Get the Exhibit You Want Without Blowing Your Budget

Posted by Cat Virca in Design, Planning, Tips, Trends

Managers often make decisions before considering how they will affect the bottom-line price when it comes to buying new exhibits. EXHIBITOR enlisted the help of six new-build experts to help you downsize the cost of your next project. Stay within your budget by following these cost-saving tips!

1. Finalize marketing directives before the design. Lay out your marketing directives and discuss any changes, preferences, or requirements with your stakeholders – make sure everyone understands exactly what you want. Tony Castrigno, chief creative partner at Design Contact, reminds us that “Since designers’ time is your money, understand exactly what you want before you meet with your design team.”
2. Design around the experience. Don’t focus too much on extraneous elements – your booth is your brand. Before you go overboard on the components of your exhibit, ask yourself if kiosks, conference rooms, and hanging signs are necessary to communicate your objectives.
3. Be mindful of material size and shape. Remember that customization can result in increased cost, although most exhibit materials come in standard shapes and sizes. For example, curved structures can easily cost 50-100% more than a rectangular version.
4. Factor in shipping, transport, and labor costs. Most people focus primarily on design and build costs without considering the impact of size, weight, and labor requirements. Calculate what size container you’ll need, and how many people/hours are necessary for setup.
5. Cut back on high-tech hardware. While it may be temping to shell out for cutting-edge tech gadgets, they can quickly become an expensive gimmick rather than a real value. Decide if the technological element meets your marketing objectives and reevaluate the costs versus the return.
6. Gather average costs. Compile your own list of costs: keep detailed records of expenditures and average them out over time to create some benchmarks. Compare the proposed price of your next exhibit to your own historical averages.

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