Rental vs Custom Exhibit

Rental vs Custom- Which one is better for your subsequent Trade Show Presence


You must have heard of trade show exhibits and their significance for a brand to promote itself at trade shows and conventions. A trade show exhibit is usually a designated space on any floor that companies and brands use to showcase their products and services to a larger crowd. A trade show exhibit includes graphics, layouts, structures, and meeting rooms. They represent any brand at trade shows and play an imperative role in making a solid brand image, attracting prospects and generating quality leads on the show floor. 

 

A good exhibit is beneficial in attracting visitors to the brand to explore the brand and invest in it. The more attractive your trade show booth is, the better return on investment you'll get. A critically designed trade show booth helps salespersons introduce the products and services to prospects in a more diversified way. The significance of a trade show booth with all the design elements aligned with the brand image is essential to generate qualified sales opportunities and leave a long-lasting impression on the audience’s minds. A professionally designed trade show exhibit by the best trade show booth builder in the U.S.A. helps you highlight the unique selling prepositions of your brand and illustrate the functions and features of the products displayed at your trade show booth platform. 

 

Whenever you’re planning to exhibit at a trade show and searching for the right trade show booth design for your brand representation on the show floor, you must consider a few things before making the final decision. While choosing a trade show exhibit, make sure you're clear about your exhibiting goals and that the styles and information you choose should align with your brand goals and vision. There are multiple options in trade show booths, such as custom exhibits, rental exhibits, modular trade show displays, pop-up exhibits, tabletop displays, truss displays, etc. Trade shows can be a great asset to be used to revamp the company sales and enhance its presence worldwide as it allows you to promote your brand and its offerings on a global platform. 

In this blog, you'll find a clear and detailed explanation of the importance, benefits, and comparison of rental exhibits and custom trade show booths and how these booth displays can play a vital role in setting your brand at the forefront of the industry and making informed choices. 

 

What are rental exhibits?

Attending a trade show to promote a business or to connect with like-minded industry peers and the industry's key players can have multiple benefits if you want to enhance the brand's visibility while building credibility across the targeted audience. It has been the most escalating marketing battle for ages, as any and every company wants to stay ahead of its competitors and attain global brand recognition. For all these, a brand must be attractive and eye-catching on the trade show floor so the audience can explore it and its offerings. Many exhibitors opt for captivating trade show booths that look great but cost them a hefty amount. Businesses with smaller budgets are always advised to choose a low-budget option that delivers similar or even better results than any expensive booth that brings rental exhibits into the frame. 

Rental exhibits are attractive trade show displays that you can rent for a show to represent your brand to the fullest. It saves you from bug buying costs and lets you spend on other aspects of promoting your brand in front of your targeted audience at the trade shows. You can partner with many companies for a value-adding rental exhibit for your brand showcase at trade shows, and one of the most preferable companies is Exhibits Studio. 

Many businesses worldwide exhibit at trade shows with rental exhibits for maximum impact. Whether a small-scale business or a global brand, trade show booth rentals are perfect for both to advertise their products, services, and brands. 

 

What are custom exhibits?

Trade shows are crowded, competitive, and attentively fierce, and they are a platform for every brand on the show floor. If you’re exhibiting at a trade show, make sure it should be different and memorable for everyone reaching your booth and exploring it. Choose custom exhibits to achieve an immersive brand showcase that will be remembered for years. They are considered the perfect trade show exhibit displays if you’re seeking visibility and impact. Exhibits Studio offers multiple options of custom trade show booths that look extraordinary and deliver extraordinary results. Plan your next trade show appearance with beyond ordinary display, allowing your business to experience unique interactions, lasting partnerships and a standout appearance amidst the bustling show floor. 

Custom exhibits are designed to reflect the brand's identity and unique selling prepositions on the show floor. These are meant to meet the specific needs of the exhibitor and the brand simultaneously. Besides rental exhibits, Custom exhibits are usually purchased instead of rented. The booth builders build, store, and then ship these booth designs to the venue. Custom exhibits are comparatively more expensive than rental exhibits. Still, they can be advantageous and cost-effective if you are a frequent exhibitor, as you can reuse these display displays for multiple trade shows. 

 

What types of businesses use custom exhibits?

Cost-effectiveness with custom and rental exhibits

Cost-Effectiveness in Rental Exhibits

Opting for a rental exhibit can be beneficial for exhibitors seeking to make a significant impact without investing too much in the booth design. It is a suitable financial statement for budget-constrained exhibitors and delivers prominent advantages to the brands opting for it, as it costs less than buying a booth and can be modified according to the brand's needs and marketing goals. 

Cost-effectiveness in Custom Exhibits

On the contrary, custom exhibits can cost too much compared to rental booths, as they are built with the brand vision, identity, and goals in mind. However, they can be cost-effective if you're a frequent exhibitor exhibiting the brand at international trade shows and conventions. Custom exhibits can be expensive initially but can be reused time and again for different shows and events. With a custom exhibit, you can also save money on shipping and handling the booth if it is moved between locations.

 

Customization Option with your exhibit design?

Rental vs Custom -

 

Design Flexibility

When you decide to go for a rental exhibit for your next trade show, you go through a lot of strategic thinking and brainstorming sessions for a successful show experience. The foremost consideration starts with the design and flexibility of your booth design. A rental exhibit is known as an ideal pick for exhibiting without spending much, but there are some limitations, too. The rental exhibit offers limited customization options but is quick to set up, cost-effective options and the best option for short-term use or budget-constrained exhibitors. 

A custom exhibit is another option for a dynamic brand showcase at trade shows and conventions. It provides complete design flexibility, fully tailored branding, and a unique presence, making it a better choice for long-term use and high-impact shows.

Branding Opportunities

A rental exhibit offers branding opportunities to the brand, but it is limited and comes with simple, customizable graphics, signage, and colors that are ordinary in appearance. With a rental exhibit, you can save a lot of money, but your brand presence could be better with not-so-unique graphics, signage, and colors, as its structures are pre-designed. 

On the contrary, a custom exhibit allows you to design it the way you want. With appropriately aligned design elements narrating the brand story and representing its image in an attractive way on the show floor, a custom exhibit can be a great choice for trade shows. Custom trade show exhibits offer completely unique and immersive booth designs tailored to the brand’s specific messaging and aesthetic.

Technology Integration 

When technology integration is considered, a rental exhibit lacks a bit in competing with custom ones. Rental exhibits offer limited technology integration, with basic options like screens and lighting that can be easily available in any other booth display. They also have restricted customization, as trade show booth rentals don't allow much customization. 

In contrast, a custom exhibit allows cutting-edge and seamless technological integration. From interactive displays to immersive experiences, you get a completely customized booth design that enhances your brand goal and image during the show. 

 

When to choose a rental exhibit vs a custom exhibit

 

Whenever you decide whether to rent or buy a trade show booth for your brand showcase at the next event, a few things must be considered before making the final decision. Below, we've mentioned some of them-

  • Cost

Renting always costs less than buying a trade show booth and is an ideal choice for exhibitors who don't exhibit often. Buying a booth can be fruitful for companies that exhibit frequently, as it is a one-time investment. Rental exhibits are initially cheaper but can be expensive in the long term as you rent the booth time and again for your show appearance. 

  • Customization

Custom exhibits are highly customizable, allowing the exhibitors to choose the lighting, colors, materials, and more according to the brand's needs, image, and aesthetics. 

  • Versatility

Custom exhibits are built to showcase versatility and vibrance on the show floor. They are scaled for different sizes and style integrations.

Flexibility

Renting can be a better option if you have a fixed budget for the show, a short turnaround time and want to try out different designs for your brand representation. 

Final Comparison between Renting vs Buying a trade show exhibit 

 

Advantages of a rental exhibit

 

  • They are flexible and customizable to the needs of individual brands
  • There is no requirement for capital expense
  • There is no need for storage and charges
  • Best for smaller programs
  • Ideal for exhibitors who are not frequent exhibitors. 

 

Advantages of custom exhibit

 

  • Custom exhibit offers greater consistency than any other exhibit
  • It saves the cost as it is a time investment
  • These are easily transported from one location to another
  • Beneficial for frequent exhibitors 
  • Offers endless customization options to exhibiting brands

 

Conclusion
 

Before renting or buying a trade show exhibit, there are some essential points which you need to keep in mind. Going to rent or the custom exhibit route can be a critical choice for your trade show success. For a memorable show experience, you must want your trade show booth to look attractive, informative and revenue-generating. If you wish to stick to a single booth for multiple shows or want a fresh appearance at every trade show you're exhibiting at, you're always full of options. Brands are planning to change their advertisement soon and should definitely go for rental exhibits, but for the ones who have multiple exhibits in a row and want to mark their presence at each one of them, then a custom trade show booth will be a perfect choice. 

Renting and buying are both viable options for many organizations. Ensure you discuss everything with the trade show booth-building company you're partnering with. Whether you opt for a rental exhibit or a custom booth design, there are many ways to ignite your brand pride and glory during your next trade show presence. All you need to do is just ask us! 

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Author

Jessica Smith

Experienced content marketing and trade show specialist with 7 years of expertise in driving brand visibility and engagement.

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