If you plan to make a name for your company through trade shows, you will need information about creating an exhibit, which typically includes the use of trade show table covers. If you have ever attended a trade show, you will know that every detail counts, so any tips and tricks regarding trade show table covers are helpful to every business owner. Although table coverings are important because they add class and hide clutter, know that you do not have to spend a fortune on them.

Making the most of trade show table covers, as well as your budget, is simple with just a few unique ideas. Consider the following:

1. Check out trade show table skirts to dress up your table cheaply.

2. Obtain a convertible table cover to get more convenience for less.

3. Purchase a table runner that fits any size table.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consider table skirts to add class to your table

If you cannot afford to spend money on a whole table cover, consider purchasing a table skirt. This product can hide any clutter under the table while dressing up an otherwise plain exhibit area. Since they are made of less material than full trade show table throws, table skirts are a less expensive way of adding class to your trade show table.

I recommend: Camelback Displays carries simple, colorful table skirts. Alfax Wholesale Furniture can save you money with an accordion-style table skirt.

Check out convertible display table covers

If you plan to attend several trade shows throughout the year, all with different sized tables, think about purchasing a convertible table cover. Such a cover can go from being the perfect fit for an 8-foot table to a great fit for a 6-foot table, typically using Velcro tabs to make it look neat. This allows you versatility for those shows that surprise you with a table that is not the size you were expecting.

I recommend: Table-cover.com sells convertible table covers with Velcro for ease of use. Discount Displays offers a similar product for a low price.

Buy a trade show table runner for flexibility

There is another option for those shows in which you do not know your table size ahead of time. Trade show table runners can fit just about any table, as you can throw them over a plain fitted table cover. This way, no matter what size the table is, you will always look classy with a colorful and perhaps customized runner that fits any table.

I recommend: Positive Promotions sells inexpensive, customizable runners, as does Displayit.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For the ultimate in flexibility, buy both a convertible table cover and a runner and use them together. This will allow you to be prepared for almost any table size.

Trade show table covers can turn an ordinary eight by ten foot trade show booth into an extraordinary selling space. Custom imprinted table covers, including table runners, table throws and table skirts that don't blend in with all of the other drab table covers can give you and your booth a competitive edge. With custom trade show table covers, you can let people know exactly who you are, even from across a crowded convention center. Your logo will communicate your brand or message to invite people into your booth.

Before you go out and buy trade show table covers, consider these factors:
1. Choose a fabric for trade show table covers that won't wrinkle or stain.
2. Determine what size table cover will be used at most shows, or buy a table cover in several standard sizes.
3. Decide the quantity of table covers you'll need. You'll get a price break from most companies if you buy in quantity at one time.
4. Think about the message that you want to display. If you have several trademarked phrases, you might want table covers that reflect each or you may just want your business logo.
5. Figure out what style will work best for your needs. Some trade show table covers allow you to quickly cover a table, while others require pinning and tucking.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use table throws for your trade shows

Table throws are an easy option for quick set-up. You simply put the throw over the table and drape it like a tablecloth. That's all there is to it.

I recommend: Displayit offers a variety of table throws in six and eight-foot lengths, either unimprinted, screenprinted or dye sublimation printed. Displays and Exhibits offers a variety of printing options and discounts for quantity orders.

Try trade show table covers that fit to a tee

Trade show table covers usually come in pleated or draped throws, but now there's a new type on the market that fits like your favorite T-shirt.

I recommend: CamelBack Displays makes a contour table cover that eliminates wrinkles by fitting snugly over the table with no need for pins or clips. Siegel Display Products calls their version it a 'Table T-shirt Tablecloth.'

Put your logo on table runners

Table runners are a good solution when you want to customize a table that is already set up or if you are traveling and want to save space. You simply place table runners over the middle of the table and your logo is displayed front and center.

I recommend: Crestline offers imprinted table runners in 15 fabric colors. Discount Displays has 33 fabric colors available and volume discounts.

Table skirts can add pizazz to your booth

You can cover your table or put a t-shirt on it, but you can also dress it in traditional garb-table skirts.

I recommend: Carrot-Top Industries makes unimprinted table skirts for rectangle and round tables. LetterBank makes table skirts that allow your logo to be imprinted in the center.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure your logo will be legible on your trade show table covers before you imprint them. If it isn't, consider using your trademark phrase, product logo or company name.
• •  If your table covers will be transported frequently, ask your table cover supplier for custom travel cases that protect the table cover.
• •  Table covers that have a high blend of polyester will wrinkle less and won't require ironing.
• •  Though their main purpose is to draw people to your booth, trade show table covers also provide a hidden storage space for your products underneath the table.

If you own a company, you probably know how important attending trade shows can be to a business and that every detail counts, including table coverings. Your job as a business owner as you prepare your company for a trade show event is to capture the attention of potential customers quickly and keep them at your booth long enough to consider purchasing products or services from you. Doing so often requires unique touches, like personalized table covers. However, before you rush out to shop for trade show necessities, you should know the pricing and costs of trade show table covers.

You have many options when it comes to narrowing down trade show table covers for your company booth. Often, the final decision will come down to what will fit your budget. Know the prices of the following types of table covers:

1. Be aware that the cost of the table cover is affected by the size you need.

2. Know that specialty shapes may cost more.

3. Personalize your table covers to stand out from the rest, but know the price first.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Measure your table before deciding on a firm budget for table coverings

Before anyone can accurately tell you the cost of a table throw, you need to know the size of your booth. Many table throws are made for tables that measure from 5 to 8 feet across. The basic smaller throws typically cost less than $100, while the largest, such as the 8-foot covers, can cost anywhere from $5 to $50 more.

I recommend: Siegel Display Products sells throws that fit tables measuring 6 feet across for about $95 and 8-foot table covers for $110. Displays2Go sells standard table covers that fit 8-foot tables for about $32 and 6-foot covers for $28.

Consider the shape of your table when determining your table cover budget

Some booths require odd table cover shapes, so be sure you know what shape will best fit your booth. If your table is long and thin, you will need a different cover than if your table is small and round. Keep this in mind when comparing prices of trade show table covers. Uncommon table shapes often require more expensive table covers, even if only by about $20.

I recommend: 4imprint offers square table covers for about $150. Carrot-Top Industries sells round table covers for $125, about $20 more than they sell regular rectangular covers for.

Determine how much extra it will cost to put your company logo on convention table covers

If you want people to easily notice and remember your company's booth, consider paying extra to have your table cover personalized with your company name and logo on it. You can also choose the color and any designs that appear on your display table covers. Customized trade show tables typically impress potential customers, making your booth stand out to them. However, many companies charge more for this service than they would for a basic cover.

I recommend: If you buy personalized trade show covers from The Godfrey Group, expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $200 more than the basic cover price. Promo-Force.com charges about $100 for a blank 8-foot table cover. Depending on how big your logo is and how many colors you want, add at least $50 to your budget.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you want to save money but need to cover up unsightly display tables, consider table skirts. They are often less expensive than full table throws but lend some class to an otherwise scuffed up table and can hide any clutter beneath it. You can usually save about $20 by purchasing a table skirt rather than a full cover.

Any time a company has to send staff and gear to a trade show, there are certain elements that can make or break the intended presentation space. Trade show table covers are one such element. Table covers provide neatness and professionalism for a display. They also allow for "hiding" or storing amounts of needed equipment behind them, under a table space. Reading up on key terms around trade show table covers can provide a better basis for brainstorming a presentation space.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Table runner

A table runner is a narrow cloth piece that 'runs' down the length of a table. These can be useful for decorating trade show tables. Many are either custom-decorated or made in colorful patterns that grab visitors' eyes.

I recommend: Find a definition of a table runner (scroll down) at Home and House.

Table skirt

A table skirt is a piece of material that runs around the front and sides of a table. Lots of presenters use these for trade show tables to make the space between counter and floor look good. They can be either 'frilly' or simple, but either adds a decorative layer to the table.

I recommend: Find a detailed definition of table skirts at BTD Graphics.

Polyester

Polyester fabric is fabric made with the synthetic resins of polyester. These kinds of fabrics stand up to wear and do not wrinkle as easily as cotton ones. That makes them great for promoting a hassle-free table cloth.

I recommend: See the definition of polyester at The Free Dictionary. See more about wholesale polyester table linens at Bright Settings.

Dye sublimation

Dye sublimation is a kind of thermal printing that printers use on a variety of projects. Many trade show table covers include dye sublimation printed designs.

I recommend: See more on dye sublimation printing at How Stuff Works.

Convertible table cover

A convertible table cover is one that allows users to change its size for adapting to differently sized tables. Many convertible table covers include velcro or similar material for adding pieces to a cloth cover.

I recommend: See a definition of the convertible table cover process at Table-Cover.

Tabletop displays

A tabletop display is a display element that rests on top of the table. Trade show managers must think about this when choosing table covers and manage to combine what is going on top of the table with any chosen decorative aspects.

I recommend: Get more on tabletop displays and table covers at this Small Business Buyer's Guide.