As the Trump Administration introduces new tariffs impacting a wide range of imported goods and raw materials, businesses across industries are feeling the pinch — and the trade show world is no exception. Increased costs for materials like aluminum, steel, and electronics are creating challenges for many industries, including those like us, who design and build custom exhibits for our clients.

We understand how important it is to maintain a strong presence on the trade show floor without breaking your marketing budget. That’s why we’re encouraging our clients to consider rental exhibits as a smart, flexible, and cost-effective solution during this period of economic uncertainty.

The new wave of tariffs affects many of the materials and components that go into custom-built trade show exhibits — from structural framing and lighting to digital displays and furnishings. This means:

Higher Production Costs

Longer Lead Times due to possible Supply chain disruptions

Unexpected budget overruns

The Case for Rental Exhibits

Rental exhibits offer a timely solution to the challenges created by rising material costs. Here’s how:

1. Immediate Cost Savings

Renting an exhibit can cost 30–50% less than building a custom one — even more when material prices are inflated by tariffs. With rentals, you pay for usage, not ownership. Rentals are mostly insulated from any potential changes in cost due to tariffs.

2. No Long-Term Storage or Maintenance Fees

Avoid the added expenses of storing and maintaining your exhibit between shows. Rental exhibits are turnkey — they arrive ready to go and are removed when the show ends. The assets used in your rental are then made available for the next project, with no client-associated storage costs.

3. Design Flexibility

Think rentals can’t look custom? Think again. Our modular rental inventory includes modern, customizable components that allow your brand to stand out — with high-end finishes, digital integrations, and tailored layouts.

4. Scalability for Multiple Events

Need different booth sizes or configurations for various shows? Rentals make it easy to scale your presence without re-investing in new hardware each time.

5. Faster Turnaround Times

With tariffs slowing down supply chains, rental options reduce risk and improve speed-to-show. Our ready-to-go inventory helps you meet deadlines — no matter how tight.

Cost Saving Tips (beyond rentals)

Reuse Graphics: Design modular graphic panels that work across multiple shows and booth sizes.

Bundle Services: Work with a single provider for design, logistics, and show services to consolidate costs.

Plan Ahead: Early planning can help you avoid rush fees and lock in favorable rates before tariff impacts escalate.

Let us help you stay ahead

Tariffs may be outside your control, but how you respond to them is not. Whether you’re looking to pivot to rentals, refresh your design, or strategize for your full event calendar, Apogee Exhibits is here to guide you.

Let’s talk about how to make your next event more cost-effective — without compromising on impact.

For more information on rentals see our recent blog post about them!

The post Navigating Tariffs: How to Manage Trade Show Costs appeared first on Apogee Exhibits.

Because there is so much competition for an attendee’s time and attention at a conference or exposition, a company must stand out to attract visitors. Exhibiting with a customized exhibit is one way to avoid getting lost in the crowd. Going beyond the standard, cookie-cutter appearance of the booths around you and putting up something unique greatly increases your chance to get noticed by clients and prospects at the event.

A talented exhibit partner can work closely with you and your team to plan and execute a striking trade show booth that aligns with your brand messaging and goals. They can incorporate creative signage, innovative visuals and messaging, tech tools and other components to come up with a solution that enables you to make connections without breaking your budget.

Here are some tips for putting together a customized booth display that fits your firm.

Focus on your brand

Make sure your planning always keeps your products, services, and goals for the events at the center. It is fine to incorporate clever visuals, themes, or high-tech elements, but if they don’t quite fit your company’s offerings or brand, those great ideas end up being not so bright, because your brand gets lost under all of the noise. If you ensure your brand is the star of the show, you boost your chance of successfully getting the right message across.
Opt for simplicity

Eye-popping graphics, video displays and other energetic elements can be put to good use in a trade show display. However, it is important you don’t go overboard with the “wow” factor. It isn’t necessary to plaster every surface with your logo, messages and other items. In fact, an excessive amount of such elements can make booth visitors feel overwhelmed. You want to leave them with a good impression, not a headache. Instead, remember that when it comes to the look of a booth, often less is more.

Keep it comfy

A trade show can stretch across hundreds of thousands of square feet. The experience of covering all that real estate to visit every booth can be downright exhausting for attendees. By offering a welcoming, comfortable space, your booth can provide a relaxing oasis that helps them recover from the grueling experience—and that’s something they likely will appreciate. Adding elements like couches, plush carpet, a coffee bar and other inviting items that make your booth a place that visitors will want to linger in.

Looking for other ideas to ensure your trade show display stands out?
Download our guide, Trade Shows 2020: Trends for Next Year’s Successful Exhibits.

Get the Ebook

The post Custom Made Exhibits Drive Customers appeared first on Apogee Exhibits.

Follow these 3 steps from to learn how to design a stunning product display at your next trade show.

Step 1: Know Your Product and Determine Needs

Before you design your trade show exhibit, determine which products you want to display and identify key product specifications and needs. This will lay the groundwork for your exhibit design. Not to be overlooked, the design of the products themselves is very important, as there is no point showing off weak branded products.

Size

Products often range from large machinery to delicate parts, so it is crucial to rent your exhibit space based on your product display size needs. Measuring product dimensions and accounting for desired quantity will ensure that your booth has adequate space for your products.

Electricity

If your products rely on electricity, then be sure to have a plan in place for running power and cord management. Additionally, include a backup extension cord or power strip in your emergency kit for peace of mind.

Related: Getting Started – How to Plan for Trade Shows

Secure Storage

If you plan to store your products after show hours, discreet, lockable storage spaces are a vital part of your exhibit design. Storage elements such as custom counters or a walk-in storage room ensure your products are safe after show hours.

Focal Point vs. Complementary

If your product is the center of attention, then it should be the focal point of your booth. However, if your product functions to support your brand, then it is considered complementary. If you choose to showcase your product as the focal point then all other design elements should support the product display.

Communication

As the exhibit design process approaches, take any extra steps to plan for product launches and demonstrations. Above all, make sure to openly communicate your product demonstration’s needs and specifications with your exhibit designer so they can design demo space accordingly.

Step 2: Design Your Exhibit with Products in Mind

After defining your product needs, the next step is to work with a designer to translate those needs into an exhibit solution. Here are a few points to keep in mind.

Booth Space

The space you rent should be proportional to the size and quantity of products displayed. Larger products, or a large quantity of products, will often necessitate larger booth spaces.
If you plan to add a product demonstration, be sure to include space for presenters and ample room and amenities for audiences.

Hanging Signs

Hanging signs can broadcast your brand across the show floor. They can also be used inside the exhibit to distinguish between product lines or divisions. Greater visibility from hanging signs can lead to increased booth traffic, meaning more eyes on your product displays. Keep in mind, a larger booth space is typically required if you plan to use a hanging sign in your exhibit.

Graphics

Catch attendees’ attention with graphics that communicate product features and functions. Graphic elements around product displays can aid your sales team when engaging with visitors.

Pro Tip: Make sure that product displays are not blocking key information on the graphics, such as brand messaging, logos or designs. Proper communication with your exhibit designer will prevent this from happening.

Lighting

Display lighting is a key element for directing attention in your trade show booth. Illuminating your product display will both draw the attention of attendees towards your products, as well as highlight their best and brightest details.

Related: Spring into these 5 Fresh Trade Show Ideas

Make sure to arrange product lighting to avoid any unsightly shadows, carefully creating a well-lit environment that showcases your offerings.

Media

Media, such as videos, virtual reality, catalogs and music, can place products within their everyday contexts, allowing attendees to visualize how the product can help them beyond the trade show floor. Consider your messaging objectives and target audience when choosing the right types of media to incorporate into your booth.

Step 3: Adding Final Touches to Your Product Display

Beyond general booth design principles, you will find a wide variety of finishing touches to jazz up your product display. Include these functional solutions to add value and organization to your exhibit.

Organize Your Products

1. Products should be arranged attractively, similar to a luxury retail experience.
2. Avoid overcrowding and cluttering your displays with too much product. Less is more when it comes to creating a comfortable environment.

Product-Related Contest or Giveaway

1. Incorporate a promotional item into your product display to drive traffic.
2. Everyone likes free swag, so a contest or giveaway will create a buzz around your products.
3. Promotions paired with product demonstrations will make attendees excited about your brand.

Prepare to Sell

1. Give sales staff the necessary tools to sell and generate leads.
2. Create space for lead machines, UPC scanners and payment methods to make sales.
3. Include consultation areas within your exhibit to sign deals with clients

Follow these steps to include stunning product displays at your next trade show.

For more trade show tips and expert advice from Apogee, check out our guide on the Top Trade Show Trends to Watch

The post 3 Easy Steps to Designing A Stunning Trade Show Product Display appeared first on Apogee Exhibits.

Learn how environmentally friendly trade show giveaways help raise your trade show profile and create positive brand awareness.

Create an Environmentally Friendly Promotional Product

Knowing how to select promotional products to give away on the show floor can be challenging, especially when you want your giveaways to be environmentally responsible. Luckily, there are easy ways to identify whether a trade show promotional items is “green” or not.

How to Identify Environmentally Friendly Promotional Items:

• When selecting electronic promotional items like flashlights or calculators, choose products that are designed to save energy or are solar rather than battery-powered.
• Disposable giveaways and marketing collateral should be made from recycled, biodegradable or reusable materials to lessen landfill waste and depletion of natural resources.
• Apparel giveaways such as t-shirts, hoodies and fleeces should be made from organic fabric materials and with environmentally-safe dyes.

Related: Spring into these 5 Fresh Trade Show Booth Ideas

Reusable Giveaway Ideas

Reusable giveaway items—like tote bags, snack containers or water bottles—can help communicate your environmentally friendly messaging at trade shows. Electing to stamp your branding on a reusable item not only reduces the need for disposable items, it also helps reinforce your marketing message as recipients will see your logo every time they use their giveaway.

Reusable Giveaway Ideas:

• Stainless steel mugs and tumblers
• BPA-free water bottles
• Ethically-sourced canvas tote bags
• To-go containers and lunch bags

“Green” Electronic Giveaways

Technology is not only great for wowing attendees at trade shows with large digital screens and multimedia centers, it is also ideal for reducing exhibitors’ carbon footprint. Marketing collateral such as brochures and catalogs can be expensive to print and ship to a trade show. What’s worse, the majority of collateral pieces are thrown away by attendees instead of recycled. If you want to help your budget and the planet, consider loading branded USB drives made from recycled materials with PDF versions of your collateral.

“Green” Electronic Giveaway Ideas:

• Solar-powered electronic device chargers
• LED flashlights with recyclable batteries or hand cranks
• Solar-powered pedometers and heart rate monitors

Giveaway Greenery

Being environmentally conscious not only means reducing your carbon footprint, it also means repairing damage done by greenhouse gases to the earth’s atmosphere. Greenery giveaways, such as planted flowers and seed paper, are not just beautiful keepsakes, they also convert CO2 into breathable oxygen. Greenery giveaways are also very unique, so attendees are more than likely to want to keep your giveaways.

Related: Plan Smarter with Apogee’s Trade Show Timeline Planner

Be sure to brand some part of your giveaways so recipients remember you and the trade show.

Greenery Giveaway Ideas:

• Seed packet bookmarks
• Succulent plants in a branded pot
• Indoor/office gardening kits
• Bamboo saplings in branded glasses

With so many environmentally-friendly trade show giveaways available, you can easily hand out memorable and effective marketing promotions to attendees while doing your part to keep the earth we all share healthy.

Want more great trade show ideas? Get our Guide on the Top Trade Show Trends to Watch

The post Go Green: Environmentally Friendly Promotional Products appeared first on Apogee Exhibits.

Whether you’re designing graphics for a banner stand, a fabric exhibit or a rigid hanging sign, large format trade show graphics are a unique breed. Typical rules and guidelines for designing standard graphics do not necessarily apply when preparing files for large format printing.

Apogee has several tips that will help ensure you get the best possible outcome for your large format graphic design.

Using Adobe Design Programs

Adobe’s three main products—Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign—are used to design large format graphics.

Illustrator

Create vector-based images with Adobe Illustrator that can be scaled up without losing clarity. You can also incorporate raster-based images from Photoshop. Files created in Illustrator are typically smaller than files created in Photoshop. Smaller files are easier to transfer and print during the design process, making Illustrator ideal for laying out and creating large-scale graphics.

Photoshop

Photoshop is strictly raster-based and mainly used for photo/image editing. Because the images are composed of pixels, raster graphics scale down with no loss of quality but enlarging will cause pixelation.

When using Photoshop, be sure your images are high resolution enough to fit the large print space. If you are creating design elements like shapes or blocks of color, Illustrator is best.

InDesign

If your designer often creates brochures for your company, they likely use InDesign, a program best for page layout for printing. With restrictions on page scale, InDesign isn’t recommended for large-format printing. Instead, use Illustrator, which provides the same options in more precise formatting.

Related – Captivate the Crowd with Interactive Trade Show Design

File Preparation for Large Format Graphics

Follow these tips to get your files ready for the printer.

Best file type: vector (.EPS) files

Vector files, which are produced using Illustrator, are the best format to use on large-scale graphics. An .EPS vector file works on mathematical principles of scale and is completely resolution independent. Because of this it can be scaled up dramatically while still maintaining its original clarity.

If scaling up non-vector images like a TIFF or JPEG in Illustrator to massive sizes, they will likely become extremely blurry, pixelated and distorted. For this reason, Vector files are preferable.

Working with bitmap files

Not all images and graphics can be vectored. Sometimes you need to import pixel or raster based artwork into your designs from Photoshop. If you do this you need to keep proper dpi in mind to avoid that loss of quality.

Viewing distance is important to consider when using bitmap. Detail in graphics is not as apparent when viewed from 10-20+ feet, and a lower ppi (100 ppi) can suffice. While you may be able to get away with lower resolutions on large banners that hang far away, the best practice is to have a ppi in the 100-300 range to ensure it looks crisp from any distance. Keep in mind that higher dpi resolutions can result in very large file sizes.

Related – Getting Started: How to Plan for Trade Shows

Use Pantone for perfect color

If you’re hoping to match your large-scale graphics with other graphics, your logo or promotional items, Pantone colors can help you do that. Using them within your design will ensure cohesion across the board when your graphic goes to print.

CMYK and RGB color models are the standard options for printing. While the RGB color model has a few benefits, including a wider range of colors and typically smaller file sizes, CMYK is the model generally used by printers. This means that using CMYK will result in a more accurate depiction of color for your graphics.

Alternatively, you can likely provide a color sample (brand logo, a table throw, an existing graphic) to your exhibit house and they can help you match it to the right Pantone color.

Be careful with fonts and design features

Not all design elements that work well in small-scale design are going to translate well to large scale. You must take into account that small-scale design on brochures, business cards or sell sheets will be absorbed in close range. Large-scale graphics are unique in that they will be viewed both from far away and up close. You must create images and designs that are easily visible from both distances.

Keep in mind that your audience will likely see your banners or exhibit graphics from several dozen feet away first. Therefore, design using images that don’t completely lose their legibility from a far.

Below are a few golden rules to keep your exhibit graphics looking good close and far:

• Keep distinct images and text well-spaced
• Use easy to read fonts & keep copy at a minimum.
• Use high contrasting colors between backgrounds and overlay imagery or text to maintain visibility

Don’t focus too much on small details. Large format graphics offer significant graphic space. Combined with the cost or printing, it can be tempting to fill the space with as much detail as possible, but it’s not necessary.

Find a design expert

Reach out to your exhibit designer for help creating trade show graphics, or talk to an Apogee design expert. The designer will be happy to guide you through the process, step-by-step. Remember, following these tips will help to create a design that will look great on the show floor, both technically and artistically.

Want more design tips? Check out our guide on the Top Trade Show Trends to Watch

The post Tips For Designing Large Format Graphics appeared first on Apogee Exhibits.

1. Keeps Products Under Wraps

At trade shows, it can be crucial to keep proprietary products safe from sly competitors looking for the next big thing. In many industries, exhibitors are hesitant to show off their products for the world to see. You can solve this problem with a unique closed-concept exhibit that conceals products from the general public, creates an intimate showroom experience, and generates buzz!

A closed-concept is a great idea for a company that wants to participate in trade shows and events, but needs to protect products from prying eyes. Consider ways to draw attendees in by promoting the exclusivity of the exhibit and creating an eye-catching exterior.

2. Attract Your Audience with a Themed Exhibit

Themed exhibits are a clever way to surprise and delight attendees. However, selecting a theme takes careful time, consideration and alignment with your target customers’ interests. Consider how you can craft messaging that supports a theme, especially if it doesn’t directly match your company’s image.

Apogee created a themed exhibit for Iredale Cosmetics, a leading brand in the Skincare Makeup industry. We transformed their booth into a space were they could do make-overs, have meetings and display their beautiful products as if there were in a retail setting using complementary colors and superimposed shots of Iredale’s vast array of products.

3. Utilize Unique Sculptural Structures

Custom exhibits offer a lot of versatility, especially when it comes to designing thoughtful structural elements to support the booth. Sculptural structures are the perfect way to add a unique design element, think creating larger than life versions of your products, logo or other supportive branding.

4. Bring Your Showroom to a Trade Show

Companies are shifting focus towards experience-based exhibits that highlight more than just product and service offerings. Exceptional exhibits go beyond traditional product displays to connect customers with a solution-based approach.

5. Thrilling In-Booth Games & Giveaways

Nothing builds buzz quite like an adrenaline boosting game or a coveted giveaway. But sometimes it can be a challenge to integrate games and giveaways into booths that are focused on achieving sales and lead generation goals.

Read More: Captivate the Crowd with Interactive Trade Show Design

Virtual and Augmented Reality are emerging technologies with novelty on their side, capturing the attention of attendees and creating an immersive experience that keeps booth visitors excited and involved.

Looking for more trade show tips and expert advice from Apogee? Learn the latest Trade Show Trends to Watch at Exhibitions This Year.

The post Spring into these 5 Fresh Trade Show Booth Ideas appeared first on Apogee Exhibits.

As any home or car owner can attest, routine maintenance is an integral part of protecting your investment. Similarly, keeping up on the maintenance of your trade show booth is crucial in helping extend the life and performance of your biggest face-to-face marketing asset.

If your display is feeling outdated (usually after 2-4 years), consider Apogee’s advice on cost-effective ways to refresh your trade show booth.

Inspect Your Trade Show Booth

It’s important to know how to check your trade show booth for signs of wear. Your trade show booth has many small parts that need to be cleaned, repaired or replaced over time. After each event, make sure you thoroughly inspect your booth, checking for parts that may need to be refreshed or replaced. This can include burned out light bulbs, graphics that need cleaning, checking that connectors and hinges are working properly, and any other broken or missing pieces.

Shipping cases should be checked as well. Cases are road-beaten from years of protecting your exhibit in storage and in transit. Since shipping cases are the protective shell that keeps your trade show booth safe, you should make sure you evaluate them for damage, repair or replacement.

Want to plan smarter? Check out our trade show timeline planner.

1. Update the Look of Your Trade Show Booth

It’s not uncommon for companies to update their trade show display graphics instead of investing in a new trade show booth, since it keeps booth designs fresh while remaining affordable.

If your current booth has outdated visuals, a modest investment in graphics can help to draw onlookers and win business. This is the perfect technique if you like the overall structure of your existing trade show booth, and if you know where the graphics will go and what dimensions you need. The only step left is to simply decide on what the new graphics will look like.

2. Integrate Portable Trade Show Displays into Your Exhibit

Sometimes all you need is a good accessory to pull your whole display together. You can augment your current trade show display by adding a portable display to your set-up. The addition of an iPad stand or literature rack can provide a new interactive element for your visitors. New display lighting can be a simple and quick addition; a graphic panel can add a professional finish, or even something as simple as a printed header panel with your logo can transform your display.

You can also feature particular products or services with a new retractable banner stand or kiosk. These types of visuals make a big impact, but are much more affordable than purchasing a new display.

3. Rent Display Items and Outfit Them with Custom Graphics

Renting trade show displays and outfitting them with custom graphics is one of the most cost-efficient options available to exhibitors. You can rent an array of trade show booth components that feature customizable graphics.

Also, if you are considering purchasing a new element for your trade show booth, but are not quite sure how it will fit with your existing display, renting allows you to test drive before you buy. Aside from the obvious benefits of brand exposure and keeping within budget, renting display items means you do not need to worry about storage.

Consult an Expert for a Cohesive Trade Show Booth Overhaul

If your booth needs more updating than a simple logo switch or added banner stand, it may be time to consult a trade show display expert. Apogee experts are available to help you come up with a custom trade show design that fits your needs, budget, and brand.

The post Three Cost-Effective Ways to Refresh Your Trade Show Booth appeared first on Apogee Exhibits.

The competition at trade shows is known to be fierce. Exhibitors are shoulder-to-shoulder with competitors trying to catch the attention of a shared audience. That’s where virtual and augmented reality play a role in keeping you ahead of the competition, and help your trade show booth stand out. This emerging technology captures the attention of attendees and creates an immersive experience that keeps booth visitors excited, involved, and focused on your brand.

In addition to building hype, virtual and augmented technology offers incredible functional value to exhibitors looking to showcase entire product lines, complete service offerings or an expansive portfolio, all within a limited booth space. Follow these tips to exhibit like a pro using cutting-edge technology.

Virtual Reality vs. Augmented Reality

Before we dive into crafting a virtual or augmented reality experience for your exhibit, let’s first define and distinguish these often-confused terms:

Virtual Reality (VR)

Virtual reality commonly utilizes a headset to transport attendees to an immersive environment of their choosing, providing endless applications and possibilities. Completely separated from the trade show floor, users can walk through showrooms, get behind the scenes perspectives of daily operations or interact with products through virtual demonstrations.

Popular VR devices include:

• Oculus Rift headsets use state-of-the-art technology designed to fully submerge users inside a vivid and interactive experience using advanced digital imaging.
• Google Cardboard is a lightweight device made from cardboard. This versatile, low-profile system transforms a smartphone into a virtual reality headset using VR-friendly mobile applications.

Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented reality adds interactive digital elements to a real-world environment, such as an exhibit space, brochure or product display. AR commonly utilizes handheld devices, such as smartphones or tablets to overlay the current view with information, specifications and more. This allows the participants to stay present within your exhibit, while exploring interactive elements beyond the physical boundaries of the space.

Popular AR devices include:

• Smartphone and tablets, powered by mobile applications that allow visitors to interact with the exhibit on their own terms.
• QR codes allow attendees to scan various elements throughout the exhibit for quick access to product, service or company information.
• Smart Glasses superimpose information based on what items the visitor is viewing within the exhibits.

Benefits of VR/AR at Trade Shows

There are many benefits to leveraging VR/AR at your trade show booth.

Crafting a VR/AR experience takes a lot of planning, preparation and troubleshooting. Make sure to clearly define your goals for using VR/AR technology at your event. Are you trying to reinforce your brand, or looking to drive leads through the presentations? Once established, carefully plan the presentation content around those goals.

Engage Attendees

If you want to create a memorable experience for attendees at your trade show booth, then it is important to share your brand’s story. VR/AR presentations are a way to engage visitors with thoughtful content, like a creative sales pitch that focuses on fulfilling their needs or company history trivia. Remember, creating VR/AR content is not enough, it must deeply resonate with your average consumer. Listen to their needs, and work from there.

Expand Your Space

The purpose of your trade show booth is to connect with consumers in a face-to-face environment, but with VR/AR you can take that a step further by creating an out-of-the-booth experience that transports attendees to your warehouse, sales floor, production facility and beyond. This can be an incredible tool for exhibitors, especially if the trade show booth space is limited.

Tips for expanding your booth space with VR/AR:

• Create a showroom of your entire product line using either augmented or virtual reality.
• Use virtual reality to walk attendees through how your products are made.
• Bring attendees to your business location and introduce your team.
• Integrate augmented reality into product displays, providing additional information and selections.

Bonus Tips

Here are a few more things to consider before including VR/AR technology at your next trade show.

Increase Leads With VR/AR

The easiest way to benefit from all the attention that VR/AR will bring your trade show booth is to request an attendee’s information as part of the VR/AR set-up process. Lead capture devices such as badge scanners, make this an easy, natural process. Creating an interactive experience incentivizes attendees to learn more about your company, increasing high-quality leads based on genuine interest.

Stock Up on Devices

Cutting-edge technology tends to draw a crowd, and can create a long line of attendees waiting to participate in your AR/VR experience. Be sure to bring enough devices for attendees, and have staff members ready to engage with visitors who may be waiting their turn. A good rule of thumb is to have at least one device per trade show booth staff, as they can guide the visitor through the experience and answer any questions.

For VR presentations, consider purchasing several inexpensive headsets or renting devices from a supplier, so multiple presentations can take place simultaneously. For AR presentations, it may be easier to integrate the features through a mobile application that visitors can download to interact with the exhibit and products. This allows visitors to use their own devices, while reducing costs and wait times.

Keep in mind, it is important to select a VR/AR technology that works for your trade show budget. Selecting a less expensive device system can be more beneficial if more devices will circulate through the exhibit.

Carefully Plan Experiences

Attendees are constantly on the move at trade shows; trying to cover as much ground as possible in a limited amount of time can be challenging. When presenting a VR/AR experience to a booth visitor, it is important to make every minute count.

Tips to get the most out of every interaction:

• Keep the VR/AR presentation short and sweet, giving more visitors the opportunity to participate in the experience, while leaving time for questions and sales-driven conversations.
• Make sure that the VR/AR controls are simple and user-friendly. Complicated technology can detract from the overall experience.
• Prioritize comfort by creating relaxed seating areas and an open floorplan that invites attendees to stop by.
• Avoid an intense VR/AR experience that will overwhelm participants. Stick to fun and informative content for an enjoyable and memorable experience.

Great Giveaways

Giveaways that feature AR (and can be used by the visitor’s device after the show) make excellent giveaways and increase the chances that they will share the item with someone else in their network. A product brochure featuring QR codes that trigger engaging AR content allows participants to interact with products with their peers long after the event.

On the virtual reality side, inexpensive headsets such as Google Cardboard can become great giveaways or contest prizes. Paired with interactive features throughout your exhibit and effective branding placement, it is the perfect giveaway or prize to attract attendees’ attention.

Looking for more ways to boost brand presence at your next event? Learn how to captivate the crowd with interactive trade show design.

The post Engage Trade Show Attendees with Virtual & Augmented Reality appeared first on Apogee Exhibits.

Face-to-face marketing events offer the unique opportunity to create an interactive trade show display focused on boosting engagement and providing a memorable brand experience. In this post, we’ll share fresh ways to design an interactive trade show booth complete with buzz-worthy activities, games and display technology to get you inspired!

Design Your Booth for Interaction

Whether you’re a trade show pro or a rookie, you want your exhibit to stand out from the rest. However, creating an attention-grabbing trade show experience begins long before the show doors open, and it starts with effective exhibit design. Here are some things to consider before you dive in.

Create Space

Designing a welcoming and functional space is the essential first step to creating an interactive trade show display. Take into consideration how attendees will move through your space, browse products, learn about your services and engage with staff.

If your booth is in a high traffic area then an open concept floor plan allows attendees to enter the exhibit from many directions. A welcoming reception counter at the front of your exhibit is a straightforward first engagement point. From there, visitors can learn more about your brand and explore the interactive displays within the exhibit.

Depending on the size of your booth space and the type of activities on the schedule, you can designate areas for a specific purpose. For demonstrations, it’s important to have ample seating or standing areas that do not obstruct the aisle or other booth elements. Additionally, dramatic lighting adds a sophisticated touch to the exhibit and can be used to highlight interactive booth elements.

Build Buzz For Your Brand

Your company is more than just the products or service you offer. It’s about your brand, and ultimately the story and experience that you want to share with the customer. On top of utilizing exhibit elements to introduce and engage visitors with your brand, you can use interactive media like monitors, iPads and kiosks to display videos of your story, employees and overall mission.

Your marketing collateral and giveaways should also reflect your values and organizational ethos. Don’t lose sight of your overall goal when creating an interactive trade show display. Keep the message straightforward and make sure it doesn’t get lost in translation.

Create Engaging Product Demos

Attendees walk the floor in search of an exhibit that captures their attention and engages their senses. While they can be lured in by stunning visuals and strategically placed products, if they can’t interact with your displays, then your exhibit loses its impact.

Create a product demonstration that allows your visitors and prospects to try out your product in person on the trade show floor.

If new software is your product or service: set up a computer for attendees to use and interact with.

If you have new material, make sure your visitors can feel it and compare it to older materials

If you have food samples, make sure attendees can smell your food from the other side of the floor, and can taste your delicious new recipes.

By offering your prospects the opportunity to try or experience your product on the trade show floor, you are tapping into the power of experience-based marketing, which is a promising avenue for modern marketers.

Interactive Media Displays

Technology has arrived on the trade show scene in full force, with most exhibitors utilizing integrations that allow trade show booth visitors to experience your brand firsthand.

Technology encourages visitors to stay longer and learn more about a company’s offerings.

Creative digital integrations can support staff in their efforts to provide valuable solutions for customers and prospects. Digital media also enables you to create a personalized experience for attendees that suits their individual needs.

Depending on the size of your booth, interactive media can:

• Scale to fill an entire wall
• Maximize visual interest
• Promote messaging on a large scale

Here are some examples of interactive media you can use at your trade show booth:

1. Virtual & Augmented Reality
This emerging technology has novelty on its side, capturing the attention of attendees and creating an immersive experience that keeps booth visitors excited and involved.

In addition to building hype, virtual and augmented technology offers incredible functional value to exhibitors looking to showcase entire product lines, complete service offerings or an expansive portfolio, all within a limited booth space.

2. Touch Screen Displays
People love having the opportunity to guide their own experience, so think of unique ways you can include touchscreen displays to accomplish that goal. Catalogs, virtual tours, company videos, and portfolios are all great ways to connect with visitors using displays. Additionally, it can be a simple way to include a game, giveaway or contest within your exhibit and encourages people to connect with your brand after the show is over.

Consider adding a touchscreen kiosk on the corners of your exhibit, drawing people in from the aisle and doubling as traffic management for a busy sales team. This design feature can help boost the interactivity of your booth, without creating extra work for staff members.

3. Games & Contests
Activate attendees’ competitive side by coordinating a game that everyone wants to win. It should be simple, fun and not require too much effort from booth staff to manage. Prizes are a great way to encourage participation and can range from cash to coveted ticket items. Consider tying contest participation to lead capture in order to continue engagement.

4. Photo Booths
Nothing creates buzz quite like a photo booth, the exciting opportunity to capture a memory with friends and colleagues. Create a branded space that is similar to an awards show, offer props that promote your company or print your logo on the image for a lasting memento. Encourage attendees to share the photos to their social media to extend the reach of your own social campaigns.

5. Social Media
Which leads us to social media – one of the simplest yet trickiest ways to drive traffic to your exhibit. During the show, make sure you have an active presence on social media. Your followers will want to keep up with the trade show happenings, even if they can’t make it in person. Be sure to engage with attendees via social media, inviting them to visit for an engaging experience.

6. Live Entertainment & Performances
Attendees like to be entertained and are more likely to remember a brand if they were engaged by the presentation. Consider hiring a professional entertainer to really attract attention to your exhibit. If the entertainment runs on a schedule, keep people in the loop by posting on social media. Find a performance that supports your brand when possible.

Ready to talk to an expert about captivating your audience? Contact us today.

The post Captivate the Crowd with Interactive Trade Show Design appeared first on Apogee Exhibits.

Custom trade show booths are perfect for exhibitors looking for a one-of-a-kind exhibit solution to reflect their brand’s personality on the show floor. In this post, we cover several important areas of custom trade show booth design to help you create a high-impact exhibit tailored to meet your trade show marketing needs.

Your Goals Should Lead Your Trade Show Booth Design

Your trade show booth is a tool that supports your marketing goals, so ensuring those goals are properly outlined is a key step in designing your custom trade show booth.

Trade Show Goals To Consider:

• Generate leads
• Increase brand awareness
• Improve volume of sales
• Promote products and services
• Attract visitors

Make sure you clearly communicate your trade show goals to your designer so they can create an exhibit that will help you reach your objectives.

Your Exhibit Budget

Trade show booths account for roughly 10 percent of the average trade show budget. When you include the exhibit space, you’re looking at up to 30 percent of your overall budget. Below are two essential tips to help you control the costs associated with designing your exhibit:

1. Prioritize Booth Elements That Help Achieve Goals
During the consultation phase of the trade show booth design process, prioritize which design features are most important for you to achieve your goals. Cross off features that are more expensive and less essential to your overall exhibiting objectives to keep costs down.

2. Prorate Booth Cost Over Estimated Lifespans
To determine the overall lifetime cost and potential ROI of your exhibit, estimate how many years and at how many shows per year you’ll use your exhibit.

Did you know:

• The average lifespan of trade show display hardware is 5 years
• The average lifespan of graphics is 1 year

Trade Show Booth Design Considerations

Before you meet with your exhibit partner, research design components that best suit your goals. Browsing custom booth designs for inspiration and making a list of the key components you want to include in your booth is a great way to prepare.

We also recommend you take the time to the look at other booths at shows you attend, and make note of booths that stand out and think about what made them impactful.

Design elements to consider:

• Bold, standout graphics
• Large hanging signs that capture the attention of attendees
• Captivating product demonstrations
• Interactive components like VR/AR

Booth elements to look for:

• Hanging structures
• Towers
• Backwalls
• Counters
• Meeting spaces
• Media kiosks
• Product shelving and displays
• Storage spaces (counters, closet, etc.)

What Type of Exhibit is Right for Your Brand?

As any seasoned exhibitor can attest to, exhibiting space is both expensive, and at a premium, at trade shows that necessitate the same creative use of space to maximum impact.

When planning for your next trade show exhibit, consider the following space related design concerns:

• Ensure your exhibit has enough space for staffers and attendees
• Make sure you can fit your products into your booth space comfortably
• Consider private conference rooms for your exhibit if you want a more intimate space for meeting
• Make small spaces feel larger with archways or overhead hanging structures

Effective use of booth space can reduce wait times for attendees. Potential clients are less likely to linger and want to speak to show staff if it’s difficult for them to maneuver and they find themselves jockeying for space with other attendees.

What Story is Your Brand Telling?

Educating potential customers on your brand is one of the primary reasons for exhibiting at a trade show. An attendee should never leave an exhibit space without getting a thorough understanding of the brand they just visited, but it happens, so it’s important for your trade show booth to portray your brand’s story.

Your trade show booth can and should be customized to help facilitate the storytelling aspect of exhibiting. The design of a trade show booth can reflect the history and the motivations of a brand visually, without a booth staffer ever having to say a word.

Thoughtful reflection on the company culture, vision, and commitment to their community and customer are all essential in letting the public know who they are and what they stand for. Smartly-planned exhibit graphics can help drive home this messaging to attendees.

The use of visual media is also an incredible narrative tool that every exhibitor should keep in mind.

Tips for telling your story:

• Start with transformative moments within your organization
• Highlight the unique way your product is made
• Never brag
• Always be honest with your narrative
• Look for ways to spark an emotional response in your audience
• Give your audience something that matters to them
• Connect with your audience by understanding their needs and their journey

A well-told story is equal parts engaging and educational. Stories are a great way to prompt consumer action without seeming too pushy, and designing your booth with your story in mind will assist with this goal.

Trade Show Graphics

Graphics are arguably the most important element of a trade show booth design. High-impact graphics are the key differentiator between capturing the attention of attendees and drawing a high volume of booth traffic versus having your booth relegated to being just another exhibit on the crowded show floor.

Use Noticeable Colors

While your coloring scheme should be consistent with your overall marketing design, it should also be bright enough to stand out. Colors that are too drab or neutral tend to cause your exhibit fade into the background. If your color dynamic doesn’t include brighter colors, consider incorporating metallic surfaces or interesting textures instead.

Make sure your color choices convey the emotions you want to create in your visitors. Attracting prospects is vital to creating a strong return on investment, so it is important to create a high-level of visual appeal within a trade show exhibit.

Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Lighting

A smartly-lit home can accentuate design features and minimize trouble-areas. The same can be said for a trade show exhibit that utilizes lighting in creative and unique ways.

Dimly lit displays are a common mistake often seen at most trade shows. A well-lit display is essential, allowing visitors to easily view the important details of your graphics.

Additionally, lighting can be used to brighten other key areas of your exhibit, such as product displays and promotional materials.

The Trade Show Booth Design Process

There are four core steps in the exhibit design and creation process, including:

Needs Assessment
Complete a needs assessment form. The needs assessment form is a list of questions your exhibit partner uses to better understand your creative vision. This information will help guide your exhibit partner regarding what materials and design techniques to use when designing and building your exhibit.

Review and Refine Initial Concepts
The exhibit designer will provide you with rough sketches and concepts of an exhibit design. Once you agree to a design, the exhibit designer will then create line drawings and 3D renderings of your exhibit to give you a better understanding of how your exhibit will look once completed.

Establish Exhibit Details and Framework
The exhibit designer will then turn over the design to exhibit detailers who use CAD software to outline the building blocks of your exhibit’s framework. The exhibit detailer provides project managers and exhibit builders with a complete specification of parts, materials, finishes, and construction methods to work from. Then graphics specification are finalized and converted into templates for graphic designers.

Exhibit Preview and Approval
After your exhibit is built, you will have the opportunity to preview the booth at your exhibit partner’s facility. During the preview, you can ask your exhibit partner to make tweaks and adjustments to your booth if needed.

Once you sign off on your exhibit, your exhibit partner will pack up and ship the exhibit to your event.

Check out these custom trade show booth designs for inspiration.

Are you ready to get started on the design of your custom trade show booth for your next event? Contact the expert design team at Apogee today!

The post Crash Course: Custom Trade Show Booth Design appeared first on Apogee Exhibits.

To fully understand your brand, you want to think about the entire experience one has with your brand and facilities. This includes everything from your logo, Mission Statement, and Website to your culture, workplace physical environment and consistency of message across all media. But that’s not all, everything connected to your brand should speak to the image you want it to reflect or reinforce.

In a nutshell, your brand is how your company is perceived both by outsiders as well as your employees.

Let’s look at 8 reasons why it is important that you develop a strong brand strategy on a global scale…

Branding Promotes Recognition
The old marketing “rule of seven” states that a prospect must notice a brand or message seven times before they will take action. Consistent branding will help your potential guests recognize your brand.

Branding Sets You Apart
It is critical to stand apart and be recognized through your brand. Iconic brands in history have been known by their visible logo or icon. You can look at a pepsi logo without the word Pepsi and know exactly who the brand is.  The same should be true in your industry if you want your brand to be recognized and able to set you apart.

Your Brand Creates Connection
A strong brand connects with people at an emotional level, leading to positive feelings and a stronger remembrance of why they interact with your brand in the first place. This can be felt by your visitors, your clients, and even your team. Your employees who promote your brand are key to this.  This is why a stong shared value statement associated with your brand by your employees is also important.

Branding Delivers On A Promise
What is your brands promise? Effective and consistent branding need to communicate the “promise” and the differentiator about you and your brand and organization.

Your Brand Communicates Your Core Values
Your brand experience illustrates your core values to your members, visitors, and community. Is the interaction with your company telling the right story about who you are and who you aren’t?

Your Brand Provides Motivation & Direction 
Your brand strategy provides the clarity that your staff and clients need to be successful in reaching collective goals. This needs to be communicated effectively everywhere!

A Strong Brand Leads To More Invitations
People love to tell others about the brands they like. A strong brand will make people more inclined to wear and share your brand, meaning greater awareness and more opportunities to refer business and identify and market successes and case studies that show why your company is important to do business with.

Branding Creates Clarity & Focus
It’s very easy to get sidetracked from your original goals or plans. A clear brand strategy helps you stay focused on your church’s mission and vision. Your brand can help you be strategic and will guide your efforts saving time and money.

The post Branding is so much more than just a logo appeared first on Apogee Exhibits.