Customise your exhibition stand at low cost

Let's face reality: if you're planning a trade fair on a rather small budget, you can't reinvent the wheel. Even if you don't have enough money for unique, architectural installations, your stand doesn't have to be boring and look like the neighbouring stands. The following blog post reveals some simple tricks to individualise your trade fair stand with little effort.

Show courage in the choice of carpet

You can rarely avoid floor coverings (the exception is some congress venues with their own floor, where you only need to set up your own components, e.g. roll-ups). Carpet is a good and inexpensive option. Many exhibitors opt for classic grey tones. Do you have an accent colour in your CI? Perhaps you can use this as a carpet colour. You have to buy the carpet anyway - what colour it is doesn't matter in terms of price.

Ask your stand builder to send you carpet samples to match them with your CI colour or send him one of your printed products for colour matching (as most computer monitors are not calibrated, colours look different on every screen. It is therefore better not to use this as a guide). The range of available carpet colours is large and minor colour differences ‘look’ different on the stand (the carpet also looks different depending on the incidence of light and the direction in which it is laid). But: If you have the feeling that none of the colour samples match your CI, it is better to choose a neutral colour. If you are unsure, ask your stand builder for advice. If you opt for coloured carpet, make sure that your CI colour is not adjacent to the carpet in the graphics for the walls. The colour of the carpet will never match 100%. However, this is only noticeable if your CI colour, for example, designs the ‘skirting board strips’ and sits directly next to the floor covering.

Coloured carpet works particularly well if the stand design is otherwise simple. With too many large, multi-coloured wall graphics, the overall impression can otherwise quickly become unsettling. Bright colours in particular are shown to their best advantage with large white or black wall surfaces. 

Left: The slight difference in the colour of the carpet is emphasised by the coloured ‘baseboard’. Right: The carpet colour is the same as on the left, but the distance to the logo means that there is no visible difference in colour to the logo.

Adding foil accents to PVC flooring

If you would rather have a wood look, for example, PVC flooring is of course an inexpensive alternative to real laminate. For customised messages on the floor, there are providers who print the entire surface of PVC flooring, but this is of course very expensive. An inexpensive alternative would be to apply foil stickers to the PVC to create accents. However, you shouldn't plan too large an area for the foils - applying them without bubbles is time-consuming work. But icons, arrows or slogans are simply stuck on and are eye-catching. Talk to your stand builder to see if they can offer resistant films and discuss the position of the wrapping. For example, film should not be used under a chair with castors, as even the most robust film will probably suffer there.

Customise rental furniture at short notice

Like the floor, you can of course also make rental furniture ‘your’ furniture with film. Of course, the stand builder or the on-site set-up team should only use film that can be removed without leaving any residue. Many items of rental furniture, such as counters, are already designed in such a way that you have space for customised design. There is a comprehensive blog article on this entitled: Buying vs. renting furniture for exhibition stands.

Utilising the advantages of textile graphics

The advantages of textile-covered stand construction systems compared to conventional wooden stand construction are a chapter in themselves. Textile walls can be fully designed and printed by you, with your motifs and colours, without increasing the time required for stand construction. The larger a motif is in conventional exhibition stand construction, the longer it takes to apply it. Fitting a textile graphic is always quick and uncomplicated.

Find more information in the following blog article ‘6 tips for successful graphic design on exhibition stands’.

Let light speak for itself

Illuminated elements are always an eye-catcher. Illuminated stand edges or 3D logos look great - but unfortunately they are special constructions and can be quite expensive.

Instead, ask your stand builder about illuminated counters or showcases for hire, where the light colour can be adjusted (preferably continuously). With differently coloured illuminated showcases, you can also easily divide exhibits of different product lines or sub-brands on the stand.

Cleverly achieve a long-distance effect

Suspensions from the hall ceiling are unfortunately always associated with some additional costs, as the hall ceiling has to be prepared accordingly by the stand constructor. The stand construction team also needs time to assemble the truss sections and attach banners/panels to them, for example.

An inexpensive alternative to attract attention from a distance are individual, raised walls or the construction of a tower, which is then customised with your logo.

If you do not want to do without suspensions from the ceiling, consider how these can be designed more economically. A wraparound banner can only ever be used for a fixed stand area and is difficult to re-install. If you have several trade fair appearances, it is worth purchasing a ceiling cube once, for example, which fits every stand dimension. If this ceiling cube also consists of an aluminium frame with fabric covering, the storage space at your stand or that of your stand builder, and therefore the costs, are kept to a minimum.

Creatively showcase your own products

If you bring physical products to the event, these are of course the best eye-catcher on your stand and cannot be found a second time. Traditionally, large exhibits are given a pedestal, smaller ones are displayed in showcases. But it's worth thinking outside the box: perhaps a more exciting design can be realised with your exhibits? Smaller elements can be combined to create a large, individual design element? Or present the product in its later environment? Your exhibits do not incur any additional costs for you, perhaps you and your stand builder will find an unconventional form of product presentation that will attract attention.

Invest in eye-catchers

If your company's services cannot be presented physically, it may be worth purchasing an eye-catcher that can be positioned and staged differently depending on the event. It is particularly practical if this element also has an additional use and functions as a workstation, monitor stand or bar, for example. The more often an eye-catcher can be used, the lower the costs per event.

Conclusion on cost-conscious exhibition stand planning

Even small tricks can have a cost-efficient yet effective impact on the design of an exhibition stand. Perhaps the above tips have already inspired you and you have new ideas for your next event? Talk to your stand builder and together you can develop an exhibition stand that reflects your company.