Trade Show TalesBlog

(4) Exhibit Design Search Tips

April 8th, 2024 COMMENTS
4 Exhibit Design Search Tricks

Here are (4) Exhibit Design Search tips to make searching and saving designs a bit easier. All are simple navigation techniques requiring nothing more than a click or two.

Exhibit Design Search

Trick #1: Advanced Search (below the search box) defaults to a show search view on any search. However, if you want a cleaner version of the search, simply delete “showsearch/” in the URL and hit “enter” on your keyboard.
Here’s the new version: https://www.exhibit-design-search.com/booth-size-all/sort-booth-size/categories-d-27-49/search-symphony.

Trick #2: The Size/Price and Display Types menus have recently been updated and include links to Rentals, Portables, Quick Ships, and Sustainable Exhibits. Want to find a design SUPERFAST! Try them on the EDS home page.

Trick #3: Do you need to navigate from one gallery to another one? Don’t click back to the Home Page. Instead, use the Hamburger menu (upper right-hand corner) to quickly go to the next gallery.

Trick #4: Did you know you can search Past Five Days (photos) for kits, job numbers, and terms — like lightboxes, shelves, custom counters, product lines, etc.? Need to show your client an example of “backlit shelves” then type “backlit and shelves” to get a more targeted search.

If you have a clever EDS trick or suggestion, we would love to hear from you. Please share.

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For 30 years, Classic Exhibits has been designing and building creative custom solutions for our Distributor Partners and their clients. As the largest private-label exhibit designer and builder in North America, we have the unmatched capability, capacity, and creativity to create 3D projects ranging from 10 x 10 inline displays to 60 x 80 double-deck islands. 

Find success on the trade show floor with an exhibit that reflects your marketing message. For more information, see www.classicexhibits.com and explore Exhibit Design Search or request a meeting with a Classic Distributor Partner.    



April Fool’s Day 2024 | Your Shared Knowledge Newsletter

April 1st, 2024 COMMENTS
April Newsletter
Meet OLEG -- Onsite, logistic, exhibit, guru

Onsite | Logistic | Exhibit | Guru

Hand him $20, a sub sandwich, and hot coffee

Starting in April, for a small fee (cash only please), Classic will have an OLEG option with every exhibit shipped in a wood crate. When your crate arrives, please let OLEG out, hand him a $20, hot coffee, and sub sandwich… he will do the rest! Leaving you time to wine and dine your valuable clientele while knowing your exhibit is being set-up on the show floor.

This new, revolutionary take on exhibit supervision is set to change the exhibit world. No more expensive flights and added hotel rooms for supervisors! OLEG travels in the crate WITH the exhibit! And if you know Classic crates, then you know he’s more than fine and comfortable on a 5-7 day LTL trip all across our great land. While you may have (shall we say delicate) questions about how OLEG can remain in a crate for 5-7 days, not to worry. We have solved that as well through the miracle of modern science. We’ll spare you the details, but rest assured, OLEG won’t suffer (too much).

Oleg Logistic Service
Wake me when the show is over

Lost your crate? OLEG travels with a cell phone. Just give him a call, and he can send you his location via “Find my iPhone.” Genius!

You’re probably saying to yourself, “This sounds amazing Kevin, but there has to be a catch. What’s the catch?” OLEG is only available for Direct-to-Show shipments. We had a recent “incident” when testing our new OLEG program on a shipment going to the Advanced Warehouse at MJBizcon in Q4 of 2023. Somehow, we lost track of the shipment. Poor OLEG was abnormally hungry for days until he was found. The GC charged the client an extra $10K in drayage because they had to bring him subs and hot coffee every two hours in the warehouse. Something about the munchies!

Contact us for a quote. There’s limited OLEG availability until we can clone him. We’re making progress, but he’s getting skittish about the long needles we use to extract his DNA. For a guy who travels cross country in an unheated crate, he’s kind of a big baby.

Eat my trade show booth
Fruit Rollup Trade Show Display

Landing on the EXHIBITOR Find It — Top 40 list has its advantages.

Last month, Classic was contacted by a well-known candy company out of Pennsylvania (rhymes with Dershey). They told us they’d read about us in EXHIBITOR magazine and felt we might be able to assist with a unique idea one of their marketeers had recently come up with… an edible display.

They asked if we had the ability to print on large sheets of their candy. As you probably already know, today’s printers can print on just about anything as long as the substrate fits under the printer heads. And when we told them that we had access to edible inks (just like that bakery down the street that can put your son’s face on his birthday cake), everyone started getting psyched!

We tested various versions at Summit Graphics PDX (our in-house printer) and eventually landed on the perfect print. We produced two 10×10 booths each with different edible graphics. It was impossible not to notice them as they were both radiant and aromatic!

During their four-day launch meeting, salespeople were encouraged to take bites out of the backwall. As the week progressed, and the candy graphics were noshed, the booth became more and more exposed.

By the time the meeting was over all that was left was the display’s framework and a header that read, “Nom, Nom, Nom.”

We’ve asked that they send pictures as soon as legally possible. Life can be sweet when you work with Classic Exhibits.

Classic Red for everyone

Why is Classic’s logo, a color combination of Red, Black, and White, so striking? These colors are foundational. The red, black, and white combination elicits a primal response in every culture.

Did you know the first colors to be named as languages evolved were always white and black, followed by red? People needed to distinguish between dark and light, and no color has more urgency than red. Think fire and blood, and the essence of life.

Given this inherent truth, Classic’s Design Department has implemented a rule to enhance all the designs that come through our department with red.

RED RULES!

Depending on the client’s existing branding materials, we will ensure that at least 20% of printed graphics are red. In most cases it also makes sense to change the client’s logo to a black, white, and red color scheme. The response to our “Classic Red for Everyone” initiative has been OVERWHELMING!

We look forward to helping you sell more designs this year as we turn all your clients into facsimiles of Classic Exhibits Inc. Red Rules!

Neural implants will soon destroy the trade show business
Brain Implants will Destroy the Exhibit Industry
Brain Implants will Destroy the Exhibit Industry

Unless you live with Aunt Betty in a log cabin in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, you’ve read about artificial intelligence (AI). You may be wondering, “How much longer before the robot overlords force us to polish their shiny shoes and walk their robot dogs.”

AI, however, should be the least of your worries. If you build trade show exhibits, your livelihood may be threatened by brain implants. Brain implants are technological devices that connect directly to a subject’s brain – usually to the cortex.

Neural scientists have discovered how to use neural computer chips much like graphic rendering software to create vivid 3D images in your brain. And like augmented reality (but without the funny goggles), the visual projection is identical to the physical object.

We’ve recently learned that certain trade show associations, whose acronyms will remain nameless, have been funding research into this technology. Their goal is both evil (and to be honest quite brilliant). They want to eliminate ALL PHYSICAL TRADESHOW EXHIBITS.

It’s not a conspiracy theory if you believe it’s true

Instead, attendees will walk the trade show floor, but the exhibit designs will be virtual, beamed to their neural implants and projected to their ocular nerves. They’ll see the booth in 3D, but there will be no real physical displays, no carpeting, no pipe and drape. Bottled water, however, will still cost $12.

My source tells me that exhibitors will still be required to rent floor space. The software for uploading and beaming the virtual exhibits will be the new drayage cost. Booth staff will be real-time holographic images requiring dedicated fiber-based broadband speeds costing 1000s of dollars.

You’ve been warned. It’s coming! Be VERY VERY afraid.

As Amazon goes so goes Classic Exhibits
Classic Rental Solutions Fly-Me-There Rapid Rental Services

Not so long ago, your Amazon packages were delivered by UPS, FedEx, or USPS. That model, however, wasn’t sustainable as Amazon’s volume increased exponentially. Today, there are thousands of Amazon delivery trucks delivering packages throughout the day, even on nights and weekends.

At Classic Rental Solutions, we studied the Amazon delivery model and realized that if it could work for baking pans, oil filters, Rice-a-Roni, and socks that it could work for rental exhibits. We’ve hired a logistics team and ordered 2400 diesel trucks and electric vans. Beginning in Q3 2024, CRS will handle shipping to all major cities in North America. And by major cities, we’re talking cities with a population of 100k plus.

Day, Night, and Even Weekends

If you’re thinking, “This sounds kinda nuts!,” you couldn’t be more wrong. Here’s why… Not only are we adding 2,400 trucks and vans, but each and every one will have an expert driver fully trained to perform the installation and dismantle for all of the 413 designs currently shown in our rental galleries on the Classic Exhibits website.

That’s just the beginning. In the second quarter of next year, we plan to kick off our Next Day Air service with a fleet of Classic Cessna SkyCourier Turboprop planes. We understand you get last-minute requests and there are always going to be “life-gets-in-the-way” distractions. Recently, we missed an important life-threatening surgical appointment while binge watching the entire Seinfeld series over two weeks. It happens… don’t judge.

Look for the Classic Rental Solutions Fly-Me-There Rapid Rental Services, better known as CRS-FMT-RRS, in early 2025.

If you’ve ever played golf with Gina Porcaro, you know she likes to have fun on the golf course, especially in industry scrambles and doesn’t take the game too seriously. (This is what most people think anyway.) What you don’t know is that for years Gina has been quietly qualifying for her LPGA card.

What does the LPGA tour and designer wineskin bota bags have in common? Gina Porcaro.

This has required rigorous training with a top pro golf coach and a substantial investment in a custom golf simulator (photo attached) to train year-round, day and night in Michigan. In February Gina received her LPGA card! What does that mean for Gina’s future in the trade show business?

Time will tell, but Classic Exhibits has already agreed to sponsor her via a line of wineskin bota bags!

Congratulations Gina and watch out Nelly Korda!

Baseball Terms, Classic Style

Baseball Terms | Classic Exhibits Style

March 28th, 2024 COMMENTS

Baseball season is upon us once again. That means it’s time to refresh yourself with our BASEBALL TERMS – CLASSIC STYLE! Whichever team you root for please keep in mind these three non-bendable rules:

(1) When a foul ball comes your way in the stands, catch it without dropping your beer or popcorn.

(2) When asking for an autograph, tell them your son’s name is spelled H-A-R-O-L-D. and

(3) The only acceptable condiments for a ballpark hot dog are mustard and sauerkraut. Period. PLAY BALL!!!

Baseball Terms Classic Exhibits Style

LED Display Lighting for Trade Shows

March 22nd, 2024 COMMENTS
Symphony Portable Display with LED Lightbox

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

exhibit lighting

2. SYK-2027 w/ One Large LED Lightbox

trade show display lighting

3. SYK-2028 w/ One Rectangle LED Lightbox

LED trade show lights

5 Popular LED Trade Show Display Lighting Options

1. VK-5189 | Contemporary Island Exhibit 

LED trade show lights

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 

LED trade show lights

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

exhibit lighting options

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

LED 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

LED lightbox 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. 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; 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. 

All About Trade Show Crates & Shipping

March 21st, 2024 COMMENTS
trade show crates

When you purchased your custom or modular trade show exhibit, you probably didn’t give much consideration to shipping or the wood crate(s). After all, it’s just a wood crate, right? What could go wrong during long interstate shipments, casual forklift handling, and untrained show labor to your very expensive and stunning beautiful trade show exhibit? 

The answer is… a lot. Exhibit crates and roto-molded cases are generally well-designed and durable. Your exhibit provider builds and packs hundreds if not thousands of exhibits every year. However, you shouldn’t assume every exhibit house has the same commitment to quality and packing efficiently. Some are amazing. Others are simply OK. 

Knowing the difference, asking questions, and taking responsibility for your crates will go a long way toward ensuring your exhibit packs in the fewest number of crates/cases, arrives safely, and minimizes your labor costs at the show.

Understanding Trade Show Crates: The Essentials

Essentially, trade show wood crates are glued and screwed boxes constructed with plywood. The type of plywood varies by builder but birch plywood is common. Some are tall and square. Others are shorter and long. The size depends on the exhibit components and the preference of the builder. 

Most crates have some internal jigging, like shelves or compartments. These allow for greater space utilization and protect the contents from shifting during shipping. Doors vary by builder even more than the basic construction. Some have heavy-duty latches. Others rely on bolts and wing-nuts. Still others use flexible cables and basic catches. Horizontal crate designs often include hinged doors for convenient access on the longer side.  

Nearly all crates have wood skids on the bottom. This makes it much easier for forklifts and pallet jacks to lift and transport them, and hopefully minimize damage. 

The video below shows how smaller crates are built, but the basic construction is the same for all sizes of crates.

Trade Show Shipping Crates: Maximizing Protection and Efficiency

Well-constructed wood crates are designed to protect your exhibit during shipping and maximize the available space to minimize your total crate count. Minimizing your crate count will reduce your overall shipping and drayage charges. Exhibit builders know those charges are pain points for their clients and work hard to reduce those costs.  

If you’ve ever played Jenga, you’ll understand the challenge of designing a crate that’s both the right size and shape and designed to maximize interior space. There are two major challenges:  (1) ensuring the individual components don’t move during shipping, and (2) preventing components from rubbing against one another or the crate. That’s when damage occurs. As a result, you’ll often see a series of vertical and/or horizontal dividers built to isolate the components. Those dividers may have jigging blocks as well to secure the components. 

Some exhibit builders, like Classic Exhibits, go one step further and cover the crate, dividers, and jigging with a soft but durable fabric similar to a felt material. This not only provides an extra layer of protection, but it also reduces movement (and rubbing) during transit.  

Why There’s No Such Thing as a Standard Crate:

Selecting the Right Trade Show Shipping Cases

Cases, unlike crates, are designed primarily for lightweight portable displays. Trade show shipping cases are essential for protecting your valuable displays and promotional materials during transport to and from trade shows. With a variety of factors to consider, choosing the right case can seem daunting. In most cases, the manufacturer will have already selected the ideal shipping case for your display, but if you are choosing one based on several choices, consider the following. 

Types of Trade Show Shipping Cases

  • Hard-shell Cases: These cases are typically made of durable plastic or aluminum and offer the most protection for your belongings. They are often watertight and dustproof, making them ideal for delicate items. Hard-shell cases frequently come with wheels and handles for easy transport.
  • Soft-shell Cases: These cases are lighter and more portable than hard-shell cases, but they don’t offer the same level of protection. They’re a good option for lightweight displays or for displays that can be broken down into smaller components. Soft-shell cases may also come with wheels and handles.

Choosing the Right Size Case

  • Measure Your Display: The first step is to measure your display to ensure the case you choose is large enough. You’ll need to consider the length, width, and height of your display, as well as any additional items you need to pack, such as brochures or tabletops.
  • Allow Extra Space: It’s always best to err on the side of caution and choose a case that is slightly larger than your display. This will give you extra room for packing materials and padding.

Additional Considerations

  • Weight: Consider the weight of your display and choose a case that can accommodate it. Cases often have weight capacity limits.
  • Wheels and Handles: Look for a case with wheels and handles for easy transport, especially if you’ll be transporting your display yourself.
  • Padding: If your display is fragile, you’ll need to choose a case that comes with padding or purchase padding separately. Padding will help to absorb shock and vibration during transport.
  • Security: If your display contains valuable items, you may want to choose a case with locking latches.

By considering these factors, you can choose the right trade show shipping cases to protect your investment and ensure your display arrives at the trade show in perfect condition.

trade show shipping crates

Notification Regarding Forward Air

“One of the nation’s largest wholesale providers of LTL ground expedited services, Forward Air, has announced major changes to their service offering, effective August 1, 2021. The overwhelming majority of our freight providers utilize Forward Air for their point-to-point linehauls for their client’s needs.

Effective August 1, Forward Air will no longer accept shipments that are not skidded or crated, and they will no longer accept shipments that are over 96” L or 96 H. The rationale and reasons for this industry change are lengthy, but the major driving force is simply the overwhelming amount of freight traversing the United States and the overall lack of capacity from a labor and trucks on the road.”

What Does This Mean?

  1. There will be very large “oversized” charges issued to shipments that are longer or higher than 96 inches. Meaning higher freight prices.
  2. In our opinion, Dedicated Shipments are the safest way to plan for these shipments. Plus, it helps to ensure a timely delivery.

See the full letter below or click to download the PDF

Freight Size Limitations

Trade Show Shipping Containers: Understanding Sizes and Limitations

Thankfully, most of us are blessed with a knowledgeable Shipping Department that handles these details. Or, we rely on our exhibit house to make the freight arrangements. However, knowing what is and isn’t permissible goes a long way toward understanding whether your shipment can be handled by a freight carrier or FedEx/UPS. 

LTL (less than loaded) and FTL (full loaded) trailers typically use the same size trailers. Here are the interior dimensions of both:

  • Length: 48 ft. – 53 ft. (14.6 m – 16.1 m)
  • Width: 8.5 ft. (2.6 m)
  • Height: Interior heights can vary depending on the trailer type, but common heights are:
    • Rear: 10 ft. (3.0 m)
    • Center: 11 ft. (3.3 m)
    • Front: 12 ft. (3.6 m)

trade show case

Door opening dimensions are also important to consider when shipping freight via LTL. Industry-standard roll-up door dimensions are:

  • Width: 96 in. (2.4 m)
  • Height: 96 in. (2.4 m)

This means that individual pieces of freight for LTL shipment should ideally be no more than 94 inches tall and wide to fit through the door comfortably.

The maximum dimensions for UPS and FedEx packages depend on the service you choose and whether the shipment is domestic or international. Here’s a breakdown:

UPS

  • Maximum weight: 150 lbs (68 kg)
  • Size Limits:
    • Combined length and girth: 165 inches (419 cm). Girth is calculated by adding the width and height of the package and multiplying by two (2 x width + 2 x height).
    • pen_spark
    • Length: Up to 108 inches (274 cm)
trade show shipping: image of UPS package dimensions

FedEx

  • Maximum weight: 150 lbs (68 kg)
  • Size Limits:
    • Domestic:
      • FedEx Express U.S. services: Up to 119 inches (302 cm) in length and 165 inches (419cm) in length and girth.
      • FedEx Ground® and Home Delivery® Services: Up to 108 inches (274cm) in length and 165 inches (419cm) in length and girth.
    • International:
      • FedEx Express international services: Up to 108 inches (274cm) in length and 130 inches (330cm) in length and girth.

trade show shipping containers: Image of FedEx package dimensions

Important Notes:

  • Packages exceeding these limits may require special handling or freight shipping, which can be more expensive.
  • Always check with UPS or FedEx for the latest size and weight restrictions before shipping.

Trade Show Shipping: Planning for Timely and Cost-Effective Delivery

This won’t come as a surprise to you but planning and preparation are the keys to a stress-free and cost-effective shipment. And, unlike other shipments, you’ll need to arrange for shipping to and from the venue. That’s often overlooked by exhibitors, who then scramble to arrange shipping on the last day of the show. Which is anything but stress-free.

Here’s a breakdown of how to plan for a smooth trade show exhibit shipment:

Early Bird Gets the Booth:

  • Start Early: This is the golden rule! The earlier you plan, the more options you have for carriers and potentially better rates. Many venues have deadlines for receiving shipments in advance warehouses, so give yourself ample buffer time.

Know the Show, Know the Shipment:

  • Show Requirements: Every trade show has its own guidelines for shipping and receiving exhibits. Dig into the exhibitor manual provided by the organizer. This will outline critical details like:
    • Deadlines for advance warehouse storage vs direct-to-show delivery.
    • Designated shipping addresses for warehouses or the venue.
    • Any weight or size limitations for booths.
    • Rigging or special handling needs for complex displays.

Choosing Your Carrier:

  • Research and Compare: Look for reputable carriers experienced in trade show shipping. They’ll understand the time-sensitive nature and potential complexities of exhibit transport.
    • Consider carriers recommended by the venue itself.
    • Get quotes from multiple carriers comparing factors like price, service offerings (tracking, insurance), and transit times.

Labeling and Documentation:

  • Clear and Conspicuous: Clearly label every box or crate in your shipment with:
    • Your company name and contact information
    • Trade show name and location
    • Booth number
    • Content description (e.g., “Display Panel A”, “Brochure Box”)
  • Documentation in Order: Have all necessary paperwork readily available:
    • Bill of lading (receipt for your shipment from the carrier)
    • Commercial invoice (details the value of your goods for customs purposes if shipping internationally)
    • Insurance documentation (if you opted for additional coverage)

Double-Check and Breathe Easy:

  • Confirm Everything: Double-check all your arrangements before the shipment leaves. This includes confirming arrival dates with the venue and ensuring the carrier has the correct address and contact information.
  • Relax and Focus on Success: With a well-planned and executed shipment, you can focus on what truly matters – showcasing your brand and making connections at the trade show!

trade show shipping cases

Have More Questions About Trade Show Crates & Shipping? 

Protective crating and casing should be one less thing you have to worry about when purchasing a new trade show display. No builder in the exhibit industry builds better packaging solutions than Classic. 

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.