What to Look for in an Exhibition Contractor

What to Look for in an Exhibition Contractor

At Alliance Exposition, we have a decade of experience in expo show event management, helping hundreds of clients reach more customers.

Trade show conferences are a great way to showcase your brand, unveil a new product, and meet new customers in a face-to-face setting. According to research, attendees of trade shows will tell up to six or more people about their experience at a trade show. Hiring the right exhibition contractor can help differentiate your brand and its display from the crowd and leave you top of mind after the trade show event has ended.

From transportation and setup to analytics tracking, there are tons of trade show packages to choose from and hundreds of trade show management companies to hire. As a small business and a busy entrepreneur, many of our clients don’t have the time or knowledge to fully prepare for a trade show exhibit.

That’s why we’ve prepared this detailed guide with five considerations to make before hiring your next trade show management contractor.

Expo Management Experience

The proof is always in the pudding. We always offer our clients a full resume of our expo show event management record to establish trust. When evaluating your next trade show contractor, look through their portfolio of clients and the events they’ve attended. This should be listed on their website or they should have this information readily available for you.

Ask to check references of past clients to see how their services met client expectations and conformed to brand guidelines. Were they able to meet critical deadlines and what kind of measurable impact or insights do they provide? Do the reviews on their website and client testimonials match up with the sales pitch you were given?  

We also suggest talking to the contractor directly to glean any insights you can from their approach to trade show exhibits. Every contractor is different and each of them offers a different, albeit unique, approach to trade show exhibits.

Ideally, you’ll want a company whose able to offer turnkey, custom services to any client in any industry. At Alliance Exposition we’ve worked with a wide range of clients across multiple verticals to craft unique trade show exhibits that impressed even some of the oldest industry veterans. But if you want a greater idea of what you’re actually purchasing, look at previous trade show displays to get an actual look at what you’re purchasing.

Previous Trade Show Displays

Trade show exhibits are equal parts storytelling and design. Given the sheer amount of competition present at trade shows, you’ll want a trade show display that will catch everyone’s eye. Better yet, you’ll need a trade show exhibit that can keep them glued. Look at past examples of trade show displays your contractor has made to see what creative solutions they have to offer.

Of course, your display and exhibit should also clearly communicate what you are attempting to sell or offer your customers. Trade show displays should be informative, persuasive, and branded. See what materials they have to offer and what other marketing visuals and strategies they can incorporate into your booth to maximize your trade show’s investment.

In terms of turnkey solutions, what materials do they provide their clients? Do they use rollup banners, pop up banners, prefabricated booths, etc.? Not every display works for every client, so it’s crucial that the trade show contractor is open to collaboration and communication.

Communication and Collaboration

A trade show contractor should work with you to craft a display banner that fits your specifications and brand vision. Trade show displays are not all one size fits all, and every company requires a different aesthetic to communicate their value statement. Ideally, you’ll want to hire a trade show contractor who offers a full service package from ideation to transportation and construction to save money and time.

Once you give a contractor the specifications of your booth and exhibit, they should hand it off to the design team who will work off of your continued feedback. An immediate red flag is discussing design plans with a contractor who doesn’t ask questions.

While trade show contractors are supposed to be consultants, we believe it’s important for the customer to be as engaged in the process as the consultant. Only then can we discover ideas that best suit your brand and its mission. This is your brand and reputation on the line so don’t trust your trade show exhibit to a company who won’t take the care or time to give you the booth and display you require.

Cross-Functional

On this note, don’t hire a one trick pony. As shallow as it may sound in the wrong context, appearances are everything at trade show conferences. The best way to stand out from the competition is to completely disrupt the field and create a display that is entirely different from the rest.

At Alliance Exposition, we work with a variety of materials and incorporate a variety of visual marketing tools to help your booth stand out from the rest. A trade show management company should be cross-functional and have a reliable team of builders able to match any design request and see your vision come to fruition. It’s not enough to create a visually striking display; it needs to memorable.

Your Budget

Finally, every trade show management company will charge you different rates, some by the hour or some per conference. Seek a contractor who uses high quality materials and does not skimp on design or setup. Communicate your budget early on to see whether your trade show contractor can work within your budget restrictions.

Why Hire Alliance Exposition

At Alliance Exposition, we’ll work within your budget to give you a custom trade show exhibit that will stand out from the crowd and leave your brand top-of-mind. We have years of experience in expo show event management, working with clients across different verticals to give them the trade show exhibit they needed. Contact us today to get started on your next trade show conference idea.