Our Exhibit Management and Turnkey Services

Trade Show Blog

Earlier this week, a Classic Exhibits Distributor asked us about our Exhibit Management program. We thought it might be helpful to share our program and rates for anyone considering adding Exhibit Management/Turnkey Services. We would enjoy hearing feedback and suggestions from those already storing and managing their client’s assets. And should you need us to store and/or manage your client’s booth, please let us know. For Classic Distributors, as with all transactions, we do our best to remain invisible to your client.

All prices are wholesale.

ASSET PREPARATION AND INSPECTION (OUTBOUND/INBOUND)

There are (3) levels of services offered. Our rates are:

$90 per hour for standard lead time (10+ business days)
$140 per hour for shorter lead times (less than 10 business days).

We request a minimum lead time of 10 business days, if not more, to prep your booth for any event. Overtime rates will apply for lead time less than 10 business days. Labor is billed to the nearest 1/4 hour upon the completion of each project/show. Photos are taken at various stages can be made available upon request.

Below is a general overview of each level of service we can provide.

Level 1

Prep – Assets are pulled from their storage location, moved to loading dock, labeled for outbound shipment, and a bill of lading is created. The shipment is loaded onto the carrier for delivery to the specified venue: Average 1-2 hours
Check-in – Assets are returned to the warehouse. A quick visual inspection is performed on the crates to identify if there are any obvious damages. If there are damages, the client will be notified and further investigation will occur, otherwise the assets will be put into their appropriate storage location: Average 1-3 hours
Please Note – Level 1 service has a one-hour minimum billing for each Outbound and Inbound movement and is billed at a $80/hr minimum.

Level 2

Prep – Assets are pulled from storage shelf, and crates/cases are opened. Pieces are spot checked, counted, and checked for any noticeable damage; then they are moved to loading dock, labeled for outbound shipment, and a bill of lading is created. The shipment is loaded onto the carrier for delivery to the specified venue: Average 2-5 hours
Check-in – Assets are returned to the warehouse, and crates/cases are opened. Pieces are spot checked, counted, and checked for any significant damage. If there are damages, the client will be notified and further investigation will occur, otherwise the assets will be put into their appropriate storage location: Average 2-5 hours

Level 3

Prep – Assets are pulled from storage shelf, and crates/cases are opened. Full display staging is performed. All pieces are counted to ensure booth has everything required for the show. This also ensures all pieces are in good working order. Booth is disassembled, repacked, moved to loading dock, labeled for outbound shipment, and a bill of lading is created. The shipment is loaded onto the carrier for delivery to the specified venue: Average 4-8 hours
Check-in – Assets are returned to the warehouse and crates/cases are opened. Full display staging is performed, and all parts are counted, and checked for any significant damage. If there are damages, the client will be notified and further investigation will occur, otherwise the assets will be put into their appropriate storage location: Average 4-8 hours

Show Services Coordination

Upon request, we will coordinate the ordering of all show services (installation/dismantle, labor supervision, carpet, electrical, aerial rigging, data/phone, cleaning, audio/visual, lead retrieval, security, material handling, show photography, etc.). These services are based on exhibit specifications and client needs. Forms are submitted and confirmations sent to appropriate parties. Our rates are:

The cost of services plus 25% for prepayment using the client’s credit card/funds ($150.00 minimum fee)

Ancillary Services, Repairs and Replacement PARTS, New PRODUCTS/GRAPHICS

We are equipped to handle other needs that may arise with your exhibit or event program, from training and exhibit reconfiguration to design services and event management. We are a full custom exhibit house, and can build and design new display items including new displays, banners, graphics, flooring, lighting, cases, crates, other packaging, and much more. We proudly sell and maintain Classic Exhibits brand displays, however, we are a distributor for a few other manufacturers as well. We will gladly work with our preferred manufacturers to order replacement parts and complete repairs on your display items. If we are unable to work directly with a manufacturer, we may require our client to step in and work as a liaison in those situations. If something needs to be done, we will make it happen. Our rates are:

$90 per hour minimum for standard lead time (10+ business days)
$165 per hour creative services labor rate, including graphic design
Exhibit fabrication per quote
Graphic production per quote

Storage

$.60 cents per cubic foot per month. Billed quarterly

–Mel White
mel@classicexhibits.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/melmwhite

**********************************************

Classic Exhibits Inc. designs and manufacturers portable, modular, hybrid, and custom exhibit solutions. Classic Exhibits products are represented by an extensive distributor network in North America and in select International markets. For more information, contact us at 866-652-2100 or www.classicexhibits.com.

Filter by Category

Filter by Year

Recent Posts

What Cats Can Teach Us About Trade Shows

We are a nation devoted to pets, whether they’re on the farm or in a purse. They learn from us, but we learn from them as well. The other day while watching Animal Planet with a cat in my lap, one on the sofa, and another puking upstairs ( it sounded like the world’s worst ventriloquist), I realized that we could learn a thing or two about trade show marketing from our feline companions.

Who is Our Biggest Trade Show Competitor?

Recently, I’ve been on the road, visiting Classic Distributors in the Midwest and South. We chat about industry trends, new products, and challenges in their market. Occasionally, they will ask me about competitors. That’s a topic, to be honest, that makes me uncomfortable.

The 3 Essential Trade Show Marketing Questions

These are questions every designer should ask their client before designing the ideal trade show display. If the client walks in just thinking about the nuts and bolts of the project, they may miss an informed conversation on why they are exhibiting in the first place and that can fundamentally affect the design of a booth. The Why can greatly impact the How in Exhibit Design.

What You Should Know about Exhibit Marketing

Exhibit marketing is all about marketing your products or services to buyers at expositions, conferences, and trade shows. A successful exhibit marketing program will be rewarded with increased revenues, referrals, and industry networking. The goal is to understand how exhibit marketing differs from the other types of marketing.

Managing Your Trade Show Budget

Trade shows are expensive, and some costs are often puzzling to exhibition newbies, but there are multiple ways to manage those expenses with a little planning and some assistance from an experienced trade show professional. Don’t be afraid to tap into that expertise.

Why Are Trade Shows Important for Business Growth and Branding

With the rise of online meetings and ecommerce, business experts have predicted the death of trade shows and live events for 40 years. Yet, the benefits of trade shows and events have never been more important for businesses. There were over 13,000 separate events in North America in 2025 alone.

Best & Biggest Convention Centers in the US for Trade Shows

What are the biggest and best convention centers in the United States? And does overall size and location matter when it comes to a convention center? Unless you’re a trade show nerd (like me), you’ve probably never wondered if the Las Vegas Convention Center is bigger than McCormick Place in Chicago. Or if the Orange County Convention Center is in FL or CA?

People’s Almanac of Trade Show Knowledge

We all love working with an informed client about trade shows and trade show marketing. They ask our advice. We give it. Sometimes we state facts. Sometimes we offer opinions. And sometimes, we should send them to an expert.

Life as a Traveling Sales Representative

Snake Oil Salesman or Snake Charmer. The traveling salesman has always had slightly negative, slightly shady reputation. If you’ve ever seen The Music Man, particularly the opening scene on train, you’ll know what I mean. I would like to think business has changed from the days of the “snake oil salesman” to what we now refer to as a “manufacturer’s rep.

10 Online Tools for Classic Exhibits Distributors

At a recent Shared Knowledge University, we reviewed ten online tools available to all Classic Exhibits Distributors. The attendees told us that these tools are invaluable to their sales, marketing, and customer service teams and are unique within the exhibit industry.

Why Small Businesses Fail to Grow by Jay Goltz

Excerpt from the “Art of Running a Small Business.” Many, if not most, Classic Exhibits distributors fall into the small business classification as defined by the Small Business Administration. Small businesses have challenges that larger businesses do not.

Top 12 Trade Show Bad Habits

All animals, humans included, are creatures of habit. We learn how to survive, then follow those routines day after day. Trade shows are no different. Exhibitors and attendees find their safe space and get comfortable: same shows, same people, same message.

Your Trade Show Marketing in 2026

When it comes to trade shows, many exhibitors don’t have a detailed plan on how to market their company. They purchase a display, which they think is the key to a successful show. Your exhibit may be the star of the show but it’s only one element in a comprehensive strategy.

IMEX America Hosted Buyer Lounge (Condensed Version)

IMEX America 2025 brought together 17,633 participants, including more than 6,000 buyers from 75 countries, reinforcing the event’s position as a high-value marketplace for the global meetings industry. At the center of this ecosystem was the CORT Events’ Hosted Buyer Lounge, designed as a dedicated environment.

40 Weird Things You Do @ Trade Shows

Trade shows can be a strange world whether you are an exhibitor, attendee, or an industry insider. While many behaviors might seem normal to you as a member of the trade show community, others are downright bizarre to those who rarely set foot in a trade show hall.

« Previous