Choose a Partner, Not Just a Vendor: A Trade Show Buyer’s Guide
                     Trade Show Booth Design & Build
EXHIBITOR BUYING GUIDE
Wasted $50,000 on a Booth?
7 Mistakes Exhibitors Make When Choosing a Trade Show Exhibit Company
A booth that fails to bring in leads is rarely a design problem. It is almost always a partner-selection problem.
Use this checklist before you sign with any trade show exhibit company.
Choosing the lowest quote over the best value
The risk: Low quotes often leave out graphics, flooring, lighting, electrical, show-site labor, freight and
1 storage. Those costs return later as change orders.
Do this instead: Request an itemized proposal and ask how change orders are priced and approved.
Starting with a design instead of a goal
The risk: A booth built without a clear goal looks good in a rendering and performs poorly on the show
2 floor.
Do this instead: Share your show objectives, target attendees, staffing plan and products before the first
sketch.
Hiring a design-only firm with no build capability
The risk: Outsourced fabrication adds handoffs, slows communication and blurs accountability. In booth
construction in the USA, the gap between concept and finished exhibit is where budgets and timelines
3 break.
Do this instead: Ask whether design, fabrication, graphics and installation sit with one team, and ask to
see finished projects.
Trusting claims instead of checking proof
The risk: Every company says it is among the best trade show booth companies. Few can prove it.
4
Do this instead: Ask for three recent references with similar booth sizes and budgets, and ask what
went wrong on a past project and how it was fixed.
Ignoring logistics, shipping and show-site rules
The risk: A booth is not finished when it leaves the workshop. Surprise drayage charges, late-arrival
5 penalties and installation delays are common.
Do this instead: Confirm who manages shipping, installation and dismantle, and whether the company
knows your venue.
Call: +1 (702) 326-2367   |   Email: [email protected]   |   Visit: etexpous.com
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Trade Show Booth Design & Build
Overlooking reusability and long-term cost
The risk: A custom exhibit built for a single show and then discarded is expensive.
6
Do this instead: Ask how the booth adapts to a 10x10, 10x20 or larger space and what updates cost.
Think cost per show, not cost per booth.
Signing without clear contracts, timelines and communication
The risk: Vague agreements cause more booth disasters than bad design.
7
Do this instead: Insist on a written scope, a milestone schedule and a single point of contact. Confirm
who owns the finished exhibit and its design files.
Choose a partner, not just a vendor.
Compare total value instead of price, define your goals, confirm your partner can design and build, check
proof, plan logistics, think about reuse, and put everything in writing. ET Expo designs and builds custom
trade show booths for exhibitors across the USA. Share your show details and goals, and our team will
walk you through the options with clear, itemized pricing.
Call: +1 (702) 326-2367   |   Email: [email protected]   |   Visit: etexpous.com
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