How to Create Over-the-Top Trade Show Displays:
3 Big Ideas
Trade show attendees have a near-limitless selection of booths to visit and content to consume. After all, statistics gathered by Exhibit Surveys Inc. found that at each trade show, attendees spend an average of nine hours visiting exhibits. The right booth can ensure that more of that time is spent focused on your organization.
With so many organizations vying for their attention, many booths will go unnoticed. That's where these unique trade show booth ideas come in. With an eye-catching booth, you can boost your organization's exposure and attract the attention of hundreds of people.
If your booth is particularly fantastic, it might even earn you some good publicity. The Exhibitor Group announced the Best of Show Winners for 2023 online.
A striking booth may also result in valuable social media exposure. The Twitter hashtag for MAGIC Las Vegas, a major trade show that draws tens of thousands of attendees each year, is full of photos of exhibitors' booths.
Read on to discover three show-stopping trade show booth design steps you can take to help your booth stand out from the crowd.
1. Choose a Fun Theme
When trying to capture attendees' attention, you can't go wrong with a fun theme. Here are some of our favorite themes for trade shows.
Vegas Casino
Image source: BigPrintingLasVegas.com, "Trade Show Display"
Give attendees a chance to experience some Vegas glitz and you're sure to stand out. Besides designing a Vegas-themed banner or display wall, you can create an interactive booth by incorporating some fun casino-like items and games.
For instance, you might leverage the power of memorable trade show giveaways by passing out the Dice Stress Reliever to people that stop by:
Or, give attendees the chance to win covetable prizes by spinning the Winning Spins Prize Wheel:
Beach Retreat
Image source: DisplayWorks.com, "Parrot Custom Exhibit"
Give attendees a break from the trade show chaos with a relaxing beach-themed booth.
To give your booth a seaside vibe, try decorating it with some colorful custom beach balls:
If you're planning on handing out swag bags, consider packaging them in a colorful beach bag with a matching towel. We're fans of the Striped Beach Bag and Towel:
Eco-Friendly
Image source: Boothster.com, "Custom Ecofriendly Tradeshow Booth Design for Earth Rated and Modern Kanine at the Global Pet Expo"
More and more people are becoming interested in environmental friendliness and corporate responsibility, so an eco-themed booth is sure to make a strong impact.
If you're giving out merch or selling products, try bagging them in the 100 percent recycled Billboard Brown Paper Bag:
And, since trade shows can be tiring and dehydrating, eco-minded attendees will undoubtedly appreciate a custom reusable water bottle. We love the BPA-free 20 oz Breeze Bottle:
2. Play Some Games
Image source: NimlokTradeShowMarketing.com, "How To Use Trade Show Contests To Drive Traffic To Your Booth"
Trade show booths with games and activities give potential customers a chance to interact with your display and representatives. If you want your organization's name to be remembered, these fun game ideas can help.
A bean bag toss is a whimsical option that trade show attendees will love. Easy to learn but hard to master, this game is great for giveaway contests:
We're also big fans of the Office Time Basketball Hoop. This lightweight hoop can give attendees a chance to compete for prizes, or simply unwind after hours on the trade show floor:
With customizable labels on each prize slot bucket, it's easy to create a polished game that you can use to give away t-shirts, swag bags, product samples or other items.
3. Incorporate Snazzy Decorations
Image source: Houzz.com, "Kikkerland's Pop-Up Shop at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) at the Javits Center, May 2012," John Hill
Last but not least, don't forget to outfit your booth with plenty of stylish and eye-catching decorations and accessories.
To grab attendees' attention from a distance, you can't go wrong with colorful customized balloons. We love the 17" Outdoor Balloons Basic Colors.
If you're looking to draw in passersby, get creative with the Economy Wood Chalkboard. Its full color imprint area and durable chalkboard insert are perfect for showing off your organization's personality:
Want to increase your booth's visibility? Pick up the LED Display Light to highlight any part of your trade show display:
We love its universal mount, which makes attaching it to any retractor kit a snap.
Trade Show Basics
Before we wrap things up, let's go over the essentials of any great trade show booth. A display wall is a great place to start. This will likely be the first thing that trade show attendees see, so you'll want it to be impressive.
The Eurofit Fabric Display Wall is a fantastic option for any booth:
Measuring eight feet wide and just over seven feet tall, this display wall features a large imprint area and weighs 75 percent less than typical pop-up displays.
If you're looking for a more three-dimensional display, check out the 5 Banner Geo Display. With space for five trade show banners, you don't have to choose just one design:
Made of lightweight aluminum and polyester, this display wall is easy to set up and store and packs a fresh visual punch.
Then, dress up your table with a colorful throw, runner or skirt. We're especially fond of the Custom Table Top Banner:
With its attached full color banner, it's sure to make your booth pop.
Once you have your essentials picked out, it's time to get inspired by these three crazy trade show booth ideas. Don't let your organization's booth fade into the background. With these three tips, you can ensure that your next trade show display is anything but boring.
To learn more about exhibiting at a trade show like a pro, check out our roundup of insider trade show secrets or our handy trade show checklist to help you stay organized.
