Straight Answers to Common Trade Show Questions

A rental exhibit uses reusable exhibit architecture that is customized with your graphics, layout, lighting, technology, and functional requirements. A custom exhibit is built specifically for your program and is generally intended for longer-term ownership and reuse.

Rental can make sense when you want flexibility, lower upfront commitment, or expect booth sizes to change. Custom can make sense when you want highly specialized architecture and a long-term branded property.

Yes. Rental structures can be combined with custom graphics, lightboxes, LED technology, counters, meeting spaces, storage, hanging signs, and other branded features. The finished exhibit can be designed around your company rather than looking like a standard kit.

Island exhibits are open on all four sides and typically begin at 20x20. They give exhibitors more flexibility for traffic flow, taller architecture, overhead branding, demonstrations, meeting areas, hospitality, and multiple attendee engagement zones.

TTN supports inline and island exhibit programs in a range of footprints, including 10x20, 20x20, 20x30, 20x40, 30x30, 30x70 and larger configurations. The best design depends on the space you reserved, the event, and what the booth needs to accomplish.

Modular exhibits use interchangeable structural components that can be rearranged for different footprints and are generally suited to more substantial trade show programs. Portable displays are lighter, simpler systems intended for easier transport and smaller events.

Yes. When planned from the beginning, many structural and graphic components can be reused across configurations such as a 10x20 and 20x20. The exact flexibility depends on the system and the functions required in each layout.

Earlier is better. Complex custom and island exhibits need more time for design, approvals, production, graphics, logistics, and show services. As a practical rule, custom builds should begin at least several months before the event, while rental programs may move faster depending on complexity and inventory.

A complete show budget may include booth space, exhibit design or rental, graphics, freight, material handling, installation and dismantle labor, electrical, internet, rigging, cleaning, furniture, technology, travel, and other venue-specific charges.

Labor rates, freight distance, union requirements, venue rules, material-handling rates, electrical pricing, and other show-contractor costs vary by city and event. That is why exhibit pricing should be considered together with the location and show-service requirements.

The most useful starting information includes the show name, city, booth size, show dates, brand guidelines, products or services being featured, desired booth activities, technology needs, timeline, and a working budget range.

Review shipping addresses and deadlines, target move-in times, material-handling rules, approved labor, electrical and internet ordering, rigging, hanging-sign requirements, cleaning, insurance requirements, outbound freight procedures, and discount deadlines.

Freight is the transportation of your exhibit to and from the event. Drayage, also called material handling, is the show contractor service that receives the freight, unloads it, moves it to your booth, stores empty containers during the event, and returns packed freight to the loading area after the show.

It depends on the production schedule, shipment size, event rules, delivery windows, and handling costs. Advance warehouse delivery usually provides a wider receiving window. Direct-to-show shipping may make sense when production finishes closer to move-in or the event has an efficient direct-delivery schedule.

A marshaling yard is a staging area where freight carriers check in before being directed to the convention center loading dock. Large events may assign target times and require drivers to follow specific check-in procedures.

Trade show shipments are tied to strict receiving windows, venue rules, labor schedules, marshaling, material handling, and time-sensitive outbound pickup. Missing a deadline can create re-delivery, overtime, storage, or other additional costs.

Sometimes. It depends on dismantle timing, transit time, the next show's receiving window, exhibit condition, and whether repairs or graphic changes are needed between events.

Yes. Installation and dismantle support can include labor scheduling, booth drawings, setup documentation, supervision, dismantle planning, and coordination with freight and show requirements.

Depending on the booth, exhibitors may need electrical power, internet, rigging, material handling, cleaning, plumbing, compressed air, labor, furniture, and other venue-specific services. The exhibit design determines which services are actually required.

Yes. TTN supports exhibit programs nationally and coordinates with show contractors, labor providers, carriers, and venues based on the requirements of each event.

Power locations, monitor placement, lighting, LED systems, hanging signs, and overhead structures can affect the booth design and installation sequence. Ordering early also helps avoid late-order premiums and last-minute changes.

The project team works with the appropriate carrier, show contractor, labor crew, electrician, graphics team, or other vendor to resolve the issue and keep installation moving toward the show-open deadline.

Often, yes. Many rental, modular, and custom systems are designed so fabric graphics, SEG panels, mural graphics, counter graphics, or other branded surfaces can be updated while the underlying structure remains in use.

Backlit graphics are illuminated from behind to create brighter color and stronger contrast. SEG, or silicone edge graphics, use fabric with a silicone edge that fits into compatible frames for a clean, tensioned presentation.

Yes. LED walls, monitors, touchscreens, and other digital elements can be incorporated into rental and custom exhibit environments when they are planned alongside structure, power, content, and viewing distance.

Graphic deadlines depend on production method, proofing, shipping, and installation requirements. Final artwork should be approved early enough to allow production, quality checks, staging, and corrections before the booth ships.

Pre-show staging gives the team an opportunity to confirm components, graphic fit, hardware, lighting, technology, packing, and setup documentation before the exhibit reaches the convention center.

After dismantle, the exhibit is packed, outbound paperwork is completed, and freight is released to the carrier for its next destination. Depending on the program, that may be storage, a production facility, or another event.

The best time to identify damage, missing hardware, worn graphics, or electrical issues is immediately after the event or when the exhibit returns. Addressing problems early gives the team time to repair or replace components before the next show.

Yes. Between-show preparation can include new graphics, replacement parts, repairs, inventory updates, technology changes, and layout adjustments for the next booth footprint.

Regular inspections, careful cleaning, organized storage, maintaining hardware, testing lighting and electronics, and repairing small issues before they become larger problems can all extend exhibit life.