Exhibition marketing
Modular exhibition stands - when to buy and when to rent
Choosing whether to buy your modular exhibition stand or to rent it is an important decision and needs to be based on your exhibition programme and overall marketing strategy and budget.
Renting an exhibition stand is often the right decision when:
- You have two exhibitions at the same time but only one exhibition stand. Renting an exhibition stand or portable display stand is the perfect cost-effective solution
- Your budget won't stretch to buying an exhibition stand but you don't want to compromise the design or impact - an exhibition stand rental provides the perfect cost-effective solution. There are several rental systems available that provide design flexibility and allow creative input that don't look like a rental on the show-floor
- You have a one-off event or you want to try exhibiting but you don't want to commit to the purcahse of an exhibition stand or portable display system - renting a modular exhibition stand is the cost-effective solution
- You're exhibiting internationally - a rental exhibition stand reduces or eliminates international shipping costs. Choose your contractor carefully and check out their international credentials. Some contractors have partners in key exhibiting locations who carry the same product stock enabling you to have a locally supplied stand and in some cases locally produced graphics
When you have a multi-show programme or you know that you can use whole or part of your modular exhibition stand after the show - it is better to purchase the stand than to rent it.
Many exhibition stand companies provide stand storage facilities for you to use between exhibitions. Ask the question when you are choosing your supplier and the likely storage costs. Once you have purchased the stand your running costs are as follows:
- Labour to build the stand at each show
- Renewing, changing or updating graphics for each show
- Refurbishment allowance of 10%
- Stand storage costs
- Transportation costs to each show
- On-site contractor fees per show
This may seem a lot but remember your stand is already paid for and can be expensed across your whole show programme. Whether you purchase or rent you will still have each time you exhibit:
- Stand build labour
- Graphics
- Transportation
- On-site contractor fees
If you plan your exhibiting programme carefully and in advance you will know what questions to ask any potential contracting company. Make sure you get costs on all the above and find out the domestic and international capabilities of the potential contractor before you decide who to go with and whether to buy or to rent.
One more area to consider - one of the major benefits of modular systems is the flexibility to use and re-use in different configurations and designs. When you look at your overall exhibiting programme and your budget you may decide that purchasing the whole stand is not viable. You may decide that you do not want to spend money on the largest configuration because you'll only use the extra components once.
If you are faced with this scenario then consider purchasing the components that allow you to satisfy most of your programme and then rent the additional components to create the largest exhibition stand. That way you get the best of both worlds.