New ESP Store Website Coming Soon!We’ve got exciting new changes coming to our store. We’ve selected a new shop platform that we will be transitioning to in the next few months. The new shop will include an easy to use interface, and make it more efficient for each visitor to search and find products. For more information contact us at esp@expexhibits.com
We will be sending out more information as we get closer to the transition.
Space: How much space do people need?
Most of us are uncomfortable in narrow aisles – especially when there isn’t enough space to pass someone without brushing them. We don’t like being squeezed tight when perusing a booth. When designing your booth, leave enough room between display elements so visitors can maneuver in your booth space untouched. And instruct your staff to avoid blocking the narrow spots.
Find more tips at www.espexhibits.com
Or call ESP today for personal assistance at (619) 222-8813.
Our Design search Feature was created to assist your navigation of all the products we offer.
Search several hundred designs from table top to large island displays. Sort by exhibit booth size and/or price range. Portable hybrid displays, pop ups, banner stands, counters & pedestals, workstations & kiosks and more.
Go to the EXHIBIT DESIGN SEARCH
Exhibit Shown: VK-5087 Hybrid Trade Show Island Exhibit-
Exhibit Shown:
Visionary Designs Hybrid Exhibit
Custom, Custom Modular, and Kit Solutions
VK-5087 Hybrid Trade Show Island Exhibit– gg=3d Series
Just a few years ago, if you wanted to ensure you had a dynamic, effective display, your only option was to purchase a custom exhibit. If you wanted to reduce costs by renting an exhibit, you had to make do with generic, one-size-fits-all, often unimaginative displays. This is no longer true.
Today’s top exhibit producers are offering rental displays that are fresh, dynamic, compelling to visitors and customized to meet your unique needs. Now exhibitors can enjoy all of the benefits of custom design impact – effective brand communication, and functionality – and still save money.
Navigate our site featuring hundreds of display designs and rental displays. Now it’s easier than ever to decide if you want to Rent instead of Buying.
MONSTER VINYL BANNERS…that is.
Our welding capability utilizes state-of-the-art equipment to join already large separate graphics. Welding can turn your large banners into monsters! Large 13oz. Vinyl or Mesh banners can become even larger when welded together. Banner welding is accomplished by “melting” the edges of individual pieces to create one larger piece. After the banners are merged together, great pressure is applied creating a strong bond. Extremely large banners are then sewn together for additional reinforcement. The result is a monster banner with a seamless look.
Use together with Solv-it! A solvent printing process that utilizes outdoor ink. Featuring 12 months plus of outdoor use with zero to minimal fading, Solv-it! is the best solution for great quality LARGE “Monster” outdoor banners.
Contact ESP to make your Monster banners come to Life!
Begin with creating a timeline that will help you avoid last-minute rush charges and lost opportunities. There are a number of software packages available specifically for project management. Or, you can just use a simple spreadsheet or word processing program. Use this Trade Show Preparation Timeline as a guideline in developing a schedule tailored to your trade show participation.
For organizational purposes, it is nice to create a notebook divided into sections, including budget, shipping information, trade show services, graphics, promotions, travel logistics, and miscellaneous information.
Research the trade show. Review who will be attending as well as the trade show’s history. Many trade shows begin their space reservations before the previous show closes. Visit the show’s website. The majority of trade shows are available for exhibit booth space signup through the Internet.
Sign up as soon as you make the decision to participate – this could prevent late signup costs. Most trade show organizers will ask for an initial deposit to confirm your booth space and then provide you with the due dates for additional payments.
Determine who will be part of your exhibit team which may be both internal and external personnel. Setup a meeting with your team and determine their assignments and deadlines.
A handy method for keeping track of each task is to jot down on your calendar each task per specific date and follow-up when you turn to that date. You also should determine exhibit design, promotions, lead handling processes, staffing and logistics.
It is important to have an idea what you would like for your exhibit design, meet with other members of your marketing/sales department and determine what your message should be for this trade show. If you will be building or renting an exhibit, planning should begin at least three months in advance. If you are going to be using structure already available and making minor or no modifications to existing booth graphics, this can be done in about a month.
Trade show organizers will allow you to rent prior years’ attendee lists as well as the current year’s pre-registered attendees. With these lists, you will be able to send notices of your trade show participation as well as the exhibit booth number. Additional promotional strategies also are provided by show organizers and should be included in your exhibitor-services manual.
This also is a good time to determine what promotional giveaways and literature to handout during the show. Add this to your time schedule.
Work with your marketing/sales team to determine what information you will want to obtain from attendees. Decide whether you will use an electronic or manual system for retrieving leads during the trade show. You should also determine what your post-show lead fulfillment plan would be. This should be done about three months prior to the show.
Decide who will be attending the trade show and staffing your booth as soon as possible in order to communicate any show particulars and share your show strategy. You will need these names to order exhibitor badges as well as providing the staff information on show dates, location, conference registration, hotel accommodations, and air and ground travel arrangements.
Determine who will be installing and dismantling your booth well in advance of the trade show. Estimate how many hours it takes and the dates you will be setting up and tearing down your booth. Provide this to the show organizers by completing the paperwork located in the exhibitor-services manual. This should be done about 30-45 days prior to setup.
Determine what you will be shipping to show i.e. structure, equipment, display hardware, giveaways, literature, and supplies. This will help you decide what type of carrier you should use – van line or air freight. Provide the pertinent trade show information to your carrier and they will determine when your shipment should be ready for transport. Make your return shipping plans with your carrier at the same time.
The return shipment date can be determined by referring to the trade show teardown date and scheduling the pickup for the day after show closing. This should be done at least two months prior to the show.
When you receive your exhibitor-services manual, all of the on-site services deadlines will be identified such as: material handling, carpet rental, furnishings, floral arrangements, cleaning, electrical needs, and computer equipment rental. Order online or complete the paperwork for each service you will be using. Normally, there is a discount for providing this information early.
Prior to the trade show, make a list of details to be completed at the show including: picking up badges, confirming you have received all items ordered, ensuring your shipment has arrived, supervision of exhibit installation, pick up lead retrieval systems and blank bills of lading.
Dismantling usually begins as soon as the show closes although not in all cases. This information can be found in your exhibitor-services manual. It is usually the time you return your lead retrieval system as well as audio visual and computer equipment. Normally, the floral will be yours to keep; however, plants ordered are typically on a rental basis and will be picked up by the floral company. The furnishings also will be picked up soon after show closing.
Exhibit dismantling sometimes can be started immediately upon show closing although some trade show organizers may wait until the next day. The repackaging of your exhibit is done after dismantle and, at that time, the completed bill of lading should be turned into the exhibitor services center. If you do not submit your bill of lading, your shipment will not be released to your designated carrier but rather it will be sent via the shipper of choice of the trade show contractor company.
The trade show is over and it has been a success! Now is the time to turn leads over to the appropriate sales people; submit a personal expense report; work with the exhibit house to inventory the exhibit and determine necessary repairs; review final show invoices and finalize show budgets. ESP can help you with any of the above details. We are ready to help you with our range of products, advice and experience for successful trade show participation.
If this is your first time at a trade show, you are possibly a little bit nervous about how the event will unfold and if you’ve forgotten anything in organizing your display.
This is one of the advantages of dealing with ESP – a company that can help you every step of the way. We’ve seen all kinds of trade shows and displays and there is little for which we can’t provide either some advice or a definitive answer.
But let’s go back to the beginning for a moment and speak to those who are just beginning to think about their first display.
Either you’ve put together a budget yourself, or you’ve been given one by your company. In any case, the total cost of your trade show display is a determining factor in what you should be looking at.
Combining display types is an option to help you meet budget objectives. For example, you can combine a tabletop display or a freestanding portable popup display with a banner stand. Or you can use three banner stands to create a 10’w display backwall in your exhibit booth space.
Also, popup displays can be combined with modular display systems to help meet budget restrictions. The possibilities are virtually unlimited.
Multiple story displays are almost always custom exhibits or a combination of custom and modular display systems.
If you’re looking for the best in portability and convenience; if your ideal trade show display is something you can transport and set up yourself or ship inexpensively, you should be looking at portable tabletop displays, freestanding popup displays, and banner stands.
These portable displays are lightweight and usually can be transported by car, plane, or via express shippers.
If you want an idea of how the preparation for a trade show should look, take the time to read our Trade Show 101 section.
And don’t forget, if you’re confused at all or feel overwhelmed while planning your first trade show display, please feel free to call 619-222-8813 or contact us anytime for advice.
Whatever your budget dictates, ESP has a solution to meet your exhibiting needs. From table throws and banner stands to popup booths and from custom portable to custom modular, we’ve got it covered with no rush fees – EVER.
Shop online at your convenience http://ow.ly/jNoEb, browse our Virtual Showroom http://ow.ly/jNpd2, or call us for a consultation and custom quote 619.222.8813.
Overrated Comfort is an Oxymoron
Standing around your booth all day doesn’t need to kill your feet or your back. Not only does the proper flooring ease your pain, it makes your exhibit booth space comfortable for visitors as well as booth staff. It also hides under-carpet electrical and internet cables.
Standard booth carpet is around 20 oz. When combined with 6 lb. 1/2″ pad, it provides basic comfort but doesn’t quite hide under-carpet cables. Channeling the pad certainly helps hide cables. This means cutting the pad away in strips where cables lay so that no pad is on top of the cables – only carpet. This usually hides cables but the down side is your pad is no longer one piece and re-using it becomes a challenge. Depending on how many channels are cut, it may be more economical to purchase new pad for the next show than to pay booth installation labor to piece the old pad together. Carpet pad is relatively inexpensive but using it only once goes against the Green principle.
The next carpet weight level – Plush – is 26 to 30 oz. While the comfort level is an improvement over standard 20 oz. carpet, Plush carpet may still leave you wanting and under-carpet cables may still look like speed bumps.
Deluxe Plush at approx. 50 oz. with 6 lb. 1/2″ pad makes your booth staff and attendees very happy while reflecting positively on your exhibit booth. Extreme comfort is possible with Ultra Plush 60 oz. carpet with 8 lb. 1/2″ pad.
Using Plush carpets definitely sends a message about your exhibit booth and thus your company. But how does it affect your exhibit structure?
The thicker or more plush the carpet, the more it impacts how well the exhibit structure fits together which can prolong installation time on the trade show floor. When your exhibit is constructed, it is most likely set up for the first time on the shop floor – a smooth, flat, hard concrete surface. Everything fits together perfectly. Setting up the same structure on carpet – thick or thin – changes how the components fit together. Keep this in mind when designing and building a new exhibit structure. And keep a supply of shims in your gang box.
How much space do people need?
Most of us are uncomfortable in narrow aisles – especially when there isn’t enough space to pass someone without brushing them. We don’t like being squeezed tight when perusing a booth. When designing your booth, leave enough room between display elements so visitors can maneuver in your booth space untouched. And instruct your staff to avoid blocking the narrow spots.
Find more tips at www.espexhibits.com
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