Convention booths are the essence of a good trade show display, and used booths can help you create a great display that doesn't cost a lot of money. Many used convention booths are made from strong materials and hold up well during travel and use. Companies that need an inexpensive way to create their next trade show display should consider purchasing used display booths.

The pricing and costs of used display booths will depend on many factors. The most important factor for getting a great deal is to find pre-owned conference displays that are made from durable materials your company can continue using for some time to come. Other factors to consider when purchasing a used trade show display booth are:

1. The space available for a used conference display.

2. Colors and designs that match your brand or logo.

3. The portability of the used convention display.

Action Steps
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Find a small used event display for tight spaces

Depending on the type of show and the exhibit floor, some companies may have to use a smaller sized used trade show booth. Smaller sizes are usually more portable than large booths and often incur relatively less wear and tear at trade shows. Tabletop displays measure 4- to 6-feet high and offer two, three or four folded panels. Small used display booths cost $200 to $400, depending on their size and condition.

I recommend: Affordable Exhibit Displays offers used table top trade show displays for small setups. Trade Show Display offers many informative articles on buying used trade show booths and customizing them for your products or services.

Buy used convention display booths that are floor displays

If you want more than a quick tabletop setup, choose a floor display. This type of a display sits anywhere from 6- to 10-feet tall, and width ranges from 10- to 30-feet wide for large exhibit spaces. It provides plenty of space for graphics, charts and product information. It is also easily portable, as it is generally made from aluminum frames and fabric. Floor displays cost $800 to $1400, depending on their height and width.

I recommend: TradeShowJoe.com offers a variety of used displays, including some freestanding floor displays. Professional Exhibits & Graphics provides an article of how to control the cost of trade show displays.

Get used display booths that incorporate pop-up displays

Pop-up displays are one of the most portable and easy to use trade show display designs. Pop-up displays are designed to be lightweight and fit in a relatively small space for travel. Once you are ready to set up the booth, all it takes is a few minutes. Pop-up displays range in price according to size, from $800 to $2000. Pop-up displays comes in a variety of sizes, from a standard 8-foot tabletop display to a 10-by-20-foot floor display.

I recommend: TradeShowDisplayDepot.com offers many used pop-up display options in tabletop and floor display sizes. Showbooth.com offers a list of dos and don'ts for buying a successful display booth.

Trade shows are one of the most effective ways to reach a targeted audience. However, trade shows can be costly, especially when you factor in the cost of convention display booths, marketing materials and travel. By investing in used display booths, businesses can save a significant amount of money in their marketing budgets.

Used convention booths are a smart investment. Businesses can establish an impressive presence at trade shows without spending thousands of dollars. Use the saved money to dazzle customers with other marketing efforts. Before purchasing used display booths, it is important to answer the following questions:

1. What is my marketing budget, and what percentage should I allocate to trade show materials, including used display booths?
2. What size used conference display will meet my business needs?
3. What types of used convention display will provide the most impact for our company?

Action Steps
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Set a budget for your used conference display

Determine your budget before you begin your used conference display search. Keep in mind that a trade show budget includes more than just the used display booth; it includes convention space rental, display booth graphics, marketing materials, internet connections, carpet rentals, shipping, employee travel and lodging (as applicable) and follow-up communication with trade show contacts.

I recommend: Used display booths can provide significant savings – an average of 50%. Some providers of used display booths are willing to negotiate on price. Before negotiating, find out the retail price of the used convention display so you can make a reasonable offer. Consider purchasing used booths through an auction site, but be aware that each seller may have their own terms for payment and shipping. Check out used conference display offerings online, including Affordable Exhibit Displays, which offers a search by price option.

Size up your trade show display space

Analyze your exhibit space(s) to ensure your used convention display fits your space accordingly. Convention space is generally sold in square feet. Small businesses may choose to lease an 8 by 8 space, while large corporations may decide a 30 by 30 space provides more opportunities to showcase their products or services.

I recommend: Do some research about upcoming trade shows. What size are the convention spaces at each trade show? Are there exhibit size restrictions? Consider portable used booths, which can be configured into different arrangements, depending on your space needs. Portable used booths allow the flexibility of adding or eliminating parts of your used event display to best fit the exhibit space.

Use your imagination when designing your used convention display

Trade shows are all about first impressions, so it is important for your used convention booths to make a visually appealing impact. Base your used convention display purchases on functionality, and you will be better equipped to share your business message. Purchasing used display booths based on color also simplifies the process of incorporating your company's brand image.

I recommend: Browse pre-owned event displays online. Utilize used-trade-show-booths.com’s “my checklist” function to note items of interest as you do research on the site. Evaluate which brands meet your needs at TradeShowJoe.com, which offers a comparison of three leading pop-up display brands. Or let Impact Displays do the work for you; simply fill out their information form and the company will send you information on convention display booths based on your specific needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Visually appealing, articulate messages are the most important aspect of used display booths. Be sure to invest time and money in your company's trade show graphics to capture the attention of your target audience.

If you plan on marketing your company through trade shows, but want to do so as inexpensively as possible, consider buying a used trade show display booth. No matter what products or services you offer, you will need some type of table or booth on which to display your marketing materials, so why not save money while attracting new clients? Pre-owned conference displays are a great way to save money while advertising your business, but make sure you know what used display booths types and styles are available before making any purchases.

Though there are several types of display tables and booths on the market, it is best to learn about the most popular and practical choices before buying a used event display. The following are often used during trade shows and conventions:

1. Research tabletop displays that fit perfectly on standard convention tables.
2. Save money with a full-sized used convention booth at your next event.
3. Learn how pop-up displays work before buying.
   

Action Steps
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Consider purchasing a used convention display that fits on a table

If you already have a table to use at events, consider spicing it up with a tabletop display. Such displays are small enough to fit on a table, but allow you to customize them and catch the attention of potential new clients. Buying a used tabletop display will save you money compared to traditional full-sized display booths.

I recommend: TradeShowJoe.com and ExhibitTrader.com both carry a large selection of pre-owned event display styles that fit on a table.

Check out full-sized used booths to save money at trade shows

If you need a large booth to showcase your products at your next event, consider buying from providers of used display booths. Due to the size and weight of most booths, a used product can save you a lot of money. Buy a full-sized pre-owned event display and customize it yourself to make your company stand out on a limited budget.

I recommend: Find several styles of used convention booths on which to display your products at American Display Alliance. Bay Area Exhibits also carries a large selection of used display booths types and styles.

Find a pop-up used conference display

If you want some flexibility in your used display booth, consider buying a pop-up display. Not only can this type of booth change dimensions to fit your needs, but it is also more portable than most other booths. Though you might have to pay more for its added convenience, purchasing a used pop-up display is a less expensive option than purchasing a new model.

I recommend: Displayit features gently used pop-up displays, which come with a video on how to reconfigure each display to suit your company's size needs. Impact Displays also sells several styles of gently used pop-up displays, including previous floor models.

Marketing a business with a strong presence at trade shows can be invaluable for a business, and if done carefully, doesn't even require much of an investment. One way to cut corners is by purchasing a used display booth, which can potentially save up to 90% off the cost of a new booth. When starting the search for a display, start with the knowledge of used display booths key terms to lead you in the right direction.

Action Steps
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Pop-up display

A pop-up display is a display frame that transforms from a small, highly mobile, compact configuration into a full-standing display frame in one easy 'pop-up' motion. The display is easily finished with graphics put over the frame.

I recommend: Visit Impact Displays to find more information on pop-up displays, including instructional photographs illustrating how pop-up displays work. You also can find used pop-up displays for sale.

Panel display

A panel display uses a frame to attach smooth, formed panels, covered with fabric, onto which graphics are hung using Velcro. These panels give the finished display a more permanent look.

I recommend: Learn more about panel displays by reading through the list of benefits of panel displays, as well as setup instructions from Everything Displays.

Modular display

A modular display booth subdivides into a system of smaller display components. They can be reconfigured into different arrangements to offer variations of size and style to the display.

I recommend: Find more in-depth information on modular display booth systems at Modular Display Systems Corp.

Tabletop display

Tabletop displays are designed for being set on a table and are small and usually made to only hold a sign or literature.

I recommend: Go to the website of Displays2Go to read more about the different kinds of tabletops display and see some examples amongst the inventory.

Refurbished

Some used display booths are advertised as being refurbished, which means that they have been cleaned, repaired, renovated or redesigned after the previous owner.

I recommend: See some great examples of what refurbished used display booths can look like from places like Display-Booths.com.

Re-branding

Re-branding is a service that may included when buying a used display booth or may be responsibility of the buyer. It includes new graphics and display components customized to the business of the new owner of the display.

I recommend: Get better ideas on how to rebrand a used display booth from Bling My Booth.