Trade Show Display Design: How to Stand Out / by MadeFirst

trade show display design

Trade shows offer excellent opportunities to educate potential customers and raise brand awareness. However, the floors themselves are often crowded and competitive. How do you promote your company and stand out from dozens of other booths? Today, we’ll give you MadeFirst’s top tips for trade show display design. 

Rule 1: Custom Booth Design

The first step to trade show success is to rise above folding tables, limp posterboard, and dusty décor. While many business owners rely on the same simple pop-up display each year, you can up your trade show game by commissioning a custom booth.

If you really want to make a splash at your next conference, work with a company that specializes in custom trade show display design. When you partner with the pros, you’ll receive a booth that meets your needs, timeline, and budget. Reach out to MadeFirst for more information about creating a booth that will stand out in a crowd.

Rule 2: Great Lighting

Conferences take place in notoriously ill-lit halls and banquet rooms. While soft hotel lighting is great for relaxation or presentations, it’s not the best for showing off your booth. When in doubt, spend some time adding LED lighting strips, backlighting, or spotlights to accentuate your display. 

Rule 3: Make It Interactive

Perhaps the best way to create a memorable experience for trade show attendees is just that: making an experience. While people may not remember a quirky business card or flashy posters, they’ll definitely rave to their friends about games and activities. Ensure that you have “the cool booth” that everyone’s buzzing about by setting up interactive kiosks and product demonstrations whenever possible.

 Examples of exciting activities for your trade show display:

  • Interactive tech, like tablets or touch screens

  • Photo booths

  • VR and AR consoles

  • Games and trivia

  • Surveys and quiz games

  • Hands-on or live product demonstrations

Rule 4: Gotta-Have-It Giveaways

It’s easy to order thousands of branded lanyards or keychains, but take the time to think a bit harder. What do people actually want? Instead of mass-producing useless items that end up in the trash, you can give potential clients a gift that they’ll actually use. Over time, they’ll associate that positively with your brand. 

Here are some tips for choosing the best giveaway items:

Big tote bags: If you give away reusable bags, produce them in a large size. That way, attendees will use them to carry all of the other goodies they pick up from other trade show booths.

Always choose something high quality: Pens and other giveaway items can be made incredibly cheaply, which means that many businesses will slap their logo on the one with the lowest price. However, we encourage you to ask: what will clients think when your gift immediately breaks? If you don’t want to be associated with low quality, cheap items, don’t just order the most affordable listing on Alibaba.

Make sure it’s relevant: Items that you hand out should also go along with your brand image. If not, they can impact your reputation. For example, if your company is green and low waste, avoid giving away things wrapped in excessive plastic packaging. 

Rule 5: Create a Buzz

Generating a buzz is one of the best things that your booth can do. Be sure that your display sparks conversation – instead of dull marketing messaging, make an exciting claim that encourages attendees to discuss or learn more. Anything that gets people talking is worthwhile!

Rule 6: Never Rule Out a Stunt

Creative stunts are an amazing way to get attention and keep trade show goers engaged for years to come. Hire a magician to amaze the crowd, build a ball pit, or install a giant statue. Contact an animal rescue to provide an impromptu petting zoo and give away animal-themed stress balls! The options are truly limitless. 

Stand Out at Your Next Trade Show

MadeFirst knows what it takes to stand out from the crowd. We’ve worked with countless major players, from Abercrombie & Fitch to YouTube, to build memorable installations that get people talking. Contact us to start brainstorming your project today.