Saturday, October 25, 2008

Choosing a trade show booth that reflects your corporate style

By Eric Lindmeier

Selecting the right trade show booth can be a difficult task. How do you pick one that best showcases your company and corporate image? Follow these simple tips to smooth the way to finding a booth.

When your company participates in a trade show, your trade show booth says more about your corporate image than you might imagine. How you're represented makes an impact on important people in your industry - the people who make the decisions. It's important to make the best impression you can but how? You need a professionally designed trade show booth that grabs attention - in a positive way.

But it seems like there are half a bazillion trade show booth options to choose from. You can get a portable trade show booth in just about any size, with nearly any configuration of components - on a budget or over the top. So, with all those choices, how do you pick the one that's right for you and for your business? First of all, you want to consider size, style and price range.

Trade show booths come in all shapes and sizes: You can go with a small 10x10-foot booth or a monster 30x100-foot booth that will dwarf all the surrounding displays. You can even splurge on an extravagant 50x50-foot booth. Of course, the booth you select (or design) will ultimately rest on the needs of your business, its overall corporate style and budgetary constraints.

The style of your portable trade show booth depends largely on the image you wish to present. Are you looking for a simple backdrop with a few countertops for table-top displays? Or are you in the market for something really elaborate maybe a booth with shelving and partitions and small meeting and display rooms? Overhead banners? Large signage? The style options are practically endless!

Whatever you decide, you have to make sure your trade show booth characterizes your business well - and that it's approachable. Ensure that your booth adequately represents the company culture, its products and overall goals.

Portable trade show booths come in an enormous range of styles, sizes - which means they also come in a wide range of prices. You can get a perfectly serviceable trade show booth for well under $500.

On the other hand, you can go all out and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a custom-built bi-level trade show booth with dozens of options and features. Of course, unless you happen to be in charge of marketing for Microsoft or Ford, that might not be an option you can consider.

Nicely positioned in the mid range are well-appointed booths that can adequately reflect your company's corporate image and style, while not permanently entrenching your marketing department's budget in the red.

Regardless of the size and style of booth you design or select, be sure it appropriately represents your business and your industry. If you choose well, you will have a portable trade show booth you can proudly depend on for many years to come.

The idea gallery at Expo Marketing (www.expomarketing.com) should be your first stop when looking for a trade show booth. Expo Marketing's design pros will work with you to develop the ideal booth for you and your company. - 15615

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