3 FAQ's about exhibiting on small stands

Beauty Pro stand built at Olympia Beauty Show

“Do you need a big stand space to have a successful trade show?”

“How can a small business compete with the big stands in an exhibition?”

“How can I make my stand look current and appealing?” 

The three questions above are among the most frequently asked by exhibitors when talking to us about their plans for trade shows. And rightly so. 

You can see that among smaller businesses, there are concerns about being lost among their bigger spending competitors. 

Those exhibitors know that trade shows are hugely valuable to their businesses but they also need to know that they can compete with their bigger-spending rivals. 

Here are our answers to those burning questions. We hope you find them useful for your own event planning and participation. 

1. “Do you need a big stand space to have a successful trade show?”

No, you don’t. 

Many of our clients keep on proving that you don’t need a big space to have a highly successful show. 

For them, a well organised and professionally designed stand works very effectively. 

This is, of course, an area that our business specialises in and you can see examples of successful stands by clicking this link.  

Clear objectives for each show is another trait found in our most successful clients. 

As is a pre-show promotional plan designed to attract people who can make a big difference to their sales. 

NB. Remember that visitors attend trade shows mainly to find new ideas and solutions. 

The size of the stand that those ideas come from is not important. 

What is important is that you make very clear to attendees what you offer with strong messaging in your graphics. 

We can help you achieve this. 

2. “How can a small business compete with the big stands in an exhibition?”

First by showing up and being present in the events that are considered to be the leaders in your industry. 

Doing this will put your business in the same arena as those bigger rivals. 

As mentioned a moment ago, trade show visitors attend events because they are seeking solutions and ideas. 

They aren’t too fussed whether they find those breakthroughs on big or small stands. 

Secondly, by working every angle possible. 

By promoting your presence to your clients and prospects. 

By taking part in the conference or seminar programme. 

Submitting entries for new product showcases and other forms of associated content marketing that trade shows offer. 

Third, by doing the things that those bigger boys and girls can’t do. 

Like displaying last minute changes and updates to your product lines and displays. 

You can be more nimble and work with shorter lead times than your bigger exhibitor rivals. 

By joint-venturing with other another non-competing exhibitor to get a bigger stand space or a better hall location. 

By piggy-backing content on the themes of the event in order to gain publicity before, during and after the show. 

You can compete. And to grow, you must compete. 

You have to be creative just like law firm Kennedys were with this small but impressive stand that included a leaning graphic tower. See our Yearbook* for more details. 

3. “How can I make my stand look current and appealing?” 

Clean lines  •  Lightboxes  •  Digital screens  •  Towers that add height  •  Strong clear graphics  •  Good lighting 

These are the core elements that we seek to build into the stands that we design and build for our clients. 

You don’t need to use all of them but some combination of these features works incredibly well. 

It’s how we transform the exhibition spaces that our clients occupy. In doing so we help them transform their exhibiting results. 

If you would like to see examples of stands like these, email [email protected] 

* We will send you a copy of our recently published Yearbook “A Transformational Year.”

And, if you have any questions relating to your own event programme we will be very happy to answer them. 

Email the FAQ’s on your mind to [email protected]