What’s the hottest trend in trade shows and events? LED trade show lighting. And not just lightboxes, but perimeter lights, backlit logos, programmable RGB lighting, and accent LEDs on counters, workstations, and kiosks. Even creative uses of ceiling and pendant lights.
It makes total sense. LED lights are versatile, cost-effective, nearly indestructible, and ideal for displays of any size and shape. Best of all, the labor costs are about the same or less since many LED lights come attached to the structure and don’t require a show electrician. Easily 75% of the purchase and rental orders flowing through our shop have LED lighting.
Why Our Customers Love LED Display Lighting
LED lighting offers several significant benefits at trade shows and events, making them a popular choice for exhibitors. Here’s how they can elevate your presence:
Attracting Attention: LED lights are brighter and more directional than traditional bulbs, allowing you to create eye-catching displays that stand out from the crowd. Strategic use of spotlights and color-changing LEDs can make your booth a beacon, drawing attendees in to explore your products or services.
Highlighting Products: With their superior color rendering, LEDs can showcase your products in the best possible light. This is especially crucial for products that rely on visual appeal, such as clothing, artwork, or electronics.
Creating Ambiance: LEDs come in a wide range of colors and can be dimmed or controlled precisely. This allows you to create a specific atmosphere for your booth, whether it’s a bright and energetic vibe or a more subdued and sophisticated setting.
Cost-Effective: While the initial cost of LED lighting might be slightly higher than traditional options, their long lifespan and energy efficiency translate to significant savings in the long run. This is especially true for multi-day events where lights are on for extended periods.
Portability and Ease of Use: Many LED lighting solutions are designed to be compact and lightweight, making them easy to transport and set up at trade shows. Some LED systems are even modular, allowing for flexible configurations to suit the size and layout of your booth.
Sustainability: As energy-efficient lighting options, LEDs contribute to a greener footprint for your trade show presence. This can be a selling point for environmentally conscious attendees and align with your company’s sustainability goals.
Safety: LEDs generate very little heat, reducing the risk of burns or fires compared to incandescent bulbs. They are also safer for the environment as they are free of mercury, a toxic substance present in fluorescent bulbs. Department of Energy: https://www.energystar.gov/products/light_bulbs
3 LED Exhibit Lighting Examples for Portable Displays
Consider adding SuperNova LED Lightboxes with Symphony Portable Displays for an additional visual POP. You’ll get the same portability and tool-less construction, along with vertical and horizontal dimensionality. In short, go ahead and experiment with lighting to amp up your sales, generate sparks, and outshine your competitors.
1. SYK-2029 w/ Two LED Lightboxes
2. SYK-2027 w/ One Large LED Lightbox
3. SYK-2028 w/ One Rectangle LED Lightbox
5 Popular LED Trade Show Display Lighting Options
1. VK-5189 | Contemporary Island Exhibit
Canopies RULE as an attractive design feature in many island and peninsula exhibits. Pair that with backlit LED graphics and you’ve got a can’t miss display on the show floor. The VK-5189 features multiple backlit double-sided towers connected to backlit single-sided canopies. Surrounding the towers/canopies are options like custom counters, genius bars, charging tables, and demo stations.
2. VK-2928 | Inline Lightbox w/ Shelves
Big Lightbox(es) with Vibrant Graphics. Check. Shelves for Products. Check. Locking Storage. Check. Modular Assembly. Check. The VK-2928 modern hybrid display combines vibrant tension fabric graphics and LED backlighting with lightweight aluminum extrusion for a versatile and attractive solution at any trade show.
3. MOD-1585C | Reception Counter with Charging Pads
Custom Counters offer the convenience of a fully assembled component with all the benefits of a custom design. The MOD-1585C takes LED lighting to the next level with a backlit logo, accent toe kick lighting, and even wireless charging pads. The counter includes locking storage and open shelves making it even more versatile.
4. MOD-1730 | Backlit Reception Counter
Reception counters are important graphic and physical anchors in any exhibit. On the show floor, most trade show attendees gravitate to the reception counter when they have questions or simply want more information. The MOD-1730 includes a backlit logo and graphics, along with wireless charging and locking storage. Plus, it’s fully assembled so setup is fast and easy.
5. MOD-1618D | Backlit Product Tower with Shelves
Product Display Lightboxes take a familiar concept, lightboxes, and transform them into a two-sided product billboard using lightweight aluminum, tension fabric graphics, and shelves. The MOD-1618D is double-sided and includes six heavy-duty adjustable shelves. The SuperNova LED light modules are designed to last for years of worry-free service.
Key Considerations When Choosing LED Trade Show Lights
Quality, Warmth, & Colors
Quality. If you’ve ever had to wrestle with a defective light on the show floor, you know it can be a nightmare. Quality matters and the difference between a high-quality light and a low-quality one isn’t always obvious. The best (and quickest) guide is to look for certifications like UL, ETL, and CE. These ensure that the lighting, including the transformers, has been tested and certified to meet industry standards.
Warmth or Temperature. In simplest terms, color temperature is a light’s appearance of “warmth” or “coolness.” The temperatures can be classified into three ranges:
- Warm White (up to 2900K) – This temperature range is similar to the standard incandescent bulb in terms of color tone and warmth. Most people find this range comforting, and LEDs with this color temperature are perfect for family rooms, dining areas, and bedrooms.
- Cool White (3000K to 4900K) – A bright and crisp tone ideal for use in work areas, home offices, garages, and basements.
- Daylight (5000K and up) – Crisp, intense light that has a slightly bluish-white tone. This type of light is frequently used for outdoor lighting, commercial or retail spaces, security lighting and so on.
Mixing temperatures, especially for backlit graphics, can create inconsistent colors. What looks dark gray on one graphic may look navy blue on another if the temperatures are different. Those differences can be dramatic and jarring on the show floor.
Colors: LED lights come in a range of colors from soft yellows to bright whites. Warm light tends toward yellows, reds, and oranges. Cool light appears blue or greenish. In between the two, light appears crisp and white. Opting for programmable LEDs allows you to not only change the colors but also create flashing, fading, and sequencing color patterns.
Packaging, Electricity, & Cost
Packaging; LED lights are more durable than incandescent, halogen, and fluorescent lights. However, they still need to be protected from damage. Be sure to ask about how the LED lights are packaged in your case or crate. Many LED modules are attached to the display structure making installation easier and lessening the chance of damage. Other LED lights, like stem lights, pendant lights, and accent lights, are packaged in their original boxes which can deteriorate over time.
Electricity/Amps; For many exhibitors, completing the electrical layout and ordering form is intimidating. Most of us don’t know how many amps each electrical device uses and so we either order too much or too little. The show contractor or electrical provider can be your best friend when ordering electricity. They want you to get it right since it makes their job easier. Don’t be shy about asking them for assistance. Getting it right will save you money and make for a smoother install.
Cost: There are lots of ways to save money at a trade show or event, like early bird discounts, smart packaging, and modular construction. LED lighting is more cost-effective than ever and has opened the door for interesting lighting features in every size display. Lighting attracts attention on the show floor so before you decide to eliminate a backlit graphic or a stem light consider the tradeoffs.
Your Partner for LED Display Lighting & Much More!
Classic Exhibits has been designing and building trade show exhibit solutions since 1993. We’ve been honored as an Exhibitor Magazine Find-It Top 40 Exhibit Producers and an Event Marketer Fab 50 Exhibit Builders multiple times. Along with numerous Portable Modular Awards.
With over 200 Distributor Partners throughout North America, there’s a Classic representative closer by. Contact us today whether you need a durable hand sanitizer stand built to last, a rental display guaranteed to attract trade show attendees or a custom 30 x 40 exhibit with all the bells and whistles. We’re not just different. We’re better.