To be able to have a fruitful exhibition, your exhibit has to make it to the show. While this sounds elementary, getting the display stand to the trade show doesn't happen by snapping your fingers or by tossing it to the trunk of one's car. Shipping your display is more involved than that, and there are details regarding dates, times, warehousing, and shipping carriers that you don't wish to overlook VIPBox. Remember, too, that the show will more than likely recommend you work with a particular freight company to ship your display. Although utilizing their recommended carrier could make the loading dock procedures easier, you are under no obligation to utilize the show's recommended carrier.
It's also wise to remember that if you're shipping your display stand out from the country for an international trade show, there are customs requirements that you might want to adhere to. These requirements will not be outlined in the show's exhibitor's kit. You'll have to research those in your own.
The initial decision you'll need to make as it pertains to shipping your display is where you can send it. The two biggest elements affecting this decision are time and money. If you determine to ship your display to the advance warehouse, you are buying yourself some time. The advance warehouse will often accept deliveries for per month before the trade show itself. Having some time between the expected delivery date at the warehouse and the specific show allows you to cope with any type of shipping problem that'll occur over time for the display to actually ensure it is to the show. Utilising the advance warehouse may present a trade-off in costs; typically it is less costly to ship to the warehouse, but there may be added warehousing fees - it all hangs on the show.
If you should decide to ship your display stand to the convention center - the show site - then you are bypassing those warehouse fees; in trade, the drayage fees at the show may be more expensive. Also, you are minimizing the time you have to cope with shipping problems. Typically, in the event that you ship direct to a present site, the shipment MUST arrive about the same, specified date - normally, your setup date. If a shipment problem should arise and you arranged for the display to ship direct to the show, you will have very few options to repair that problem. Additionally, the trade show will have very specific windows of time for deliveries designed to the site. If your carrier misses that window, you could be left without your display - or facing extra charges from the show manager to simply accept the display after hours.
Each trade show will have designated move-in and move-out dates. Usually exhibitors with larger displays are made more time for you to put the displays together and to take them down. You would want to pay close focus on the dates the show has provided you. If you're a classic pro at exhibiting, you almost certainly don't need long to assemble your booth. However, if you're a new comer to trade show exhibiting; give yourself the maximum amount of time that you can to put your display together. Even better, practice at least one time at your workplace, to make sure you know very well what you're doing and to also make sure you have all you need - a couple of missing screws or bolts with unique dimensions could be really bad news...
Exhibitors with smaller, light-weight displays might wish to bring their display with them or ship for their hotel and bring it in to the show for set-up themselves. Before choosing this choice, check the show rules again, to ensure you certainly can do that - some shows have limits on the size, weight, or quantity of packages that an exhibitor can hand-carry in to the show - ensure that your plan doesn't violate these rules.
In the event that you focus on the details that the show provides regarding dates and times for shipping your display stand, and make sure you fully understand the trade-offs between the various shipping methods, your show is likely to be off to a good start.
Charles Dugan is the proud owner of American Image Displays, a 25 yr old family owned trade show supplies company. American Image prides itself on providing tradeshow graphics that will assist GRAB your customer's attention- delivered faster than anyone else. When we miss a scheduled delivery date, we'll give you a FREE retractable banner stand along with your custom graphic.