Expos or trade shows are events organized for businesses within the same industry to showcase their products and services. These events are like art exhibitions. 

Should businesses participate in trade shows happening in the area? Yes, because they are cost-effective avenues to reach a wider target audience. Moreover, trade shows are great for learning more about the existing market competition and how one’s offerings fare against the competitors. 

According to Statista, the US had the highest number of trade shows in 2023 (over 41,000). Thousands of events will happen in 2024 as well. Do you wish to set up a booth for your business? If yes, then you’re at the right place. 

In this article, we will discuss five actionable tips to create a trade show booth that will set you apart from the crowd. 

Go Bold With the Colors 

In a sea of competitors, bright colors can help you set the right mood. They will instantly stand out and attract intrigued visitors. Now, this does not mean that you should lose all control of the color palette. Choose up to three bold colors that will represent your brand perfectly. 

A good design rule to follow is that of 60%, 30%, and 10%. Let’s look at what this would be like in practice -

• Keep the primary color for 60% of the space. This color will become the unifying medium for various elements in the exhibit design. 

• Let the secondary color occupy 30% of the space. The main purpose of this color is to create contrast and establish a visual focal point. 

• The remaining 10% should be dedicated to the accent color. Use this color to emphasize important text, graphics, and other elements. 

While choosing the three bold colors, keep in mind the target audience, what each color would signify, and the aesthetic consistency of your brand. 

Allow Essential White Space 

The amazing thing about colors is that they work in harmony with white space. In other words, your trade show booth will only stand out when you maximize the entire space to your advantage. Do not clutter every corner with furniture, displays, and whatnot. 

Create a visual balance by incorporating space strategically. By strategically, we mean let at least 40% of the booth be empty. This way, you can set up multiple demonstration zones without overwhelming your visitors. 

You can even create two stories if that would suit your brand’s offerings. For instance - if your company deals in commercial and residential product lines, keep a separate tier for each. 

Let the Exhibit Be Ergonomic and Sleek

Do you want an exhibit that looks modern, professional, and in line with the current market? Then, invest in durable yet lightweight materials for your booth and modular displays. Also, what if you wish to change the marketing message?

Would you want to reskin your trade show booth? If not, then your cost-effective option is to choose completely custom aluminum extrusions. They generally have a high-quality finish and are highly versatile for simple or complex booth designs. 

According to ClassicMODUL, you get to select among hundreds of extrusion profiles and accessories for a unique booth design. Plus, assembling them and tearing them down for different uses is easy. In case you deal in explosives or highly flammable products, you need not worry about sparking with aluminum. 

Play With the Lighting 

The way different lights illuminate your trade show booth can also make or break the game. Depending on your brand story, the lighting can be kept subtle or show-stopping. You can even highlight intricate areas of the booth to draw attention. 

Let’s look at the different types of lights that can be used -

• Spotlights can help create a dramatic effect on a specific product, like a bestseller. 

• Strobe lights can enhance the visual effect. You can use these for the company’s logo, slogan, or name. 

• Hanging lights can help illuminate the booth overall. They are a great way to attract passersby's attention. 

• Accent lights will add texture to graphics. 

• Ambient lights can be used to set a particular mood or tone. A good example would be lamps. 

Don’t Make it ‘All Tell and No Show’ 

Plenty of trade show exhibitors have loads of displays, lighting, etc., but they fail to incorporate the ‘it’ factor of their brand. It is this factor that will attract and retain visitor attention. Include something interesting and captivating like a live product demonstration. 

The more visitors stop to view the demo, the higher your chances of converting leads into prospects. One example would be a blender manufacturing company creating a live fruit juice bar for product demonstrations. 

This will help the company showcase its fantastic product, and visitors get the chance to taste some delicious treats. 

Just like last year, a number of exciting trade shows are expected to be held in 2024. Stay on top of the trends and design a booth that reflects your brand’s story, tone, and voice. As your exhibit attracts visitors, network with them to understand preferences, queries, and demands. 

Most importantly, your trade show success begins way before you have a single visitor at your booth. Yes, don’t forget to advertise your booth’s appearance on social media and interact with visitors online.