Budget for your next exhibition stand

Yes, they’re a great way to network, scope out innovation in the industry and meet like-minded people, but if you’re exhibiting then your number one priority is maximising ROI. As such, you’ll need a carefully planned and executed budget to give you the best possible head start on a financially successful and worthwhile exhibition.

If your main goal at the exhibition is to market your company to the hundreds, or even thousands, of interested visitors, then don’t underestimate the value of excellent exhibition stand design. If you’re a first time exhibitor you may see the price of a great looking exhibition stand and be tempted to cut back on equipment or design to save costs, but this actually has a reverse effect; you’ll still have forked out for the physical space in the exhibition hall and the time of your reps, but without a good stand design you won’t get noticed and your ROI will drop significantly.

With that in mind, there’s three equally weighted factors to budget for in the run up to your exhibition: space, design & equipment and other extras.

1. Space

   – the cost of a patch of land in an exhibition hall will vary show to show. Shell schemes are on average slightly more expensive per square meter than space only stands, with shell scheme space on average approximately £425.00 + VAT per sq m and space only areas on average £390.00 + VAT per sq m.

2. Design & equipment

   – You’ll need to budget for transforming your shell scheme or floor space into a unique, fully branded and eye-catching structure. There’s a multitude of ways you can choose to complete this task, varying in cost and effectiveness, but don’t underestimate the value of an attractive stand design. If you’ve skimped on this part of the budget your stand will look rushed and unprofessional.

3. All other extras

   – be warned, there’s a lot of extras to account for, wherever you’re exhibiting. You’ll need to account for the time of the representatives you’re taking with you, the travel and hotel accommodation for them, as well as lots of added extras from the exhibition organiser (internet, electricity, booking fees and so on). Be sure to be clear on all of these additional charges before placing your order with the organiser of the event.

There are many different ways to kit out your exhibition stand, with an option to suit any budget. If you have a shell scheme stand then the most economical way to fill your space will be with hired stand furniture, equipment and purchased printed displays, in which case you can equip your stand for around £100 per square meter. If you opt for shell scheme printing or modular stands to fill your shell scheme then you’ll be looking at closer to £200-£300 per square meter. If opting for a space only stand then you’ll be looking at spending on average £600-£800 per square meter.

To help stretch your budget, order early to avoid any late fees and surcharges certain organisers and contractors may implement. This will also give you the greatest amount of time to shop around for the most cost-effective (not just cheapest, sometimes the cheapest option can lack quality and have a detrimental effect on the appearance of your stand) stand builds and solutions.

Then, once you’ve outlined a smart budget and had a successful show, make a report of your spending and how the ROI was affected by the options purchased, this will help tailor and improve your budget for your next show.

We have a fantastic range of Complete Stand Packages to suit any budget and at discounted package prices, Expocart is here to help you!