It’s Day 2 at EuroShop 2023along with sore feet, blisters, and another 15,000 steps. Kevin Carty, Jen LaBruzza, and Katina Rigall Zipay visit nine more show halls in Duesseldorf, Germany and share their remarkable photos.
But first, Katina discusses design trends at EuroShop 2023 on Day 2. For photos and Katina’s design video, see Day 1 and Day 3.
Classic Exhibits has been designing and building 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 close by to assist with any rental project. Contact us today whether you need an inline rental display, a double-deck island exhibit, or a contemporary kiosk rental. At Classic, we’re not just different. We’re better.
Pop up displays are a fantastic approach to trade show marketing. With new technology, pop up displays have reinvented themselves time and time again and absolutely worth considering for your next trade show.
Today’s Pop Up Display Market
Many customers ignore the features and benefits of pop up displays. They are shopping exclusively on price; they want it to last a few shows and are less concerned about the unique advantages or warranty of a pop up. But they should. Good pop up display systems are amazing. They are versatile, portable, durable, and offer remarkable graphic impart. However . . .
The pop up, once the pride and joy of any portable trade show program, has lost its luster. Where we once treated it like a dress from Saks Fifth Avenue, carefully hanging it in plastic and sending it to the dry cleaners, many now treat it like a skirt and blouse from Ross and wash it with our dirty underwear and towels. They wear it after it has faded. They wear it wrinkled. They wear it after it’s missing buttons. They continue wearing it because it’s comfortable and convenient, not because it’s flattering.
You still see pop ups everywhere, but they are often assembled haphazardly, showing their age, or leaning precariously like a hillbilly shack.
Frankly, pop ups can be attractive and effective displays, particularly when combined with the right accessories, such as shelves, shadowboxes, monitor mounts, and headers. But it’s rare to see them with these accessories since the budget pop ups have all but abandoned them. That’s a mistake. No other display does more than a pop up for the price. No other affordable display has more accessories or more visual impact — dollar for dollar.
The stretch fabric graphics are pre-attached to the frame, making setup fast and easy. The pop up frame has magnetic connectors, which snap into place. There are 8 frame styles plus accessories like monitor mounts, workstations, and counters. Even shelves.
At almost twice the size of the X1 8 ft. version, the X1 14 ft. quad shape makes for a distinctive display. It packs in a lightweight drawstring carrying bag and optional LED lights are available.
Unlike traditional pop up displays, the NEXT! Features SEG fabric graphics and LED backlighting. Backlit graphics are designed to make colors POP! on the show floor, drawing attendees to your booth. The NEXT! Assembles without tools and fits in a standard 10 ft. booth space.
The NEXT! Small Wall mimics the upscale look of a traditional modular laminate or hard wall exhibit but without all the weight or complicated assembly. The beautiful dye-sublimated SEG fabric graphics are vibrant and colorful. Attaching them to the frame takes only minutes. Add an LED arm light for a heightened appearance.
The V-Burst features a 4×3 pop up frame which fits perfectly in a 10 x 10 space. The wraparound fabric graphics offer a more finished look. The graphic mounts quickly with Velcro. Options include a monitor mount, LED stem lights, and a rolling hard case. Total weight with case = 37 lbs.
Attach the graphic once… then forget it. Once attached to the frame, the graphic can be set up and packed without removing it. Nothing is faster. The display comes with durable LED lights for bright and colorful backlit graphics. See the V-Burst 10 ft. Flat BACKLIT for the flat frame version.
Individual fabric graphics attach to the tabletop frame, creating a captivating layered display. Graphics are easy to remove and perfect for showcasing multiple products, services, or divisions without investing in another tabletop display. Ask about optional shelving. Choose from 14 distinctive sizes and shapes.
When paired with a table throw, the V-Burst 8 ft. Table Top offers the same visual impact as a full-size 10 ft. display. The Velcro-attached graphics remain on the display, even when packed, making for fast setup and departure. Hard and soft cases are available.
5 Trade Show Pop Up Display Secrets
Secret #1: They’re Not All the Same
They may look similar, but some pop ups are fragile while others are strong. Some are built to withstand years of trade show abuse. Those pop ups get shipped from show to show and assembled by rough inexperienced hands and continue to do our job year after year. Others are not as robust. they are made to be handled with TLC and have a shorter lifespan. How do you know the difference? Sometimes it’s difficult to tell, but just like any product, whether it’s a car, shoes, or tools, price is a good indicator of quality and features. Not always, but there’s usually a reason why one pop up costs $999 and another $1,999.
Secret #2: Pop Ups Love Graphics
Why? Pop Up Displays are exhibitionists by nature and graphics draw attention. The more eyeballs the better. Large graphics are ideal, designed by a professional graphic designer and printed at a very high resolution. . .
Secret #3: Warranty
The warranty is the dirty little secret within the pop up community. Most pop up displays have a limited or lifetime warranty. Here’s the reality: Quality pop ups from reputable families honor their warranty. And, if they are truly reputable, you’ll never need to use the warranty since good pop up displays withstand the abuses you humans inflict on us.
Lesser quality pop ups, frequently break, and getting them back to 100 percent can be a challenge. Parts are difficult to obtain and even worse, there is rarely a national support system. Lesser pop ups often attempt to camouflage or obscure their identity. They don’t want you to know where they were made and by whom.
Secret #4: False Differences
Magnet-to-Magnet or Magnet-to-Metal. Individual Channel Bars or Attached Channels Bars. It doesn’t really matter. They are just differences — and not a question of better or worse. What matters is quality. Are the channel bars made of plastic or metal? Are they difficult to install or straightforward and uncomplicated? Are they made for light-duty use or for holding shelves, monitors, signs, and waterfall brackets? These are the questions you need to ask.
Secret #5: Online or In Person
How do you find your perfect match? Are you a member of Match.com or eHarmony or do you meet potential mates at work, at church, or through friends? At some point, you’ll go on a date and decide whether it’s a perfect match. Or you’ll discover that your date picks his/her teeth with the steak knife and talks non-stop about Master Rambo, the adorable Chihuahua they have at home.
Finding a pop up is no different. You do your research. And then you meet. If a pop up likes what it sees, it will cooperate. It will amaze and charm you, and you’ll fall in love with the frame, the packaging, and the case. If you choose to meet online, make sure you have an escape plan just in case the first date doesn’t go well. You don’t want to end up with an Eastern European mail-order companion based on a photo and a few emails. Sometimes those relationships last, but more often than not you end up with a hairy shot-put champion that you can’t return to Bulgaria.
We hope by revealing these secrets that you will have a better understanding of pop ups. The tips and secrets are there if you choose to follow them, to guide you in making the right decision.
7 Pop Up Display Horror Shows
1. The Flapper: A good 50 percent of the pop ups have at least one end panel waving at attendees. Apparently, attaching an end panel has become either too labor intensive for many exhibitors, or to be fair, something has broken making it impossible to attach them. And fixing it is too much trouble.
2. The Old Lady: We are a society obsessed with youth, except when it comes to pop up graphics. Wrinkles, creases, and delamination are perfectly acceptable. I’ve seen graphics so battered and abused that I involuntarily looked away in embarrassment.
3. The Hurler: The setup instructions for most pop up displays have apparently changed. You stand 6 feet away from the frame and toss the panels on the channel bars. Wherever they land, that’s where they stay.
4. The Barn Door: We all know the expression, “Your barn door is open.” You’re just one crossed leg away from giving everyone a freebie they don’t want. In the past month, I’ve seen two pop up displays with missing front panels. When I asked one exhibitor about it, she said, “Yea, we lost it about a year ago and the owner doesn’t want to pay to have it replaced.”
4. The Muscle Shirt: Do you have a male relative who wears a sleeveless muscle shirt to every gathering, including Thanksgiving Dinner? This same “dude” was last seen standing in front of a pop up display without end panels. Yes, it’s an acceptable look for tension fabric pop ups like Xpression, but not traditional pop ups. It’s tacky.
5. The Cripple: I know. I know. That term isn’t PC anymore, but we’re talking about a pop up not a person. These pop ups have broken connectors, missing channel bars, bent frames, and snapped hanger pins. Duct tape is visible. Plastic security ties are considered hi-tech repairs. If this was a loved one, you’d give it an overdose of morphine just to put it out of its misery.
6. The Creatively Confused: Now I can’t attest to seeing this, but a distributor told me about it last week. The exhibitor had managed to attach the pop up panels to the convex/reverse side of the curve frame. He then complained that the pop up wasn’t as attractive as the one he’d seen in the showroom. I believe his booth was next to a guy in a muscle shirt, who coached him through the setup.
7. The Just Passing Through Every pop up exhibitor should purchase the case-to-counter wrap. They’re brilliant and practical, particularly when combined with a graphic. But there’s always the booth with just the case . . . the battered, scarred, and naked case holding brochures, business cards, or a fishbowl. This person is so anxious to leave the show that even hiding the case behind the display or converting it to a case-to-counter unit is too much trouble. I’m guessing that Golden Corral once ran out of shrimp when he didn’t arrive by 5:15 pm after a show. Well . . . that will NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN!
While pop ups displays don’t need to be coddled, they do need to be assembled correctly and packed carefully. That way, they’ll continue to look amazing from show to show and last for years.
Pop Up Banner Display FAQs
Q1. Are self-locking pop ups a good option for tension fabric pop ups?
Self-locking pop-ups are perfect for Velcro-compatible fabrics and murals but are not ideal for tension fabric graphics. We use a frame with manual locks because it creates a more rigid structure that evenly pulls out any wrinkles or folds in the fabric graphic. The result is a taut flat graphic that mimics a hard panel graphic.
Q2. Can I ship the pop-up in its hard rolling case?
Yes and No. No, the Express kit is a rolling hard case that makes it convenient to transport and can be checked as airline luggage but it is not designed as a shipper.
However, you can ship the kit if you retain the original cardboard counter.
Q3. How do I reduce the wrinkles in tension fabric pop-ups and how to eliminate them?
Fabric will wrinkle and fold lines may appear if a fabric graphic has been stored or folded for a long time, but the wrinkles are not permanent. Whenever possible, always store your display set-up. Many people have their display set up in the company waiting or conference room!
Use a good quality fabric on a structure (like Vburst) that when set up pulls the wrinkles out of the fabric. Carry a small travel steamer in your display case. These are inexpensive and simple to use. The steamers can lift out any remaining wrinkles after your set-up.
Q4. What is the warranty on fabric pop ups?
All fabric pop ups have a lifetime warranty on all hardware products. The policy applies to the original purchaser. No product registration is required.
However, we reserve the right to inspect hardware and exclude warranty claims that have resulted from vandalism, theft, negligence, fire, natural disasters, modifications, or losses in shipment that may be covered by your insurance and/or freight carrier. The lifetime hardware warranty does not apply to graphics or to electrical components.
Portland Pop Up Display Professionals
Fortunately, exhibitors no longer have to settle for a basic 10 ft. curve. There are now pop up frames with tension fabric graphics, backlighting, and even SEG, along with LED lights and robust shelving options. And as you can imagine, price points vary widely depending on features and quality.
It pays to ask questions even on the less expensive models, especially if the price seems too good to be true. We live in a find-and-click world, but a display purchase should always include a conversation or email/text exchange with a knowledgeable professional to make sure the display will fulfill your trade show marketing goals. Things break. Will the display last multiple years? Are replacement parts available? Where do you go when you need new mural panels?
Let us know if we can assist you with your next display purchase, whether it’s portable, modular, or custom.
Your Pop Up Display Partner: Classic Exhibits Inc.
For 30 years, Classic Exhibits has been designing and building exceptional trade show exhibits. Those solutions include both purchase and rental exhibits, including inlines, islands, tabletops, overhead signs, and a wide range of accessories, like counters, charging solutions, and workstations.
Classic Exhibits has been designing and building 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 close by to assist with any project. Contact us today whether you need an inline rental display, a double-deck island exhibit, or a contemporary kiosk rental. At Classic, we’re not just different. We’re better.
Kevin Carty, Katina Rigall Zipay, and Jen LaBruzza are in Dusseldorf, Germany this week at EuroShop 2023. While there, they are taking photos and videos to share with the Classic Distributor Network.
Below are photos from Day 1 along with a short video from Katina about design trends. For more photos and videos, check back on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Classic Exhibits has been designing and building 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 close by to assist with any rental project. Contact us today whether you need an inline rental display, a double-deck island exhibit, or a contemporary kiosk rental. At Classic, we’re not just different. We’re better.
When it comes to trade show display design, six trends have dominated over the past 5 years both for inlines and islands.
Large Tension Fabric Graphics
LED Lightboxes with Backlit Fabric
Curves
Rental Inlines and Islands
Sustainable Materials
Customization
With the exception of basic portable displays, modern trade show exhibits are bigger, brighter, and curvier than ever. Even traditional square and rectangle booths have gotten more upscale as customization has gotten easier and more affordable. Rentals included. Gone are those basic and battered booths so common in the past from show organizers. Now, it’s nearly impossible to tell a purchased booth from a rented one from most exhibit houses. In other words, contemporary exhibit design, construction, and ownership are more flexible and beautiful than ever before.
Getting Started with Trade Show Booth Design
Every perfect trade show booth design starts with identifying your audience, marketing goals, and trade show budget. Exhibit designers use this information as the first step, then they’ll ask additional questions to fine-tune the booth to your specific requirements. For example – they’ll identify whether you need storage, meeting areas, overhead signage, and accessories like monitors, literature trays, charging stands, etc. They’ll even determine if you’ll need rental furniture like office chairs, sofas, and end tables and suggest styles to match your graphic design.
The 15 trade show booth design examples below show recent design trends in custom, modular, and portable displays, along with sustainable exhibits and rentals. Don’t be afraid to drill down on what works (and doesn’t work) for your booth design vision. Then share them with the exhibit designer.
A well-designed trade show island exhibit should be attractive, inviting, informative, and practical. The GK-5153 does all that… and more. It combines a casual meeting space with functional counters for product samples. The design includes a reception counter, also with locking storage. Throughout the island, there are large graphic opportunities at multiple angles to attract attendees from every aisle, including a 16 ft. tower.
Many of the flat panels are from the patented Gravitee System, which connects without tools or loose parts, making assembly much easier than traditional panels. The Large Aero Overhead Hanging Sign pulls it all together with internal and external graphics.
It’s the complete package. The GK-5147 island maximizes the available space with double-sided curved panels. The design includes iPad workstations, monitor mounts, and a presentation area. There’s an attractive custom reception counter with a backlit graphic and LED accent lights. In addition, the islands have multiple seating areas all with USB charging ports so your clients can charge their phones and tablets. All the curved panels are from the patented Gravitee System, so individual panels connect without tools and there are no loose parts or pieces.
An island exhibit doesn’t have to stand tall or be overly complicated. It simply has to fit your tradeshow marketing needs… and get noticed. The RE-9091 rental island has two eye-catching double-sided SuperNova lightboxes. These lightboxes assemble quickly and are always the star attraction in any booth space. The RE-9091 has a large full-size closet along with storage in each reception counter.
In addition, the closets do double duty, serving as lightboxes on the two longer sides and supporting a monitor in the lounge. High above, there’s an Aero Triangle Hanging Sign so you’re sure to attract attention from across the show hall.
The RE-9139 Rental Island goes way beyond a pretty picture. We’ve incorporated key features such as large graphics, private and semi-private conference rooms, towers with locking storage access, and workstations and reception counters with secure storage. Not enough? Then add product shelves, large and small monitors for presentations, a variety of light fixtures, and hanging signs for high visibility from anywhere on the show floor.
Looking for a big bang on a modest budget? Plus a sustainable design? The ECO-4094 doesn’t disappoint with (3) double-sided backlit towers, fabric graphics, ample meeting space, and an amazing reception counter with locking storage. The open format allows for multiple entries into the booth, which can often be a challenge for an island exhibit. The 12 ft. tower can support a large monitor and there is enough space for presentations. All that and built with eco-friendly materials.
The ECO-4100 Sustainable Exhibit takes a traditional square design and transforms it into a more inviting space with curves. There are two demo stations facing the aisles, a backlit counter with storage, and a cozy lounge in the middle. The large overhead attached sign ensures you’ll be seen from any angle on the show floor. You go to trade shows to be seen… so be seen with the ECO-4100 20 x 20 island booth.
5 Custom Trade Show Booth Ideas
1. Travel Portland Custom Booth
A city known for its vibrant culture, arts, food, bicycling, festivals, and nightlife, Travel Portland wanted to present a multi-sensory experience of the city. This island exhibit needed to flex for use at three shows per year in a 20×20 or 20×30 configuration. One requires an informational experience, one focuses on setting meetings with destination planners, and one is focused solely on the attendee’s sensory experience. The ability to change out graphics easily for each show was paramount. Travel Portland requested lightweight components to reduce shipping costs and a modular structure that was easy to assemble and easy to reconfigure between 20×20 and 20×30.
2. Google’s Custom Booth
Google wanted a fun, creative, almost childlike atmosphere in their island exhibit, similar to the vibe in Google offices around the world. Google had a long wish list of functional requirements: multiple seating areas, interactive spaces including a selfie wall, storage for swag, a tall visible structure, a distinctive hanging sign, a prominent reception counter, and strong digital moments. All of which had to fit in a 20×20 space without feeling cramped. Finally, the 20×20 had to be easily reconfigurable into larger booth sizes at future shows.
3. Custom Booth for Slate
Slate wanted a welcoming, attention-grabbing, and professional atmosphere that incorporated a Seattle theme where the event was held. They needed multiple meeting spaces, product demo workstations, and large-scale eye-catching graphics. They reserved a unique 20×60 space that spanned the windowed atrium between the two show halls. Slate’s nature-themed design in the arched atrium complemented the space and appeared to extend far beyond the 20×60 footprint it occupied.
4. Home To Go Custom Exhibit
As a first-time exhibitor in the US market, Home To Go wanted an impressive presence at their industry’s largest event. Throughout the year, they exhibit in 10×30, 10×20, and 10×10 shows, requiring their exhibit structure to be flexible yet visually consistent. Home To Go’s strategy for increasing visibility was to “glow.” They chose an expansive 30 ft. back wall lightbox with a surrounding wood frame. The outside of the frame is covered in a dark woodgrain laminate, and the inside is laminated with Home To Go’s signature purple, which further reflects the light from the backlit graphic.
5. Custom Booth for Odyssey Foods
Odyssey Foods wanted attendees to sample their unique products in an intimate yet approachable experience that mimics an authentic Seattle bistro. An effective chef demo was critical, including seating for buyer conversations and a large menu board to showcase recipes being prepared. This demo area needed easy access to a private prep and storage area. Additionally, the client required real and engaging display areas to showcase the array of Odyssey products. The ongoing menu and product updates required multiple large areas for signage that could be easily changed.
No corporate exhibitor wants a generic exhibit. They want a modern display tailored to their message and tradeshow marketing mission. The GK-1013 is ideal for serious exhibitors who want to show products and big images. The exhibits include shelves, monitor mount, and storage, including both walk-in and counter storage.
The Gravitee One-Step back wall assembles quickly with modular panels. Graphic choices include tension fabric or direct prints depending on your preference. Best of all, the 10 ft. inline can be expanded to a versatile 20 ft. display.
Striking the right balance between aesthetics and performance is crucial for any trade show display. The VK-1354 blends them two perfectly with bold graphics, backlighting, practical features, and convenient storage. This exhibit offers a large backlit graphic for high impact along with direct print headers. In addition, there are shelves to showcase products and back wall storage with an internal shelf.
The VK-1354 includes the MOD-1702 backlit counter with storage… There’s no question . . . this exhibit will be the star of any trade show.
Clean, dynamic, inviting, and practical. The VK-4030 strikes the ideal balance of large backlit graphics, tablet/monitor(s), and casual seating, all in well-defined spaces with appropriate social distancing. The large backlit fabric graphics create a seamless visual presentation whether in the 10 or 20 ft. inline configurations.
The individual sections work as modules, allowing exhibitors to grow or adapt to their changing trade show schedule. In addition, there’s ample locking storage and optional charging stations built into the counters and tables.
Get comfortable with the VK-2979 Series. They feature large, bold graphics, curved structures, and casual seating for 10-12 in the island version and 6 in the 20 ft. inline version. While relaxing your guests can charge their smartphones or tablets with the MOD-1430 coffee table charging stations.
Each charging station can be branded and comes with an attractive LED perimeter glow. You also find ample storage with a full-size closet and a reception counter with a locking door and shelf. Not enough? There are monitor options, downlighting, and uplighting.
For too long, portable displays have sacrificed elegant design for visual simplicity. Not anymore. Introducing Symphony, the first portable/modular display to blend easy toolless assembly with elegant design and clever accessories.
With Symphony, there are no compromises and no tradeoffs. Simply a beautiful upscale display at a price that’s thousands less than most custom modular exhibits.
You want a distinctive custom design, easy to assemble (without tools), lightweight construction, and modular reconfigurability. Welcome to Gravitee! The RE-1060 Rental Inline Booth features panels that connect without tools or loose parts, SEG or fabric graphics, fully assembled flat or curved panels, and a wide range of accessories, like lights, shelves, and monitor mounts. The entire display packs in a fabric-lined, fully jigged custom crate. Each component is numbered for effortless assembly.
Lights combined with colorful graphics may be the single most important key to attracting attention on the trade show floor. The RE-2124 turns the table on traditional lightbox designs by “stepping” (5) 4 ft. x 8 ft. individual lightboxes. The stepping creates visual depth and interest while allowing an exhibitor to tell a compelling story through a sequenced graphic presentation.
The design includes ample room for a casual meeting space (which can be a challenge in an inline) and the charging table with LED accent lights creates a casual yet business-like setting. The RE-1567 reception counter has attractive backlit graphics and locking storage. Plus, the RE-2124 assembles quickly and packs flat in a wood crate for convenient shipping.
A well-designed inline exhibit maximizes the overall space. The 20 ft. RE-2129 rental does all that and more. It includes multiple counters and workstations, all with locking storage and LED perimeter lights. For additional visual “pop,” there are (3) double-sided SuperNova LED lightboxes with fabric graphics. The back wall has (4) monitor stations for demos. There’s even a small bistro table with wireless charging for casual meetings with potential clients.
Many exhibitors prefer an island peninsula configuration with three-sided entries into the booth (rather than four in a traditional island) The RE-9165 Peninsula Rental comes with a 12 ft. H x 9 ft. W storage tower with graphics and a 12 ft. archway and graphic header. It includes (4) double-sided SuperNova lightboxes with SEG fabric graphics. There are 5 monitor mounts, one each on the lightboxes and one on the tower. There’s a walk-in closet storage and (4) laminate counters and (1) reception counter all with locking storage. For casual meetings on the show, there are also (3) bistro charging tables with LED accent lights.
Occam’s Razor states: “The simplest solution is almost always the best.” The RE-9162 Island manages to be both beautiful and welcoming while maximizing the 20 x 20 floor space. It features multiple large format graphics and an overhead hanging sign to draw attention from across the show hall. There are several open entrances along with a contemporary curved reception counter (with branding). The two counter/kiosks stations are perfect for sales presentations, and the large comfortable lounge and charging table makes it easy and convenient to relax with clients. It’s simple, straightforward, and inviting.
The ECO-1127 Sustainable Exhibit offers exhibitors an upscale presence on the show floor with a booth built with eco-friendly materials. This includes a lightweight aluminum frame, green printing materials, LED lights, and FSC wood construction. Features include a large monitor mount, shelves, a curved canopy, a reception counter, and locking storage.
The individual components are numbered for easy assembly and the booth ships in a jigged crate with numbered components. All that and a contemporary modular design that can be expanded to a 10 x 20 display.
Does your company have a green sustainability initiative? Consider a modern ecoSmart trade show exhibit. The ECO-2060 is built with an aluminum frame and green fabric options. It includes (3) monitor mounts for demos and presentations, cabinets with locking storage, LED lights, and frosted ECO-Glass accents.
The step design provides both stability and privacy. Plus the open floor plan is ideal for meeting space with rental tables and chairs.
The ecoSmart Inline Displays are design-driven, reconfigurable, and user-friendly. Using the most sustainable materials on the market, these displays prove that you don’t need to look green to be green, and you don’t need to spend more either. You’ll always get the best of both with an ecoSmart. The ECO-2054 features large backlit LED light boxes and fabric graphics with a curved header. Accessories include literature holders and (2) modern counters with locking storage.
Looking for a big bang on a modest budget? Plus a sustainable design? The ECO-4094 doesn’t disappoint with (3) double-sided backlit towers, fabric graphics, ample meeting space, and an amazing reception counter with locking storage. The open format allows for multiple entries into the booth, which can often be a challenge for an island exhibit. The 12 ft. tower can support a large monitor, and there is enough space for presentations. All that and built with eco-friendly materials.
The ecoSmart Island Exhibits are design-driven, reconfigurable, and high-impact. The ECO-4100 Sustainable Exhibit takes a traditional square design and transforms it into a more inviting space with curves. There are two demo stations facing the aisles, a backlit counter with storage, and a cozy lounge in the middle. The large overhead attached sign ensures you’ll be seen from any angle on the show floor. You go to trade shows to be seen… so be seen with the ECO-4100 20 x 20 island booth.
For too long, portable displays have been both perfectly functional and perfectly boring. Not with the Symphony Portable System. Choose from 8 SEG frame shapes and 17 distinctive accessories to create an elegant portable display that assembles without tools. Best of all, the modular designs lets you reimagine your trade show marketing from show to show. Personalize your Symphony Display with attractive counters, workstations, floating graphics, iPad clamshells, and monitor mounts. Add floating graphics for additional visual layering and branding.
The affordable Sacagawea Portable Hybrid is a contemporary display designed with lightweight engineered aluminum and vibrant tension fabric graphics. Using knob-assisted assembly, the Sacagawea sets up quickly, typically in less than 40 minutes for a 10 ft. display. All components are individually numbered and packed in durable roto-molded cases with custom die-cut foam packaging. Options include workstations, pedestals, fabric canopies, headers, iPad accessories, and monitors.
Not all lightboxes are the same. SuperNova Lightboxes are brighter, bolder, and more durable. When combined with our HD fabric graphics, no lightbox is more vibrant or attracts more attention. The VK-1960 is an attractive, practical, and portable lightbox display designed for the serious exhibitor. It includes SEG fabric and direct print graphics, shelves, and a monitor mount.
Symphony is the first portable/modular display to blend easy toolless assembly with elegant design and clever accessories. With Symphony, there are no compromises and no tradeoffs. Simply a beautiful upscale display at a price that’s thousands less than most custom modular exhibits. Unleash the designer within you. Create the perfect 10, 20, or 30 ft. display by selecting from stylish back wall shapes and distinctive counters and workstations. The mix-and-match flexibility encourages unlimited design possibilities.
Considering a lightweight portable display, then consider the toolless SEGUE Sunrise with fabric graphics. The Sunrise offers all the advantages of a portable display — affordability, ease of set-up, and a large graphic – with the benefits of a large format tension fabric graphic, durable aluminum frame, and no-tools assembly. Assembly takes less than 20 minutes for most kits. Best of all, the 7 ½ x 7 ½ silicone edge graphic guarantees a perfect fit every time, and the fabric graphics mean worry-free performance from show to show. You can even wash them. Made in the USA. Lifetime warranty on workmanship.
Trade Show Booth Design with Classic Exhibits
Many new exhibitors don’t know where to start with exhibition booth design. Fortunately, Classic Exhibits has a vast library of past projects and contemporary exhibit designs to jumpstart the process. Sometimes the ideal booth has already been designed and built and only needs a few tweaks to match your vision. Other times, exhibitors will select ideas from multiple exhibits to create their perfect display. Either way, we’re ready to lend a hand and turn your vision into a reality.
Classic Exhibits has been designing and building 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.
The Exhibitor Advocate recently published a 2022 Material Handling and Labor Rate Survey. The survey is an important benchmarking tool that provides industry stakeholders with cost comparisons of average labor and material handling rates across 16 major US cities. The survey was previously conducted by Trade Show Week and then EDPA through 2017. The key data findings in the survey show that exhibitor costs continue to rise. Installation and dismantle labor, electrical labor and material handling are outpacing inflation some by more than 30%.
To most of the industry, this isn’t surprising. We’ve been
feeling these increases for a while. It just happens to be that now we have the
data to confirm our suspicions. Every year, exhibitors have seen prices go up,
and we get more and more creative on how to manage our costs. We work with our exhibit
partners to try to figure out how to stretch every dollar. We compromise on our
booth size, the products we choose to bring, and the way we promote or showcase
our brand. I’ve sometimes heard stakeholders say, if exhibitors don’t want to
pay the increasing fees, they should walk away from the show. But it’s not that
easy. Trade shows are important to our business. There are interactions that
happen here that are unparalleled. We support our associations, and we want to
be part of the community that naturally occurs at these events.
Download the Survey (FREE)
There is more and more scrutiny on these events and the
budgets that go along with them. Are we getting a ROI? Can we return from the
show and explain the value of being there even if it was the intangibles that
made it successful? Rising costs are an important part of the equation, not the
whole equation. We must focus on the overall value. As costs go up, so too must
value. Lately, we’ve seen rising costs outpace inflation and value. It’s why
The Exhibitor Advocate exists. We started this non-profit trade association to
amplify the voice of exhibitors. We’re not here to tell any stakeholder what
they should charge. We are here to share pain points and data in an attempt to
improve this important marketing channel. Labor and material handling rates are
one of those areas. As an industry, we must look at these challenges and work
together to find solutions to the value equation.
Having information available to the industry, like the Material
Handling and Labor Rate Survey, is just the first step. As we all know,
data is power. With this information, exhibitors can more accurately budget for
upcoming shows and plan their participation accordingly. Show Managers can
evaluate and compare their exhibitor rates to city averages. Facilities can
utilize competitive exhibitor rates to attract shows to their destination. And
so much more! Having the data is one step. Taking action is the next. This only
works when we come together to address these issues and balance the value
equation. Share this data with your network and support exhibitors in speaking
up on what they need to be successful. If the exhibitor is successful, so too
is the industry.
Download your copy of the 2022 Material Handling and Labor
Rate Survey at www.ExhibitorAdvocacy.com.
