Planning for your Exhibit Booth Display

When it comes to maximizing your presence as an exhibitor at a trade show, you don't need a massive exhibit to make a lasting impression. Booths ranging from 10x10 to 20x20 in size can create a big impact with the right planning and strategic design. In this article, we'll share some best practices to help you design a booth that will catch the eye of attendees and make the most of your limited space. Let's dive in!

Trade Show Exhibits: Important Factors to Consider
As you begin designing your booth, it's essential to consider several important factors that can make your space more effective and engaging for attendees.

1. What type of booth will you choose and where will it be located in the venue?
   The visibility of your booth plays a crucial role in attracting visitors. The type of booth you choose will determine how many sides of your exhibit will be exposed to foot traffic. A higher number of exposed sides means more opportunities to catch the eye of attendees passing by.
   
   
2. What Are Your Functional Requirements?
   It's essential to think about what activities and interactions you want to take place within your booth. Do you need a dedicated area for product demos or a comfortable meeting space for one-on-one conversations? 
   
   Perhaps you want to engage attendees with interactive activities or offer product samples. Identifying your functional requirements will help you create a booth layout that meets your needs and keeps visitors engaged. For instance, you could set up a cozy seating area for discussions, arrange eye-catching product displays on shelves, or incorporate fun activities like a virtual reality experience or a prize wheel.
    
3. What’s Your Primary Objective?
   Your booth's main goal will significantly influence its design and layout. If your primary objective is lead generation, you'll want to create an inviting atmosphere that encourages attendees to provide their contact information, perhaps through a reception counter with friendly staff ready to answer questions.
   If you're launching a new product, your booth should focus on showcasing the product's features and benefits, using eye-catching displays and demo areas. For exhibitors aiming to boost brand awareness, incorporating bold graphics, engaging videos, and consistent branding throughout the booth can help create a memorable impression on visitors.

Trade Show Booths: Different Types

Inline Booth:
This booth is perfect for exhibitors who want a simple, streamlined design. It typically has one side exposed to traffic, making it easy for attendees to spot and interact with your display.

Corner Booth:

A corner booth offers two sides visible to traffic, giving you more opportunities to engage with visitors. It's a great option if you have a little more space to work with and want to increase your booth's visibility.

Peninsula Booth:
This booth has three sides exposed to traffic, allowing for even more interaction with attendees. A peninsula booth is perfect for showcasing multiple products or services and creating distinct areas within your booth for different activities.

Island Booth:
The island booth is the ultimate in booth visibility, with all four sides exposed to traffic. This type of booth is ideal for exhibitors who want to make a big impact and have plenty of space for activities and product displays.

Once you've chosen the type of booth that best suits your needs, it's time to decide between rental and portable booth display options.

Exhibit Displays: Rental, or Portable?
Rental booths are a good choice if you have limited time or manpower, don't want to worry about setting up your booth, and would rather focus on engaging with attendees. When you rent a booth display, the items will be ready for you when you arrive at the trade show, and the cost of labor and materials handling is often included in the price. You will pay for rental booth displays at each event you attend, but remember, you don’t have to pay for shipping and material handling. 

Portable booth displays, on the other hand, give you more control over your booth's design and presentation. When you choose a portable booth, you own the items and are responsible for shipping, material handling, and setup. This option is ideal for exhibitors who exhibit in the same size space at multiple shows, reuse the same graphics, and want to be responsible for setting up, tearing down, packing, and shipping their exhibit displays.  

Functional Requirements
Now that you have your booth type and display options sorted out, let's talk about the most important functional requirements for your booth:

1. Reception counter: This is where you'll welcome visitors, collect their contact information, and answer any questions they may have.
2. Table and chairs for meeting space: Providing a comfortable area for one-on-one meetings or small group discussions will encourage attendees to engage with your brand and learn more about your products and services.
3. Shelves and tables for product displays: Be sure you have enough space to showcase your products in an organized and visually appealing manner.
4. Custom graphics for brand awareness: Incorporate eye-catching graphics that represent your brand and help you stand out from the competition.
5. Television/Displays for video: Including a video display can help you showcase product demos, customer testimonials, or other engaging content that tells your brand's story.

While all of the above might seem like a lot to consider, designing an attractive and functional booth display doesn't have to be a daunting task. By considering the factors we've discussed in this guide, you'll be well on your way to creating a small booth that attracts eager attention from your customers and maximizes your next trade show opportunity. 

Focused on Exhibitor Success 
Helping exhibitors have a successful show is our top priority.  If you’re looking for a partner to help with exhibit planning details, download the exhibitor budget worksheet and continue reading our next article in this exhibitor roadmap.

If you are exhibiting at a GES show, click here to find your show and look for GES Exhibit Flooring+, discount flooring packages, and GES Exhibit Furnishings+, discount furniture packages as well as Exhibit Systems+, trade show booth rentals with custom fabric graphics.