The start of the trade show is 2 hours away. The set up is certainly going great. Everything so far is looking spectacular. Everything except… Except the fact the pedestals never arrived from your exhibit supplier. OK, don’t panic. Take a deep breath VIPBox. You can just set the product up on the floor. Um, no. I am aware! Steve can hold them, he may also be called the human pedestal around the office anyway… Wait! Boxes! Cardboard boxes will hold them! No… the product weighs 40 pounds – an incident waiting to happen. Alright Steve, get your hazmat suit on we’re down to dumpster diving – just find something we are able to use as a pedestal!
Has this ever happened for you? Maybe it’s a slight over-dramatization. Or perhaps not. In either case, no-one desires to result in an irritating situation like this. That’s why renting vs. buying display pedestals has changed into one of many classic dilemmas for trade show planners. The lasting impression that you wish to present is one that’s aesthetically pleasing. Having all of your pedestals show up on time should be the least of your worries. So naturally when contemplating all aspects of your exhibit the question arises: should I rent or should I choose the display pedestals for the upcoming trade shows? Whether you’re a large Fortune 500 company or even a small company with a nearby and regional focus, budget concerns will figure prominently in marketing decisions, especially where in fact the ROI can be somewhat tricky to assess. There’s without doubt display pedestals play a substantial role in the design and feel of your trade show exhibit. But is it really required to invest your money in purchasing your pedestals? Listed below are five questions every event exhibit planner should ask themselves when contemplating whether to rent or choose the display pedestals for a trade show.
1. What’re my quality requirements?
You put so enough time and energy into the planning and preparation of your trade show exhibit. The aesthetic quality of the display pedestals should be top notch. The final thing you need is with this to become a wild card in your exhibit setup. So how do you make sure that the pedestals you will undoubtedly be using meet your high standards? Renting can provide you with a boat load of flexibility if your shows are seldom and if it’s acceptable that the standard and style vary somewhat from show to show. However, when you yourself have very specific needs for style, color and size, buying will permit you to control most of these aspects. In addition it allows you to inspect the pedestals for quality control days or weeks before the show to guarantee the condition. It can be incredibly frustrating to appreciate at the past minute there are damaged or missing pedestals in your rental inventory!
2. What’re my time constraints for the upcoming show?
We’ve all had the last-minute trade show entry. Perhaps you’ve overlapping shows or need additional pedestals for a more substantial space. The reality is that you simply may not have the time to put in an order to buy pedestals. In these cases, renting offers you the flexibility to focus on very short turnaround times. However, many quality pedestal manufacturers have pedestals in stock or pedestals which can be custom-made and shipped within a few days. This allows you to remain in keeping with the style and color of your other exhibit pieces.
3. What do I must consider in terms of storage?
Let’s be honest: storage is an extra longterm cost. Sometimes it feels as though you will need a small warehouse just for your trade show materials! For some, this is just not an option. You can’t keep overhead costs down when you yourself have to work out how to store bulky trade show exhibits. Renting, however, alleviates this issue altogether. Allowing storage area to function as the rental company’s concern solves a huge headache. With having said that, it’s probably worth the time for you to really consider the amount of space you will need to store your pedestals. Many pedestal manufacturers are aware of this issue for businesses and offer portable, collapsible pedestals that allow for quick storage and travel. Suddenly, space will become a non-issue.
4. How often will I be utilising the pedestals?
This question is actually the crux of the problem regarding renting or buying your trade show pedestals. Are you experiencing only 1 show each year that you attend? Or occasionally have you got several shows happening simultaneously that you need to include additional pedestals to your stock? Then renting will be the best option for you. There’s simply no need to purchase and store pedestals that get so little use. But maybe you are the trade show king, an actual road warrior attending multiple trade shows a year. Perhaps your pedestals do double-time and you will need them to produce items in your office. Then buying would be the best option. Your pedestals will pay for themselves right away, and as mentioned before, you can control the standard, style and color.
5. What’s it planning to cost me?
This really is where in fact the rubber meets the street and obviously goes submit hand with Question 4. Many portable trade show display pedestals can be purchased for under $75 and will pay for themselves within 3 or 4 shows. Renting pedestals has flexibility especially where storage is concerned, but can be expensive within the long run. Again, the question of cost will undoubtedly be answered by analyzing simply how much you will undoubtedly be utilizing your pedestals.
The question of renting vs. buying spills over into many aspects of your company, especially when it comes to your marketing materials. In addition, perhaps there are a few general philosophical questions that must be asked: How important are trade shows to your company? Are they part of your long-term marketing strategy? If that’s the case, the materials you use will say a whole lot about your company on the big stage. Consequently, your pedestals will say a whole lot about you as well. Hopefully, these guidelines will serve to aid you to make the most effective decision for your unique situation thereby resulting in achieving the proper balance between aesthetics and economics.