When planning your next trade show, one key decision you’ll face is whether to rent or buy your trade show display. Choosing a trade show display rental instead of buying can be an excellent option for many businesses, offering flexibility and cost savings while allowing you to make a big impact at events. We will be covering five key benefits of trade show exhibit rentals, which may help you decide if an exhibit rental is the right choice for your business.
Five Benefits To Rent Your Next Trade Show Display
Today we are going to talk about five benefits to renting an exhibit rather than buying. There are many reasons why renting makes more sense, both financially and strategically. Perhaps you need a completely unique look for each trade show, or you rebrand every year. So what’s the right choice for you? Let’s consider these five factors that can help you decide whether to rent or buy:
- It allows you to reduce the initial cost of entry. As a rule of thumb, you can rent an exhibit for approximately 50-75% of the purchase cost.
- Eliminating any cost of ownership fees associated with storing and servicing a purchased property.
- You can remain flexible and keep pace with the ever-changing market needs.
- It allows you to avoid the red tape associated with capital expenditures.
- You can supplement your existing trade show program with a rental exhibit. And if and when you decide to purchase an exhibit for long-term use, renting allows you to test drive the product, exhibit house, show, and total experience before you commit.
Expanding on the Benefits of Trade Show Display Rentals
Cost-Effective Entry Point
When attending a trade show, presenting a professional, attention-grabbing display is essential to making a strong impression. However, purchasing a custom-built trade show display can be a significant financial commitment. This upfront investment may not be feasible for many businesses, especially startups or smaller companies. That’s where trade show booth rentals offer a key advantage.
Renting a display allows businesses to gain access to high-quality, custom-designed exhibits without the large initial cost. Instead of spending thousands—or even tens of thousands—on a new display, you can rent one for a fraction of that cost. Typically, the rental price is 50-75% of the purchase cost, which frees up the budget for other critical expenses such as marketing materials, travel, and promotional giveaways.
Additionally, the rental option is ideal for companies that only participate in a few trade shows each year. If you’re not exhibiting regularly, buying a display may result in a large asset that sits idle for most of the year. Renting allows you to only pay for the trade show booth when you need it.
For businesses testing the waters of trade shows, a rental display is also a smart way to gauge return on investment (ROI) without taking on the full financial risk. Renting offers flexibility to try different booth sizes, configurations, and designs until you find the one that generates the best results for your brand. This way, you’re able to test different approaches without committing large amounts of capital upfront.
No Long-Term Storage or Maintenance Fees
When you purchase a display, you’re not just buying the exhibit itself—you’re also taking on the responsibility of finding a place to store it when it’s not in use. Depending on the size of your display, storage can be expensive, especially if you need to rent warehouse space or use third-party storage solutions. The larger or more complex the display, the more space it will require. These ownership costs can quickly add up and become an ongoing burden, especially for businesses with limited storage space or frequent updates to their display.
In addition to storage fees, purchased displays require maintenance to keep them in optimal condition. This can include repairing damages from transportation, updating graphics, replacing worn-out components, and ensuring the exhibit is clean and presentable for each show.
Choosing Rental Trade Show Displays eliminates these concerns. When you rent trade show displays, the exhibit house handles all the storage and maintenance. You don’t have to worry about transporting it back and forth between shows or finding the right storage solution in between. When you rent, you’re always guaranteed a display that looks fresh and modern. The exhibit house ensures that each piece of equipment is well-maintained, so you won’t have to deal with aging materials or outdated designs.
Flexibility in Design and Branding
Trade show trends and branding strategies can change rapidly. One of the biggest advantages of renting a trade show display is the ability to remain agile and flexible with your exhibit design and branding.
When you purchase a display, you’re essentially locked into that design for the foreseeable future. Custom-built exhibits can be difficult and expensive to modify, especially if your company undergoes a rebrand or if your marketing strategy evolves. If you attend multiple trade shows in a year, having the same look at every event can feel stale and repetitive. With rental displays, however, you have the option to change things up as often as you like, ensuring your exhibit remains fresh and engaging at every show.
For companies that frequently rebrand or launch new products, this flexibility can be invaluable. Renting allows you to adjust your display’s design to reflect your current brand messaging, color schemes, and visual identity. Whether you want to highlight a new product line or emphasize a recent rebranding effort, rental displays make it easy to showcase your brand’s latest evolution without being tied to a static design.
Avoiding Capital Expenditures
Purchasing a trade show display is often categorized as a capital expenditure (CapEx), requiring significant upfront investment and approval from multiple departments. This can slow down decision-making and tie up funds that could be used elsewhere. Renting, on the other hand, typically falls under operational expenses (OpEx), which are easier to approve and don’t require the same financial commitment.
By renting, you avoid the long-term financial responsibility and depreciation associated with owning a display. Purchased exhibits lose value over time, and managing those assets adds complexity to your accounting. Renting eliminates the need for tracking or writing off depreciation and frees up your budget for other priorities.
Renting also offers flexibility—perfect for businesses attending only a few trade shows per year or adapting to changing market conditions. Instead of locking in capital, you can rent displays based on short-term needs, reducing risk if market strategies or trade show performances change unexpectedly.
Test-Driving Before You Buy
Renting a trade show display allows you to experiment with designs, layouts, and vendors before making a long-term commitment. It’s a great way to “test drive” different booth configurations to find what works best for your brand and event, without the pressure of a permanent investment.
Renting also lets you assess exhibit providers and their services, ensuring you choose the right vendor when you’re ready to buy. If your company is new to trade shows, you can gauge the effectiveness of participating before investing in a custom display.
Even if you already own a booth, renting can supplement your trade show program, giving you more flexibility for events with different requirements. This approach allows you to refine your strategy and minimize risk, ensuring you make an informed decision when purchasing.
Conclusion
Trade show display rental offers multiple advantages for businesses of all sizes, from cost savings to increased flexibility. Whether you’re new to trade shows or a seasoned exhibitor, renting can provide a smart, strategic way to enhance your trade show presence without breaking the bank. Consider these benefits as you plan your next event and decide whether renting is the right choice for your company.
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