Designing exhibition stands with a small footprint

It doesn't always have to be a huge exhibition stand with a stand area of 750m² or more. Even with a small trade fair budget and a manageable stand area, you can attract the attention of trade fair visitors and reach your target group with your messages. Read the following blog article to find out how you can do this and what you need to bear in mind with a small exhibition stand.

How big should the stand area of an exhibition stand be?

Is there actually a standard size for exhibition stands? A predetermined, standardised stand area on which your exhibition stand is optimally aligned? You can probably already guess the answer to these questions: No, there is no standardised size for exhibition stands.

The choice of stand space varies from trade fair to trade fair. This depends on the total area of an event location and the layout of the stand types. (Row stand, head stand, island stand and corner stand)

The type of event also makes a big difference to the average exhibition stand area:

Event types with large exhibition stand areas

If you are at Achema, for example, the world's largest trade fair for the process industry for chemical engineering, process technology and biotechnology, you will notice that the exhibition stand areas will be quite large. This is because a very large area is generally available for the event and this is particularly important, as exhibitors often want to present their technologies in the form of exhibits. A large stand area is required to exhibit the machines.

Event types with small stand areas

Smaller stand areas of just a few square metres can be found on non-typical exhibition grounds. This includes, for example, recruitment fairs or congresses, which are often held in universities, congress centres or company buildings and do not have access to the hall sizes of a trade fair.

Mobile exhibition stands are particularly common at these events and the following example shows how they can be optimally utilised.

Example: Exhibition stand with a small stand area

With our stand concept at Meetingplace Germany, we proved that you can achieve a lot at a trade fair with just 6m² of exhibition space. True to the motto ‘make more out of less’, we showed in Cologne's DOCK.ONE that size alone is not the measure of all things. Let's summarise what could be accommodated on 6m².

• Rear wall with space for a 7.5m² backlit textile graphic
• 4.5m² wall with textile graphics with plenty of space for a slogan and a monitor visualising the ExpoCloud software
  
  
• Functional refrigerator with space for soft drinks and small snacks
• Nespresso coffee machine with complete catering equipment for delicious coffee and espresso (many thanks to our ExpoCloud cooperation partner Nespresso!)
• Four lounge cubes as seating for our stand visitors
• Pedestal with an iPad embedded in the top panel - for demonstrating the ExpoCloud software
• Brochure stands for the WWM catalogues, production samples and our customer magazine
• 6m² bamboo flooring for a natural component in the stylish loft atmosphere

Designing small exhibition stands

The challenge with small trade fair stands is to accommodate all the trade fair equipment without making them look cluttered and scaring off trade fair visitors. In addition, the stand personnel on the stand should not lack for anything so that they can present your products and services or your company in the best possible way. It is therefore important to make the best possible use of the available stand space:

1. Utilise the walls of your exhibition stand

Use the walls of your exhibition stand in a multifunctional way. In addition to graphics, you can attach shelves that you can use as a place for exhibits or use the shelf as a small bar table where you can hold conversations with stand visitors. How about an indentation in the rear wall of your exhibition stand? Your most important exhibit will find a very special place there and become the eye-catcher of your trade fair stand!

2. Long-distance effect through tower attachment and lighting

Is your small exhibition stand in danger of getting lost in the crowd? How about building it upwards and integrating a tower attachment with appropriate lighting on your limited stand space alongside high walls? This will save you stand space and still have a great external impact.

3. Multifunctional furniture

You won't have enough space for lots of furniture on an exhibition stand with a small footprint. At this point, you should consider which trade fair equipment is really necessary and which furniture will clutter up the stand too much. Are there pieces of furniture that you can use for different purposes?

• Instead of a table with 4 chairs, you can use a high table
• A stool can be used as a seat or table. Is there perhaps storage space inside where your giveaways can be stored?
• A table bridge can be a bar table and counter at the same time.
  
  
  

4. Digitise your exhibition stand

Leave brochures, flyers and other physical advertising materials at home. A brochure stand takes up important space on your small exhibition stand and can only show a selection of your product portfolio. Instead, take your laptop with you and connect it to a screen mounted on a wall or to an LED video wall. This gives you the opportunity to access any content, play it alternately or show certain content to your counterpart during a conversation.

5. Use mobile trade fair accessories

Instead of using large counters, showcases and counters, use classic trade fair systems such as roll-ups. These take up little space and can be used flexibly. But again, remember that any print graphic can (but does not have to!) be replaced by digital content.

Small exhibition stand with a big impact

Even an exhibition stand with a small footprint can stand out from the crowd and look exciting. The important thing is to stick to the motto ‘Less is more!’ and pursue unconventional ideas from time to time. The stand area does not always have to be divided into different areas at right angles. Perhaps the arrangement in a different shape even suits your company logo?