Quintessential Guide to Trade Show Exhibit Management
Although many books have been written about how to market within your exhibit, no one has compiled a guide focused on techniques for reducing your costs while running your exhibit. It is our experience that if you are having your exhibit house run your exhibit for you could be saving between 30 and 50% at every show by running your exhibit yourself. Even if you continue to work with your trade show exhibit builder for exhibit management, you can easily adapt many of our methods and save 10-20% at every show by better defining how you want things done and negotiating with suppliers on the costs of specific services.
Our guide is nearly ready for distribution. We expect to begin publishing this guide in late May 2006. If you would like to be added to our advanced publication list click here. For now, please see the Outline below to get a stronger idea of the contents:
Professional Exhibit Manager’s Handbook
The quintessential guide to managing your trade show exhibit
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Chapter 2 - Why study this book?
Chapter 3 – Exhibit costs
What to know and understand in order to gain control of the costs
of your exhibit
Chapter 4 – Getting to know your exhibit house
or display booth provider
Get to know your exhibit houses capabilities, the services that
they offer and their cost structures. Use this understanding as
a vehicle for reducing your costs.
Chapter 5 - Examining the RFP process
How to create a request for proposal that communicates your needs
better, helps your supplier to satisfy your needs the first time,
and protects your interests.
Chapter 6 - Exhibit booth and display design
Critical design elements to consider in order to reduce your running
costs up to 66%.
Chapter 7 - Double-deck, or multi-level trade show booths
and displays
The “smart” reasons to build a double-deck exhibit
and design elements to consider before taking the plunge.
Chapter 8 - Exhibit construction
Basics of exhibit construction and how these elements will effect
your booths running costs, costs of maintenance and ownership
on the long run.
Chapter 9 - Pre-show planning: Three key aspects
I) Marketing at the show
II) Merchandising and marketing within the exhibit
III) Creating an exhibit refurbishment, installation and dismantle
plan
Creating a plan that helps you:
a) reduce your costs
b) get your exhibit installed and dismantled earlier and more
predictably
Chapter 10 – Working with show management
How to use show management as a resource to get your needs met.
Chapter 11 - Managing your tradeshow exhibit booth or
display
How to determine the work that is necessary for managing your
exhibit in the field and choose to do this work yourself or choose
a supplier.
Chapter 12 - Filling out the show services order forms
How to fill out these order forms in a way that reduces your trade
show costs.
Chapter 13 - Unions
Working with the unions for your best advantage.
What you need to know to get the best results.
Chapter 14 - Working with the general contractor (GC)
Working with the general contractor for your best advantage.
How to communicate your needs for the best results.
Chapter 15 - Labor supplier selection and management
How to choose and work with an independent labor contractor for
the best results.
Chapter 16 - Transporting your exhibit booth or display
Practices for selecting a transportation specialist or supplier
and moving your exhibit into the show for the best results.
Chapter 17 – Tasks during the show and set-up
Procedures to follow during the show.
Chapter 18 – When the show is over
Procedures to follow after the show for managing, shipping and
storing your trade show exhibit, booth or display.