Choosing a trade show equipment vendor

A good trade show equipment vendor will act like a consultant - look for a dealer who asks questions. They'll consider your goals, your travel and setup requirements, and the type of product you are promoting. From that conversation, they should be able to recommend a specific type of display.

Then they'll work with you on the design - colors, fabrics, and extras, along with any signs and graphics you need. If you need help with this step, be sure to ask the vendor if they can provide graphic design services. Not all do - but most will be able to recommend a graphic designer if they can't do it in-house.

One nice extra to look for in a trade show equipment vendor is the ability to create a 3-D computer model of your booth. That way, you can see how the colors and graphics you chose work together before they are actually printed.

Types of trade show equipment vendors

There are two types of vendors you should be aware of. Most take pre-built display systems - pop-up, panel, and all the other types discussed here - and customize them with graphics and other accessories. However, for companies with more specific trade show display requirements, there are custom exhibit booth builders who will design a display system with you and build it from scratch. These types of booths are much more expensive and are usually only purchased by larger companies who attend trade shows regularly.

Trade show equipment is sold by vendors and directly from manufacturers. Working with dealers lets you make direct comparisons, because they typically carry models from multiple manufacturers.

Manufacturers and custom booth builders are more likely to be able to make any repairs you need. Resellers of pre-built systems may be able to do simple repairs on-site, but may have to ship your booth to the manufacturer or other repair facility for more significant work. Be sure to ask how the vendor handles repairs, especially in emergency situations.