Many trade show exhibitors s are searching out various ways of cutting their exhibit cost.   They feel that they have to attend the trade show after they are very lucrative to most exhibitors. Some companies attend trade show to show their new product and or market their company service. It’s still the best way to get your product or service in front of a large crown of potential buyers.  The drawback is that trade shows are very costly. In that said I would like to point out some cost cutting ideas.

1-      In choosing your booth location never get more real estate that you can handle, some exhibitors get the same to give the impression that they are a larger company than what they are.  Only purchase booth space that you feel would demonstrate your product or service.  If your booth space is large remember you have to fill that area with enough exhibit components more restate means more exhibit components and more components mean more cost on shipping and drayage.

2-      When designing or choosing a design for your trade show booth location choose a design that reflects your company images…this is very important, first impressions are lasting.  In an effort to keep your budget down make sure that your booth is built with the lightest material needed to properly display your product or image. A great deal of exhibitors are now using stretched fabric  structures,  light weight panel systems or aluminum frame ,  the reason for this is  to keep their drayage cost down.  Drayage: is the cost that is charged by the convention contactor to move your booth properties in and out of the convention hall.   Make sure to budget for this, some conventions drayage cost are extremely high.

3-      Another advantage of having your trade show booth well built out of light weight material is the ease of setting up. This cost can also be very high depending on the convention in which you attend , the quicker your booth get set up the lower your overall cost , If one man can handle a component  instead of two or three  surely you would save in the long run. 

Make sure you budget for the items mentioned as they are some major items that will help to make your trade show less costly.  See also part #2 and Part #3 of this article "Trade Show Displays,  Cutting Your Trade Show Exhibit Cost Part #2"  and "Trade Show Displays,  Cutting Your Trade Show Exhibit Cost Part #3"where I go a little more in-depth of other cost saving tips