsula booths is that it has maximum exposure to customers from all three sides.
Inline Booth
Inline booths (also known as a ‘linear’ exhibit) are the most commonly found expo displays. They are usually set up side by side and back to back with other inline booths to create aisles.
Typically, inline booths are 10 x 10 ft or 10 x 20 ft and have a maximum back wall height of 8 ft. Inline booths are generally positioned with other inline booths on either side or behind one another, whereas peninsula booths are found at the end or along the outside wall of the expo.
Perimeter Booth
Very similar to an inline booth, a perimeter booth has other stalls positioned on either side. The significant difference with a perimeter booth is that you will generally have access to the trade show’s perimeter wall, which is ideal if you have a large display.
Having a large display will increase your visibility and brand exposure to the patrons attending the event, which can be rather lucrative for your business.
Island Booth
One of the most customizable displays to choose from, an island booth sits with all four sides open and exposed to passing patrons. Much like the peninsula booth, this style option gives you maximum flexibility when it comes to design, layout, and height.
Trade Show Display Options
Having decided on which style of booth you want for your display (inline, perimeter, island, or peninsula), now you can look at expanding on your display with quite a few options.
You can find portable, modular, and custom options when it comes to trade show exhibits. Portable exhibits are great for quick setup and takedown, as well as easier for shipping. Modular construction allows you, the exhibitor, the ability to create a display to fit various sizes, and custom exhibits will offer the most extensive range of display possibilities.
Tension Fabric Displays
This display style uses aluminum poles and extrusions, stretching large fabrics to create stunning walls and displays. They’re easy to set up and just as simple to take down for easy shipping.
You can combine other accessories such as shelving, lighting, and mounts, but each system is different.
Truss
Truss systems are the most customizable, and virtually any shape display can be created with the right-looking truss, from perimeter booths to custom exhibits.
Truss can also be powder coated in a range of colors so that you can match your display to your branding for maximum cohesiveness. If you have large graphics to display, truss can work perfectly for you.
Backlit Displays
Backlit displays are constructed using high-quality aluminum extrusion lightboxes coupled with tension fabric graphics. Features that can be offered with backlit displays are scalable LED boxes, versatile accessories, and a tool-free setup.
Most backlit displays can function as both 10 ft and 20 ft booth sizes; however, custom designs can always be requested.
Backlit displays allow you to add mood, tone, and atmosphere with LED lights, improving your brand against the competition.
Lightweight Shelving/Grid Displays
This display style is constructed using a lightweight plastic frame and includes shelves that can hold up to 50 lbs. To customize this display further, grid wall panels can be added to maximize merchandise area, and they can also be combined with backlit graphics and TV mounts.
This trade show booth display wall can hold banners, literature holders, and products simultaneously, helping you make the most of any available space. In addition, patrons are more likely to remember trade show booth display walls that have a tangible element they can try out and touch, making for great interactive trade show booths.
Get Your Display On
With all this information on the different styles of exhibits at trade shows, you’re well on your way to creating a design that is perfectly suited to your brand. If you want to bring your next exhibit stand to the next level, we at Infinity Exhibits can get you started.
Contact us to request a quote, and we can assist with everything from design to installation and dismantling and even shipping.
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- An Example Product Presentation: Use This to Model Your Exhibit - September 25, 2023
