Trade Show TalesBlog

Trade Show Design Support: Your Design Staff Will Thank You!

March 28th, 2022 Mel White COMMENTS

Trade show design

Trade Show Exhibit Design isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s a specialized craft learned over years of training and projects. Some designers transition into 3D exhibit design after starting as graphic designers. Others begin in industrial design. Still others simply love the trade show industry and are naturally creative. They become successful exhibit designers by working with other industry professionals. 

For others, studying exhibition design starts by attending a college or university. Both  Bemidji State University in Minnesota and the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC offer either undergraduate or graduate degrees in Experience and Exhibition Design.   

Trade Show Design Requests

Trade Show Design requests come to us in a multitude of ways. Sometimes they’re simple napkin sketches. Other times they’re 3D CAD drawings complete with measurements, material specifications, and building recommendations. All are welcome… but the more details and directions a client or distributor provides, the more likely we’re able to hit a bulls-eye on the first pass. 

However, hitting the bulls-eye can be elusive when clients are unfamiliar with trade shows, don’t have well-defined goals, and are unsure of or unwilling to share their budget. The exhibit designer might as well be blindfolded, holding a plastic bat, and trying to crack open a pinata. When a designer has to guess, it almost always means multiple iterations. Iterations equals more time and more times adds to the cost. 

exhibition booth design

15 Important Exhibit Design Questions

Every designer wants happy clients who enjoy the process and are excited about the final product. That requires gathering information before any design starts. And while every project is unique and every designer different, there are questions common to any exhibit design project. The 15 Questions listed below may not be fit to every situation, but they’re an excellent tool to start the process. 

Design Questions 1-5

1.  Does your company have branding guidelines/logo or graphic files/website address?

2.  What size is the exhibit? Do you plan to reconfigure the exhibit for other shows? If so, what sizes?  

3.  What is the budget?  Still undecided about an exact budget? The next best option is a workable budget range. No exhibitor wants to be surprised with a beautiful booth outside their budget or underwhelmed by a booth designed for a lower budget.

4.  Purchase or rent? Or a combination of both? This assists the designer in choosing materials and designing to a specific budget.

5.  What physical properties does the exhibit need to have? For example, workstations, counters, slatwall, semi-private or private conference area, monitors, storage, etc? 

Design Questions 6-10

6.  What type of display has the client used in the past? What did they like or not like about the previous booth?

7.  Are there any materials or construction methods you prefer? Many experienced exhibitors have a strong attraction or aversion to specific materials.

8.  Are there any unusual dimensional restrictions? Some trade shows or events have unusual restrictions for the height of the booth or setbacks from the aisle. 

9.  Do you show product(s)? What are the dimensions and specifications? Will they require display cases, counters, shelves, hooks, etc.?

10.  Do you want a  portable, modular, or custom trade show booth? Or some combination. This will guide the use of materials, and casing  options.

Design Questions 11-15

11.  Who will assemble the display: show labor or your own team? 

12.  Do you have any images of design elements you like? Even if these “inspiration images” are not trade show related, they are very helpful. For example, architectural elements, finishes, colors, natural elements, retail environments, etc.

13.  Design due date? Typically, designs are completed within a week. However, every project and every client has their own timeline. 

14.  Show opening date? Creating the design and then building it depends on the time frame. Designers can make material selections which will go a long way toward meeting a three-week vs. a three-month window.

15.  Are there any descriptive words you use to describe your company? What do you want visitors to your booth to “feel” about your company? From “opulent” to “bad-ass,” we have heard some interesting descriptors, and this gives the designer the insight to craft a personalized, experiential space.

vendor booth display ideas

Are You Looking for Vendor Booth Display Ideas? We Can Help!

For any Exhibit Design Department, the busy season can be chaotic and stressful because good design takes time. But if you are a Classic Distributor, we have helpful solutions that will save you time and close your sales faster.

Exhibit Design Search (EDS). With over 1500 designs, Exhibit Design Search is the most comprehensive display site in the world. There are 32 galleries ranging from Islands to Inlines and Counters to Charging Tables. It contains purchase and rental solutions along with green/sustainable designs, hanging signs, tablet stands, hand sanitizer solutions, and so much more. 

EDS is a great place to start gathering ideas about features, capabilities and prices. Since every design can be customized, it offers the added benefit of mixing and matching designs.. Do you like the shelving from one design, the workstation from another, and the backlighting from a third? No problem. We’re happy to assist you with creating the perfect exhibit to meet the client’s trade show objectives. 

Photo Galleries: There are four photo galleries in Exhibit Design Search


These galleries are an outstanding place to see photos of actual design builds. The Past Five Days gallery is linked to kits in Exhibit Design Search making it easy to compare the rendering to the build.  

Exhibition Booth Design Support

At Classic Exhibits, we support Distributor Partners with design requests in several ways. 

  • Use us as your design staff if you don’t have in-house designers.
  • Use us as your overflow design staff when your internal designers are beyond their capacity.
  • Have us on phone calls with your clients. We are happy to be introduced as YOUR designer. Hearing what the client wants first-hand ensures the best design quickly.
  • All those nice-looking designs in Exhibit Design Search are available to you as 3D files. At no charge.


So the next time you need to create a 20×20/10×20/10×10 design in one day, don’t stress. We can easily show you ten different Classic designs with that capability. We’ve done the legwork, and these kits are ready to sell.

trade show graphics

Support with High-Quality Trade Show Graphics

Most Classic Distributor Partners have in-house or contract graphic designers. Here’s how we assist them with printing, file prep, and quality control.  

1. When it comes to choosing the right printers, we’re pretty picky. And we have multiple options. For most tension fabric graphics (SEG or Velcro), we process them in-house using our dye-sublimation printers. We do, however, use other suppliers with a long history of quality and reliability. For direct print graphics, we print both in-house and (mostly) at local printers in the Greater Portland area. 

2. Before your graphics go to the printer, they are pre-flighted by Classic Exhibits. This minimizes any mistakes and allows us to identify issues quickly and return them to you for corrections. 

3. Nothing leaves our facility without being staged and photographed. That means we see and inspect every graphic and ensure that the graphic fits perfectly. Whether it’s a purchase or a rental, EVERYTHING is STAGED. We’re happy (in fact eager) to share the photos with you once they’re available. Keep in mind however, these are staging photos in our shop and not show photos, which means the lighting isn’t ideal and the backgrounds may be messy or cluttered with other projects. 

Classic Exhibits and Trade Show Design

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. 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.

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Your Guide to Exhibit Furniture Rentals

March 24th, 2022 Mel White COMMENTS

Rental Furniture at Trade Shows

It’s 2022 and trade shows and exhibitions in North America have returned much stronger than many predicted. As a result, exhibitors, display builders, labor providers, and show organizers are busy, sometimes crazy busy. One segment that’s seen a surge in growth is exhibit rentals, both exhibits and furniture. Exhibit Furniture Rentals in particular have transitioned from a “maybe” to a “must have” for both inline and island booths. 

Trade Show Furniture Rentals

Why Should You Care About Exhibit Furniture Rentals?

Gone are the days of battered and basic furniture rental designs. Today’s designs are attractive, contemporary, and comfortable, and they are available in a variety of styles and colors. Rental furniture providers are committed to delivering quality products that are fashionable and pristine. Plus, their selection has improved, along with deeper inventories at most major convention and trade show venues. 

Exhibit designers and exhibitors have also gotten more comfortable with adding furniture to booths. The right furniture can make a huge difference in the overall design, transforming a “nice and functional” island into an upscale destination for show attendees. Just 5-10 years ago, exhibit designers were reluctant to add conference tables, upholstered sofas, even ottomans and accessories to a booth. However, there’s been a push to offer attendees a place to relax, chat, and conduct business within the booth and designers have responded. 

And it’s not just furniture. Trade show rental options include charging hubs, pillows, lamps, rugs, sanitizer stands, and even safety dividers.  

Trade Show Furniture Rental Trends 

The next time you attend a trade show or event, you’ll undoubtedly notice three trends:  large fabric graphics, lightboxes, and furniture. These are trends not exclusive to island displays. Inline displays, both 10 ft. and 20 ft., are embracing these trends with rental furniture being the most surprising. Not long ago, a café or bar table with chairs in an inline space was uncommon. Not anymore. Inline exhibitors have embraced seating in their booth with many including comfortable chairs and sofas to create a casual meeting area. 

Assuming rental furniture makes sense for your exhibit design, then what are the next steps? When possible, work with your exhibit designer. They have access to the designs from multiple furniture rental companies. They are also familiar with your booth design, graphics, and trade show marketing strategy. They can also assist you with ordering and scheduling the furniture to arrive in your space. 

Trade Show Furniture Rental Sources

Some exhibitors may consider ordering their rental furniture from the General Show Contractor via the show book or the GSC’s website. And that’s a good option. However, GSC’s typically have a more limited selection than would be available from your exhibit house. Then there’s the cost. There’s a common misconception that ordering from the GSC will be less expensive. It’s not. In fact, it’s often more expensive. Furniture Rentals are a convenient and cozy profit center for them. Expert Tip:  Start with your exhibit house and compare prices and service. 

Of course, you can always buy furniture and ship it with your crates or cases. Can you save money by buying the furniture? Perhaps if you spread the cost over 3-4 shows. However, you’ll need to include the cost of shipping, materials handling, and labor (if it needs to be assembled) and damage. For most exhibitors, it’s not worth the hassle or the meager savings. 

Exhibit Furniture Rentals

Popular & Affordable Rental Show Furniture 

Easy is good. Easy and affordable is even better. Classic Exhibits has two comprehensive galleries of trade show rental furniture (Rental Furniture #1 and #2). The galleries are organized by the categories shown below and include prices. No guesswork. No navigating through a complicated and confusing website. 

Review your options in each gallery. Then click to add them to a “My Gallery.” The My Gallery has a tool where you can email your selections to your exhibit house representative or send them to colleagues to review. 

Rental Furniture Gallery #1

  • Accent Chairs: Comfortable, casual chairs perfect when paired together and with and end or seating table. See the Malibu or Lena designs as examples.    
  • Soft Seating: Larger upholstered chairs, sofas, and sectionals with matching pieces. See the Emerald Velvet line as an example. Some include charging options. 

trade show furniture

  • Seating Tables: Cocktail, end, and side tables like the Geo Cocktail Table with a wood top and black metal base.  
  • Ottomans: Colors galore in these fashionable round, rectangle, and curved ottomans.
  • Accessories: A nice selection of safety dividers, rugs. pillows, lamps, stanchions, and lecterns.

Rental Furniture Gallery #2

  • Cafe Tables: round cafe tables come in both fixed (typically 30” high) and adjustable heights in a variety of colors and finishes. See model CECA-022 with countertop colors in gunmetal, green, orange, yellow, and black. 
  • Bar Tables: Similar to Cafe Tables but with a  height of 40-42”.  CEBT-036 is one of 18 designs 
  • Group Seating: Mostly plastic cafe table seating in a range of colors and styles. The Malba (20″ L x 20″ D x 32″ H) is a green or gray stacking chair.

event furnishings

  • Conference Tables: Primarily oversized rectangle tables with round options as well. Some come with power ports like the CECT-033. 
  • Conference Chairs: Mostly height-adjustable rolling executive or mid-back chairs with arms like the Cupertino Mid-Back. 
  • Office Furniture: Desks, shelving, bookcases, and whiteboards. 
  • Bars: Curved bars with or without accent lights. See the CEBR-002 Midtown Bar
  • Barstools: Stools for Bar Tables. 13 designs including the CEBS-019 in red, black, and white vinyl tops

Important Considerations About Event Furnishings

Design obviously matters but so does function and budget. Your event furnishings have a role to play in your overall strategy. Given the cost of booth space, you want every sq. foot to contribute to your goals and ROI. 

Conference Room or Meeting Space. Most meetings in a booth don’t happen by accident. They are scheduled before or during the show. There’s no reason for a conference room unless you already have a plan for a full schedule of meetings with clients. 

Casual Seating Areas. Guests in your booth will love these… so will the booth staff. If your product/service doesn’t require lengthy interactions with attendees and you anticipate a busy show, a casual seating area can be a distraction and create congestion. No one can resist a soft comfy chair, including your team. If they appear too relaxed, attendees will walk by and not engage your staff. 

Say Something.. If you are unhappy with your rental furniture choice or the furniture arrived dirty or damaged, contact the rental furniture provider immediately. They want you to rent again at future shows and will generally do whatever they can to make you happy. Sometimes that means replacing a damaged piece the second day of the show or even removing furniture you thought would be necessary (but actually added clutter to the booth).

Cleanliness. While you don’t own the furniture or furnishings, you are still being judged by it. It arrived clean but it won’t stay that way. Wipe down the countertops each day and brush off the crumbs. Attendees don’t want to sit down at your bistro table only to discover wet coffee stains and sticky raspberry filling.  

event furnishings

Exhibit Furniture Rentals with Classic Exhibits

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. 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.

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Posted in Classic Exhibit Systems, Exhibit Design Search, Furniture Rental, Mel White | No Comments »

A Walk Around Natural Products Expo West

March 15th, 2022 Harold Mintz 4 COMMENTS
Natural Products West Expo

I joined Classic Exhibits in 2019 after a 10-year hiatus from the trade show industry. One of my first assignments was to walk Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim. I was tasked with reporting on how exhibit design had changed over the previous decade. As it turned out, I discovered that the basic rules of trade show design had remained constant — bright colors, bold lighting, and high contrast never go out of style.

Last week I walked the floor of Natural Products Expo West once again, and I couldn’t be more pleased to report that the place was jam-packed. Lots of exhibitors, lots of attendees, and lots of tasty little snacks to sample as I strolled the floor.

Attention Grabbing Exhibits

The first booth that grabbed my attention was a 10’ backlit booth (Rambler). I couldn’t help but stop and take it in.

Rambler Water at Natural Products Expo West

I LOVED how the backlit orange simply ignited the backwall. And the stacks of product along the sides of the booth showed their clean, crisp packaging while eliminating the need for significant storage cabinets – a serious challenge in a 10’ booth.

Bright colors kept grabbing my eyes demanding that I look their way.

Then I started noticing displays that put graphics against a black background. Anything on black jumps right out at you.

The same can almost be said for graphics with a white background. It’s hard not to look.

Lighting demands attention as well. Check out this booth. It’s hard to tell from the picture but the three lightbulbs shown as part of the “hanging lamps” are actually lightbulbs that have been inserted into the cut fabric. Bright lights, breaking the plane of the fabric. Nicely done.

Red Plate Foods at Natural Products Expo West

This one as well.

Vevan at Natural Products Expo West

BOTOX YOUR BOOTH!

I told myself that I wasn’t going to capture images showing examples of bad graphics at Natural Products Expo West. We all know when we see graphic designs that don’t work. No need to poke hard-working designers.

But wrinkles… wrinkles are not caused by designers. Wrinkles are easily fixable if I&D teams are prepared for them. And there is no excuse NOT to be prepared for them. I’ve done my best to crop out any identifying logos. I saw dozens and dozens and dozens of examples. PLEASE tell your I&D crews to be prepared. BOTOX YOUR BOOTH!

Wrinkled graphics at Natural Products Expo West

And lastly… This might just be the best booth I saw all day – MYNTZ

Myntz Breathmints

— Harold Mintz (MYNTZ), Regional Sales Manager

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 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. 

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Posted in Graphics, Harold Mintz, LED Lightboxes, Natural Products West Expo | 4 Comments »

This is What Recovery Looks Like

March 11th, 2022 Kevin Carty COMMENTS
What Recovery Looks Like for Classic Exhibits

Happy 2022 Classic Partners

I borrowed the “What Recovery Looks Like” title above from my friend Chris Griffin at CrewXP. As you know, we’re in the midst of a crazy, chaotic start to 2022. Busy is good and the Classic Family appreciates your ongoing support.

Normally, I would have written our annual “State of The Company Letter,” but this year I’m heading in a different direction. Basically… where we are and how we got here during the recovery.

The post-COVID restart began around mid-June and has been non-stop ever since. Has it been neat and tidy? Nope. There have been challenges along the way similar to those you’ve no doubt experienced in your business and personal life. Let’s address four of them.

SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES

Supply Chain Issues
Incoming Shipment of Aluminum Extrusion

Supply chain issues still exist and will continue to exist. But there are bright spots. Back in June and July, we rolled the dice and ordered MULTIPLE LARGE quantities of aluminum extrusion because the lead times had gone from 12 weeks to 48-52 weeks. That gamble has paid off.

In the past four weeks, we have received the equivalent of a three-month supply of extrusion from one of our vendors with another double order landing in the next two weeks. Those two orders, along with some smaller extrusion deliveries, mean we’ll have a healthy inventory for the next 6-9 months. Those profiles included Gravitee, SuperNova, Symphony, Eco-systems Sustainable, and the building blocks for our hybrid kits and accessories. In addition, we’ve seen extruders revise their 48-52 week projections down to 18-20 weeks.

PRICE INCREASES

The struggle is real. We selectively increased our prices last summer to reflect the increases in metal, wood, shipping, and plastics. Will there be future increases? Likely yes… but not across the board. For example, we just received another 7-15% price hike from our laminate vendors. We are evaluating how to blend those into our overall wood fabrication pricing.
No one likes surprises. We promise to be open and upfront about pricing. Let’s all cross our fingers (and hope) there will be decreases as the supply chain stabilizes.

ORDER LEAD TIMES

Orders and Lead Times
Classic’s Job Board

KUDOS to YOU. Over the past year in our Classic Conversations Groups and in our email blasts, we have spoken about the need to prepare clients for the restart. The current trade show market requires planning weeks and even months ahead. Everything is taking longer — graphics, exhibit fabrication, shipping, materials, etc.

Thankfully, you have answered that call. I have shared with many of you that in my 28 years of doing this, I have never had meaningful sales visibility beyond 3-4 weeks. That’s always been our reality. Currently, we have visibility into early June because you are working with your clients to plan and prepare. Thank you!

At Classic, our PM’s and Designers are having that conversation on the front end. They’re letting you know, so you can tell your clients when we need the PO and graphics to meet parts, printing, and manufacturing timelines. In this way, we can hold production timeslots and better manage overall capacity.

Have we had to decline jobs? YES… but again thanks to you these have been mainly projects that would have been hard to do in the best of times.

LABOR

Electrical Cabinet at Classic Exhibits
Electrical Cabinet

Classic is no different from anyone else when it comes to labor challenges, and it’s not for a lack of trying. Simply put, in baseball terms, we were batting about .130 in our hiring vs interviewing from June – November. That percentage has gotten MUCH, MUCH better in recent months. But it is still very challenging. Fortunately, we were able to retain our core team throughout the pandemic. Same leads in Production and Rentals. Same leaders in Customer Service and Design. As a result, our core institutional knowledge is still there and flourishing, and we expect to be back to pre-pandemic staffing soon.

An ASK and a THANK YOU

ASK – Please continue to reinforce with your clients the need to plan. We’re in the business of designing and building successful trade show exhibits. That’s taking more time. What used to take 10-15 days is now taking 15-25 days for all the reasons mentioned.

Thank you from Classic Exhibits

THANK YOU for your continued partnership. The past two years have been HARD, but our partnerships have gotten stronger because of your support. Those conversations and unique sales opportunities kept us doing “something” during the pandemic. We are most thankful for your emotional support when everything was gloomy and the future murky.

We were already partners, but now we’re family. Like it or not. 😉

Hope to see you at either EMS or EXHIBITORLIVE. #whatrecoverylookslike

Custom Inline Lightbox Exhibit
Custom Inline Lightbox Exhibit

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 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. 

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Posted in Classic Exhibits Inc., Kevin Carty | No Comments »

Glossary of Trade Show and Exhibition Terms

March 2nd, 2022 Mel White COMMENTS
Glossary of Trade Show and Exhibition Terms

With anything new, half the battle is learning the unfamiliar lingo or terminology. Trade shows are no different. Trade shows, exhibitions, and events have a very specific language. The Glossary of Trade Show Terms will shorten your learning curve and increase your productivity with North American trade shows.

A

Advanced Order: An order for show services sent to the contractor before move-in. Examples include electrical, hanging signs, labor, and rental furniture.

Air Freight: Materials shipped via airplane.

Air Walls: Movable barriers that partition large areas. Some walls may be sound resistant, but they are rarely soundproof.

Aisle Signs: Signs, usually suspended from the ceiling, indicating aisle numbers and the show name to assist in navigating the show floor.

Audio/Visual: Equipment, materials, and aids used in sound and visual. (Also A/V)

B

Backlighting: When graphics are internally illuminated, aka backlit, with LED lights.

Backloader: Truck that loads from back door.

Backwall: The panels, structure, and/or graphics at rear of a booth.

Backwall Booth: Booth spaces typical along the perimeter of the show floor.

Baffle: Partition to control light, air, sound, or traffic flow.

Bill of Lading (B/L or BOL): Document or form listing goods to be shipped by exhibitor.

Blanket Wrap: Non-crated freight shipped typically shipped via a van line covered with protective blankets or padding.

Blister Wrap: Vacuum-formed transparent plastic cover.

Bone Yard: General Contractor storage area at show site. Depending on the show, this can be indoor or outdoor.

Booth Number: Number designating each exhibitor’s space.

C

CAD: Computer-Aided Design

Canopy: Drapery, awning, or other ceiling-like covering.

Capacity: Maximum number of people allowed in any area.

Carpenter: Union that is responsible for uncrating of exhibits and display materials, installation and dismantle of exhibits including cabinets, fixtures, shelving units, furniture, etc., laying of floor tile and carpet, and re-crating of exhibits and machinery. A carpenter’s exact duties and rights depends on location and union contract with venue.

Cherry Picker: Equipment capable of lifting a person (s) to a given height. (Also HIGH JACKER, SCISSOR LIFT)

Chevron: Type of cloth used for backdrops.

Corkage Fee: The charge placed on beer, liquor, and wine brought into the facility but purchased elsewhere. The charge sometimes includes glassware, ice, and mixers. In some cases, it can even apply to non-alcoholic drinks and bottled water.

Cross Bar: Rod used in draping or as a support brace.

Cut & Lay: Installation of carpet other than normal booth or aisle size.

CWT: Hundred weight. A weight measurement for exhibit freight. Usually 100 pounds. Some post-COVID shows are switching to a per-pound charge.

D

Decorator: Union that is responsible for hanging all signs except electrical signs, drape and cloth installation, and tacked fabric panels. A decorator’s exact duties and rights depends on location and union contract with venue.

Direct Billing: Accounts receivable mailed to individuals or firms with established credit.

Dismantle: Take down (disassembly) and removal of exhibits.

Display Builder: Exhibit company that designs and fabricates displays. Often referred to as the custom house or custom builder.

Dock: A place where freight is loaded onto and taken away from vehicles. (Also see LOADING DOCK)

Dolly: A flat two-feet square platform on four wheels used for moving heavy loads.

Drayage: The unloading of your shipment, transporting it to your booth, storing and returning your empty crates and cartons, and reloading your shipment at the close of the show. Also called Material Handling.

Drayage Charge: The dollar cost based on weight –100-pound units or hundredweight, abbreviated CWT, calculates drayage. There is typically a minimum charge. Also called Material Handling Fee.

Duplex Outlet: Double electrical outlet.

E

EAC (Exhibitor Appointed Contractor): Independent contractors (vs. the GSC) appointed by exhibitors to provide services such as installation and dismantle, A/V, furniture rental, etc. EAC’s often are contracted to provide services for an exhibitor at multiple shows and venues.

Electrical Contractor: Company contracted by Show Management to provide electrical services to the exhibitors.

Electrician: Union that handles installation of all electrical equipment. An electrician’s exact duties and rights depends on location and union contract with venue.

Empty Crate: The reusable packing/shipping container for exhibit materials. Typically wood. Once empty, an “EMPTY” sticker should be attached with the booth number and company name. The crates are then removed, stored, and returned (at the end of the show). This service is covered by the drayage or material handling fee.

Exclusive Contractor: Contractor appointed by the show or building management as the sole agent to provide services. (Also OFFICIAL)

Exhibit Booth Space: Space rented by an exhibitor during the show for their display or exhibit. For example, 10 x 10 or 20 x 20 booth.

Exhibit Directory: Program book for attendees listing exhibitors and exhibit booth location. (Also SHOW GUIDE)

Exhibit Manager: Person responsible for a company’s exhibit booth and trade show marketing program.

F

Fire Exit: Door, clear of obstructions, designated by local authorities to egress.

Fire Retardant: Term used to describe a finish (usually liquid) which coats materials with a fire-resistant cover.

Flameproof: Term used to describe material, which is, or has been treated to be fire-retardant.

Floor Manager: Person retained by show management to supervise exhibit area and assist exhibitors.

Floor Marking: Method of marking booth space. Typically with tape which is then covered by carpet or flooring before the start of the show.

Floor Order: Goods and/or services ordered on-site.

Floor Plan: A map showing layout of exhibit spaces. Most trade shows have the floor plan available on their website.

Foam Core: Lightweight material with a foam center used for signs, decorating, and exhibit construction.

Fork Lift: Vehicle for for lifting and carrying loads.

Freight: Exhibit properties, products, and other materials shipped for an exhibit.

Freight Aisle: Aisle to remain clear for incoming freight.

Freight Forwarder: Shipping company.

Full Booth Coverage: Carpet or other flooring covering the entire area of booth.

G

Garment Rack: Frame which holds apparel.

General Contractor: Company, designated by the show organizer, that provides all services to exhibition management and exhibitors. Also called the General Service Contractor (GSC).

H

Hand-Carryable: Items that one person can carry unaided (meaning, no hand trucks or dollies).

Hand Truck: Tool with two wheels and two handles for transporting small loads.

Hardwall Booth: Booth constructed with plywood or similar material as opposed to a booth constructed with aluminum extrusion or drapery.

Header: 1. Fascia 2. Overhead illuminated display sign.

Hospitality Suite: Room or suite of rooms used to entertain guests.

I

I&D: Install and dismantle.

ID Sign: Booth identification sign.

Illuminations: Lighting available in hall, built into exhibit, or available on a rental basis.

Infringement: The illegal use of floor space outside exclusive booth area.

Inline Booth: An exhibit space with one or two aisles. For example, 10 x 10 or 10 x 20 booths.

Inherent Flameproof: Material that is permanently flame resistant without chemical treatment.

Installation: Setting up exhibit booth and materials according to instructions and drawings.

Island Booth: An exhibit space with aisles on all four sides. For example, 20 x 20 or 30 x 40 booths.

J

Job Foreman: Person in charge of specific projects.

K

Kiosk: Freestanding pavilion or light structure in a booth or the show hall.

L

Labor: Refers to contracted workers who perform services. Labor is typically available through the General Contractor or the Exhibitor can hire independent labor companies, typically referred to as Exhibitor-Appointed Contractors (EAC).

Labor Call: Method of securing union employees.

Labor Desk: On-site area from which service personnel are dispatched.

Light Box: One or two-sided enclosure with backlit graphics. These can be freestanding or mounted to a wall or structure. Typically fabric graphics.

Loading Dock: Area where goods are received.

Lobby: Public area which serves as an entrance or waiting area.

Lock-up: Secure storage area in the show hall or convention center.

M

Marshalling Yard: Check-in area for trucks delivering exhibit material.

Modular Exhibit: Exhibit constructed with interchangeable display components. These can be portable or custom displays.

Move-In: Date(s) set for installation. Process of setting up exhibits.

Move-Out: Date(s) set for dismantling. Process of dismantling exhibits.

N

Net Square Feet: The amount of space occupied by exhibits in a facility, not including aisles, columns, registration area, etc. For example, an exhibitor with a 20 x 20 exhibit has 400 sq. feet of booth space.

No Freight Aisle: Aisle that must be left clear at all times during set-up and dismantle. Used to deliver freight, remove empty boxes and trash, and in case of emergency.

O

Official Contractor: The General Contractor or decorator (GSC).

On-Site Order: Floor order placed at show site.

On-Site Registration: Process of signing up for an event on the day of, or at the site of, the event.

O.T. Labor: Work performed on overtime. Work performed before 8:00 am and after 4:40 pm Monday through Friday, and all hours on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. OT rules may vary depending on the show and the venue.

P

Package Plan: When the General Show Contractor offers furniture, exhibit rentals, labor, and/or services to exhibitors for a single fee. Often referred to as bundling. Industry associations such as EDPA consider this an ethically questionable and anti-competitive practice.

Padded Van Shipment: Shipment of crated or uncrated goods such as product or display materials. (Also VAN SHIPMENT, AIR-RIDE).

Pallet: Wooden platform used to carry goods. (Also SKID)

Pegboard: Framed panel of perforated hardboard for displaying products.

Perimeter Booth: Exhibit space located on an outside wall of the show hall.

Pipe and Drape: Tubing with drapes, which separates exhibit booths.

Planting: Floral décor to enhance the appearance of the exhibition. Typically available from a designated show contractor.

Portable Displays: Generally, portable refers to displays that can be shipped via UPS or FedEx, typically in roto-molded or fabric cases with wheels. Portable does not mean that the display will assemble without tools (although most are tool-free) or that the display can be hand-carried into the exhibition hall.

Pre-registered: Registration which has been made in advance with necessary paperwork.

Press Room: Space reserved for media representatives.

POV: A privately owned vehicle, such as a passenger car, van, or small company vehicle, as distinguished from trucks, tractor-trailers, and other over-the-road vehicles. A POV left unattended will almost certainly be towed away. If you must unload a POV, use the POV line. (See below).

POV Line: Special loading dock reserved for POV’s where materials are unloaded at prevailing drayage rates. To get on a POV line, driver reports first to marshalling area.

Private Security: Security personnel hired from a privately operated company. (Also BOOTH SECURITY)

Pro-Number: Number designated by the freight forwarders to a single shipment, used in all cases where the shipment must be referred to.

Q

Quad Box: Four electrical outlets in one box.

R

Rail: Low drape divider between exhibit booths. (Also SIDE RAIL)

Rear-Lit: Method of lighting transparency from behind. (Also BACKLIT)

Registration: Process by which an individual indicates their intent to attend a trade show.

Rental Booth: Complete booth package offered to exhibitors on a rental basis either from the general show contractor or an exhibit house.

Rigger: Union that is responsible for crating, unskidding, positioning, and reskidding of all machinery. A rigger’s exact duties and rights depends on location and union contract with venue.

Riser: A raised platform for people or products.

S

Security Cages: Cages rented by exhibitors to secure materials.

Silicone Edge Graphics (SEG): Silicone Edge Fabric Graphics are typically dye-sublimated fabric with a silicone bead or welting sewn around the edge. The welting is then inserted into a groove (usually aluminum extrusion) for a seamless image.

Service Charge: Charge for the services of waiters/waitresses, housemen, technicians, and other food function personnel.

Shop: Service contractor’s main office and warehouse.

Showcard: Material used for signs.

Showcase: Glass-enclosed case for articles on display.

Show Manager: Person responsible for all aspects of exhibition.

Show Office: Management office at exhibition.

Shrink Wrap; Process of wrapping loose items on pallet with transparent plastic wrapping.

Side Rail: Low divider wall in exhibit area, usually 36” high.

Skirting: Decorative covering around tables/risers. Also called table throws or table cloths.

Space Assignment: Booth space assigned to exhibiting companies.

Space Rate: Cost per square foot for exhibit area.

Special Handling: Applies to display and/or product shipment requiring extra labor, equipment, or time in delivery to booth area. To avoid special handling, always consult with your exhibit house or display provider.

Staging Area: Area adjacent to main event area for set- up, dismantling, and temporary storage.

Stanchions: Decorative posts which hold markers or flags to define traffic areas. Ropes or chains may be attached.

Stop Job; When an exhibitor is doing some type of work in the booth which is claimed by a union, that union’s steward will request that you go to the service desk so that the contractor can supply the exhibitor union labor.

S.T. Labor: Work performed on straight time. Usually work performed 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday.

T

Target Date: Move-in date assigned to exhibitors by the general contractor and the show management.

Tent: Portable canvas shelter for outside.

Time & Materials; Method for charging services on a cost-plus basis. (Also T & M)

Traffic Flow; Movement of people throughout an area.

U

Union: An organization of workers formed for mutual protection and for the purpose of dealing collectively with their employer in wages, hours, working conditions and other matters pertaining to their employment.

Union Steward: On-site union official.

V

Velcro: Material used for fastening. (Also HOOK AND LOOP)

Visqueen: Protective plastic sheeting used to cover flooring during installation. Visqueen is removed once the show floor and aisles have been set.

W

Waste Removal: Removal of trash from the building.

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 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. 

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