Trade Show Planning Center - Expert Tips, Guides & Resources.

Trade Show Planning Starts Here

A successful trade show doesn’t happen by accident—it starts with careful planning. Whether you’re preparing for your first event or managing a nationwide exhibit program, the Trade Show Planning Center from Impact Displays is designed to help you make informed decisions every step of the way. Explore expert advice on booth design, display selection, rentals, graphics, flooring, shipping, installation, budgeting, and more.

For over 35 years, we’ve helped businesses throughout North America create successful trade show exhibits for conventions, expos, conferences, and corporate events. We’ve gathered many of our best ideas, planning tips, and industry knowledge into one convenient resource to help you maximize your return on investment and create an exhibit that gets noticed.

Planning Your Booth

Choosing the right booth starts long before the event. Consider your exhibit goals, available space, product demonstrations, meeting areas, storage needs, and visitor traffic. A well-planned booth creates a better experience for attendees while helping your sales team work more efficiently.

Helpful resources:

  • Choosing the Right Booth Size
  • Inline vs. Island Booths
  • Renting vs. Buying
  • Planning Your Budget
  • Designing for Traffic Flow

Choosing the Right Display

Every company has different marketing goals, which is why selecting the right display system is so important.

Popular display options include:

Choosing the right display depends on your budget, event schedule, booth size, and long-term marketing plans.

Trade Show Booth Rentals

Renting offers flexibility while providing the appearance of a custom exhibit.

Rental solutions include:

  • 10′ x 10′ Booth Rentals
  • 10′ x 20′ Booth Rentals
  • Island Booth Rentals
  • Double Deck Rentals
  • Turnkey Rental Services
  • Installation & Dismantle
  • Nationwide Project Management

Booth Flooring

Trade Show Booth Flooring often has a bigger impact than exhibitors realize.

Choosing the right flooring can:

  • Improve visitor comfort
  • Reduce staff fatigue
  • Define your booth space
  • Enhance your branding
  • Create a more premium appearance

Options include carpet, vinyl, interlocking tile, wood-look flooring, turf, and custom printed flooring.

Graphics & Branding

Even the best display hardware depends on great graphics.

Planning your graphics includes:

  • High-resolution artwork
  • Brand consistency
  • Readable headlines
  • Proper lighting
  • Color selection
  • Graphic replacement planning

Shipping & Logistics

Proper planning helps avoid unnecessary costs and last-minute surprises.

Topics include:

Outdoor Events

Outdoor promotions require different planning than indoor trade shows. Are Outdoor Event Displays right for you?

Popular products include:

  • Pop Up Canopy Tents
  • Feather Flags
  • Sidewalk Signs
  • Outdoor Banner Stands
  • Event Displays
  • Promotional Counters

Planning Tips

Start Planning Early

The best exhibit spaces, rental inventory, installation crews, and shipping schedules are often reserved months before major trade shows. Planning early gives you more options while helping avoid unnecessary rush charges.

Design Around Your Goals

Before selecting a display, determine what success looks like. Are you launching a new product, generating leads, scheduling meetings, increasing brand awareness, or demonstrating equipment? Your objectives should influence every design decision.

Invest in Great Graphics

Even the most impressive exhibit can fall flat without professional graphics. High-quality images, concise messaging, and strong branding help attract attendees and communicate your message quickly.

Think Long-Term

Choose modular displays and reusable exhibit components whenever possible. A flexible system allows you to reconfigure your booth for different events while protecting your investment.

Don’t Forget the Details

Electrical service, internet access, lead retrieval, flooring, shipping deadlines, labor scheduling, and booth furnishings all contribute to a successful event. Planning these items in advance makes setup much smoother.

Why Choose Impact Displays?

For over 35 years, Impact Displays has helped businesses throughout North America create successful trade show exhibits and event displays. From portable displays and banner stands to custom booths, rentals, backlit exhibits, and outdoor displays, our experienced team provides expert guidance, professional graphic design, and personalized customer service to help make every event a success.

Whether you’re exhibiting once a year or managing a national trade show program, we’re committed to helping you choose the right products, simplify the planning process, and maximize your return on investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start planning for a trade show?

Ideally, begin planning 3 to 6 months before your event. Larger custom exhibits and rental booths may require additional time for design, approvals, and production.

Should I rent or purchase a trade show display?

Companies attending only a few events each year often benefit from renting, while businesses with multiple annual shows may find purchasing a modular exhibit more cost-effective over time.

How do I choose the right booth size?

Your booth size depends on your goals, budget, products, staffing requirements, and the amount of visitor interaction you expect. Common booth sizes include 10′ x 10′, 10′ x 20′, 20′ x 20′, and larger island exhibits. Not sure what booth size you need? Visit our Trade Show Booth Size Guide.

What’s the benefit of backlit displays?

Backlit displays use LED lighting to illuminate graphics, increasing visibility and helping your booth stand out on crowded trade show floors.

What should I budget for a trade show?

Your budget should include exhibit costs, graphics, flooring, shipping, labor, installation, dismantle, travel, hotels, promotional materials, and show services such as electrical and internet.

Can Impact Displays help me plan my exhibit?

Absolutely. Our experienced exhibit specialists can assist with booth design, display selection, graphics, rentals, logistics, and complete turnkey exhibit solutions.