Using portable trade show exhibits helps small businesses make the most of participating in trade shows. Because portable display boards require minimal labor support, businesses can stretch their promotional dollars by spending less on assembly and take down and more on high-impact graphics and design. Portable displays are a cost-effective alternative to custom trade show exhibits.

A portable display is one that uses flexible graphics panels that can be easily pulled apart and secured. Portable display walls are lightweight and usually made of fabric or other man-made materials. Portable display boards are great at cutting exhibit shipping and delivery costs and preventing transportation and setup issues. Consider the following benefits to using portable trade show exhibits:

1. Portable display cases are easy to carry and assemble.

2. A portable exhibit system is durable.

3. Portable display boards are less expensive than custom trade show exhibits.

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Portable displays are built to travel

Whether you are travelling in a compact car or an SUV, portable display stands can be easily transported from one trade show to the next. Because your portable display can be transported by you, your display board won't have to suffer through the wear and tear that can be caused by packaging and shipping. You also won't have to worry about your display board arriving late.

I recommend: Check out Trade-Show-Advisor.com to learn more about the benefits of using portable display boards. You may also read more about the versatility of portable display boards by visiting Exhibit Solutions.

Reuse your portable display board

Portable display cases can be re-used to showcase your service or products at various different tradeshows. Once you arrive at the trade show, most portable display boards are designed to snap together a pop-up in minutes -- giving you a well-designed display board without the work. Need to update your portable display booth? The pop-up panel design of portable trade show exhibits allows you to easily update your exhibit as frequently as necessary.

I recommend: Read about the benefits of portable displays at Buzzle.com. Check out SearchWarp to learn more about trade show display types.

Save money with portable trade show displays

Portable displays are a cost-effective alternative to custom trade show exhibits. By using portable displays, you'll save money on shipping and delivery costs by transporting your board yourself. Because portable displays can easily be assembled by one or two individuals, you'll also save on not having to hire additional staff to set up and take down your trade show exhibit.

I recommend: Check out ScreenWeb to learn more about producing portable display boards. You may also read more about using portable displays at Internet Money.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  To maximize your company's use of portable trade show exhibits, be sure to consult with an experienced designer who can create high impact graphics to help you attract attendees and make the most of your portable display.

Portable trade show exhibits that are easy to install and easy to transport make life easier if you’re a frequent exhibitor or a regular participant in local job fairs. Portable trade show displays allow more affordable options to ship your display and allow you to travel with it in tow.

Before you invest in trade show exhibits, consider these keys to choosing portable trade show exhibits:

1. Weight: If you will travel with your portable trade show displays, consider the weight restrictions for checked luggage on airlines or check the costs to ship it in advance.
2. Portability: Exhibits that fold down to a manageable size is key for salespeople who have to lug portable trade show exhibits around in their cars.
3. Ease of use: Look for trade show displays that a single person can install.

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Portable pop up displays are fast and easy to install

Pop up displays are very portable due to lightweight frames that fold down to small sizes. They are also easy to install and require no special tools.

I recommend: Displays2go provides 3-D portable pop up displays that are easy to fold down. Miriam Inc. supplies a variety of sizes of pop up display booths and 3-D pop up displays. Everything Displays offers full color pop up table top displays. A list of vendors for pop up displays can be found at Business.com.

Portable literature stands show off your product literature

A great way to display literature at trade shows is to take along collapsible portable literature stands. They come in different sizes and some have multiple pockets to display your product literature.

I recommend: Exhibé Portable provides collapsible portable literature stands with three to eight pockets for literature and weigh as little as four pounds. New World Case has portable literature racks in different configurations and designs.

Banner stands open in one simple movement

Banner stands are the lightest weight of portable trade show displays. The banner rolls up into a cartridge and there is a cable or metal arm that extends to hold up the banner. They can weigh only a few pounds, making them some of the most portable trade show exhibits.

I recommend: BannersNstands.com offers banner and stand combos that feature full color banners that weigh only three pounds. Quickscreen Displays provides double-sided retractable portable banner stands, banner stands with interchangeable graphics cassettes and extra large format retractable banner stands. Additional suppliers of portable banner stands are listed in the Business.com directory.

Portable panel displays allow you to showcase a variety of products

Panel trade show displays come in a variety of sizes from table top folding panels to full size wall panels. The table top versions fold into small carrying cases that are lightweight and easily portable.

I recommend: Additions Exhibit Systems offers panel table top displays that fold up into a case with a shoulder carrying strap and weigh less than 12 pounds. North Sculpture has a variety of portable panel displays, including room partition displays, table top displays and wall panels.

Portable table skirts turn any table into a trade show display

Portable table skirts are one of the easiest ways to customize your table at trade shows. And they fold up easily and store compactly.

I recommend: Camelback Displays makes contour table covers that require no ironing, pinning or clips to install to trade show tables. American Image Displays offers your logo imprinted on twill portable table skirts, throws and table runners.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ask vendors if they provide carrying cases for their portable trade show exhibits. If the exhibits don't come with storage and carrying cases, ask for recommended storage solutions.
• •  Look for portable trade show exhibits that come with wheeled cases. This speeds up set-up time, as you don't have to wait for event workers to bring a dolly.
• •  Just because you want portable trade show displays doesn't mean you should sacrifice size. Abide by the 15-foot rule, which means trade show attendees can see your logo and display without squinting from 15 feet away.
• •  If your portable trade show displays are made of cloth, make sure they are wrinkle resistant or carry a portable steamer or iron with you.

Investing in portable trade show exhibits education and training is an essential part of ensuring that you're getting the most out of your trade show presence. Think of portable trade show displays as extensions of your business. Give your staff the training to make the most of your exhibit floor presence.

Specialized trade show training can do your staff and your business well. The right training can teach staff everything from how to set up portable displays to marketing within them. While looking for proper training, remember these things:

1. Selling in portable displays differs from selling in brick-and-mortar businesses.

2. Portable display stands encourage different psychologies in both sellers and prospects.

3. Successful selling using portable displays usually correlates with how well-trained exhibitors and staff are.

Action Steps
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Get training on how to operate portable trade show displays

There are lots of trade show training resources at your fingertips. E-courses, teleseminars and webinars are only a few class formats available to you.

I recommend: Marlys K. Arnold uses a multimedia approach when teaching exhibitors and staff how to make the most out of a portable trade show booth. GoldenQuest offers a full trade show training course, including how to make the most of portable displays, on CD-ROM for convenient scheduling.

Look for in-person educators that specialize in portable displays

Signing up for a physical class or workshop can introduce you to the actual mechanics of a trade show. Look for a class that takes place in a trade show facility so that you can familiarize yourself with the environment.

I recommend: Professional Exhibits & Graphics assists in the hands-on training of exhibitors. Use their services to learn how to set up a portable display booth or another portable display system. Tradetec Skyline also organizes in-person seminars. They educate trade show exhibitors and presenters about the art of marketing while in front of portable display boards.

Try a combination of in-person and virtual portable display training

Having both the in-person and virtual training allows you to learn at your own pace first before applying your new knowledge practically. You'll get the best of both words if you go this route.

I recommend: The Trade Show Coach offers a number of teleseminars and presentations that can help you exploit the advantages of the portable exhibit system. For example, one thing you can learn in these courses is how to read and influence prospects' behavior as they peruse your trade show portable display. The Hill Group also trains exhibit and presenter staff.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  It's important that you evaluate the instructor behind your portable trade show exhibits education and training. Choose someone who is qualified and experienced with trade shows. Try looking into courses that are run by former and current organizers.