Think of your booth space as a blank canvas waiting for you to cover it with your brand and culture. So, you need a display of some kind to attract people’s attention and make them want to learn more about you. There is no one right way to outfit your booth space; similarly, there is no one wrong way… actually, there are many, many wrong ways. The following includes things to consider when making a decision on renting a trade show booth versus buying a booth.

If you’re exhibiting for the first time, you may be shocked by the many costs, such as renting the actual space, renting carpet, getting an electrical connection, and the display itself, among others. The critical factor is to get the best value for your exhibiting dollar. Things like electrical costs are fixed; you can’t do anything about it. However, you have many options when it comes to displays. You can easily purchase a retractable banner stand online for very little money. Conversely, you can easily purchase the most expensive display on the market. But you don’t want to look unprofessional or cheap, and you don’t want to spend more than you have to on a display.

Things to consider when renting a trade show booth rather than buying.

• Renting trade show booth hardware generally costs less than purchasing a trade show booth, even though you still have to purchase the graphics.
• Renting a trade show booth gives you the flexibility to take a different approach with your display at subsequent shows without having invested too much money.
• When renting an exhibit, you don’t have the cost associated with storage or asset management, aside from the printed graphics.
• Renting a booth can help you stay within your trade show budget, save you time, and offer more flexibility for changes to your exhibit when your brand or product demands it.
• Not all rental booths are cookie-cutter. You can find designs and layouts that look like they were made for you.

On the other hand, if you purchase a trade show booth, it will pay for itself with multiple uses.

• A purchased booth is yours to do with what you want, and you can have new graphics printed to use at subsequent shows.
• A purchased booth is a longer-term investment, so be sure you get the most value from the transaction. Consider whether the display will meet your needs next year, three years from now, etc.
• Make sure to consider: What happens if something breaks? Is this brand warrantied? Can I add on to it if I have a larger booth space later?

Your trade show exhibit is a key investment in your event marketing program. It is definitely worth the time to weigh the pros and cons of renting a trade show booth versus purchasing a booth before you decide on a new display.