Designing Trade Show Displays For Daily Use Outdoors - By: Chris Harmen

Creating a trade show exhibit that is meant to be used primarily outdoors creates a number of problems that must be solved during the design phase. Although these problems can be difficult to overcome, the rewards for surpassing them and creating successful portable displays for street-side use are numerous.

Why Outdoor Portable Displays?

Companies have long recognized the advantages of using banners outside their stores. These banners may promote new specials, but in many cases they simply promote the store itself, helping draw in foot traffic from the street. In recent years, some companies have begun expanding their presence on the street, moving from a simple banner to more complex trade show displays.

Is An Outdoor Booth Right For You?

There are many questions that should be asked before you even begin the process of designing a primarily outdoor unit. First, check the regulations in your particular area. You may be required to obtain a permit for any frequent outdoor setup, and that permit may be somewhat costly. Even if no permit is required, there will likely be certain restrictions imposed upon the type of booth that you are allowed to erect. Size is typically limited, as is the time you are allowed to have the structure up during any given day.

Even if the restrictions in your area make it prohibitive to keep a booth erected outdoors on a consistent basis, you may still want to keep an outdoor booth on hand for events like charity runs or street fairs. The necessity for this type of stand will depend on your company and the frequency of your exhibition at these events. For example, an outdoor apparel company will find an all-weather trade show exhibit useful even when the convention itself is indoors, because this appeal will suit their clients. If this is true of your company, consider investing in a weatherproof unit no matter how often you encounter situations that warrant full weatherproofing.

Design Tips To Keep In Mind

As you create your trade show displays, never lose sight of your ultimate goal. Whether that means directing more clients to your store, promoting your products directly through the portable displays, or any of a hundred other possible goals, it should always be in the forefront of your mind during the creative process. This goal must be tempered by an understanding of the many design constraints facing outdoor stands. You must consider what materials can safely be used outdoors, whether you want a structure with a roof-type overhang, and much more.

Echo Your Company's Existing Trade Show Displays, But Don't Duplicate Them

One of the biggest mistakes companies make when they create outdoor portable displays is to attempt a direct recreation of their existing units. What looks good inside a building can't always hold up when battered by the elements, and may in fact be an inferior design for use outdoors. Always start fresh when you're building a weatherproof unit, but don't abandon your current design completely. If it's working for you, then in all likelihood it's a good premise. You simply need to refine it, and your new weatherproof trade show exhibit will be great.

About the Author

Chris Harmen writes for Skyline, NYC trade show exhibit designers and manufacturing experts. Skyline is known for having the highest quality trade show displays in New York.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Chris-Harmen/89665

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