What are the ins and outs of Trade Show I & D (Installation and Dismantle)?
Consider Trade Show I & D from the beginning
Planning for trade show I & D, installation and dismantling, should begin from the moment you start planning your booth. You’ll want to work with the exhibit creator, the builder as well as anyone who will be helping with the setup to identify potential snags that may cost you more on-site labor hours. Think about tasks such as graphics applications and complex assembly that may be more cost-effective when done in the exhibit houses shop. By keeping all of this in mind from the moment planning begins, you will be better prepared to accomplish what needs to be done when the day of the show arrives.
Arrive early
One of the most important things you can do to make installation easier is to arrive at the show floor early. When you show up ahead of time, you can find mistakes such as being given a booth that will not work for you or problems with the utilities before the rest of the crew arrives. Then, you will have enough time to solve any issues before it’s too late and you get stuck “making do.”
Understand labor
Depending on your exhibit hall and the location, there may be requirements regarding the use of union labor. Make sure you understand what must be done by union labor as well as what can be done using your staff. By taking the time to learn these ins and outs before the day of the show, you will know who you need to have on staff from your company as well as what union laborers need to be hired for the job.
Track your time
To keep your trade show I & D invoice as low as possible, keep an eye on the clock. When you understand how the union labor is billed, you will be able to plan more carefully to circumvent extra costs. Make sure you have plenty of installation labor available at the beginning of the project, but as things progress and you have a clearer idea of your time frame, you may wish to drop some of the less productive workers. You may also find it is more affordable to dismantle your booth the next day after the show ends. At this time, union labor may be on straight time rather than on the more costly evening overtime pay rate.
Install for the dismantle
When unpacking and installing all of your materials for the booth, create reverse blueprints which will show which crate & pallet the panels, door, kiosks and other items need to be placed in for a return shipping. Compare the shipping manifest to your setup prints to make sure nothing is missed. By doing this, you will optimize your trade show I & D by decreasing your labor bottom line and ensuring you don’t lose any pieces in the process.
Installing a trade show booth is a fascinating part of the in-person marketing process. It is important that everyone involved with the exhibit understand at least the basics of how this works. After months of planning all of the ideas come together for the big day or weekend. Trade show I & D is an exciting way to use problem-solving skills to conquer any hurdles you encounter and to make sure your event goes off without a hitch.