Check out these tips on how to decrease spending on your physical exhibit.

Post-COVID Money-Saving Tips for Trade Show Exhibits

It goes without saying that 2020 was the worst year for in-person trade shows, possibly in all of marketing history. However, they will return—but they'll look a little different, starting with marketers having a dearth of cash they're able to dedicate to in-person events, after the turn towards digital marketing during the pandemic.

With this in mind, below are some tips on how to get the most bang for your buck on Exhibit costs when facing reduced budgets for in-person trade shows.

Consider Renting an Exhibit vs. Buying

A great way to save money on exhibits is by renting the material for your booth. This way you'll save money on storage, transportation, and construction costs. Unless you're doing multiple shows a year—and who knows what event schedules will look like in the coming years—renting is a less expensive option than buying.

If you do decide that owning a booth would be best, look into refurbished options. You can still save money on a previously owned trade show booth, even if you have to paint and redesign it. Also: look for displays that are lightweight, portable, easy to break down, and easy to set up.

If you must purchase an exhibit, oversized erector sets, often called modular sets can be skinned and reskinned for more flexibility at a fraction of the cost. By investing in a modular set you'll be able to keep up with the ever-changing post-COVID climate.

Focus on Face-to-Face Marketing

Trade shows are all about on-site conversations that occur via face-to-face marketing. By focusing your money on decking out your team, you're investing in a more direct turnover rate—flashy exhibits are well and good, but a smaller booth won't impact the amount of foot-traffic your exhibit gets. Your staff will.

Post-COVID, designing smaller, less formal environments to showcase your products allows you to truly connect with your audience at a safe distance.

In terms of cost-cutting, this strategy means trading traditional, architecturally heavy environments for rental furniture, spacious theaters, and video screens.

Work with Non-Competitors

By working with non-competitors to share expenses on booths, mobile marketing tactics, and other elements of trade shows, you'll be reducing extraneous costs, if not totally eliminating them.

Takeaways

By allowing yourself the flexibility with your exhibit to acclimate to the current times, focusing on face-to-face conversations, and working with non-competitors you'll be able to maximize your newly minimized trade show budget.