Orlando is a popular destination that attracts tourists from around the globe. It’s one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States and serves as the backbone of its tourism industry.
Also known as a high-tech city, Orlando has the entire necessary infrastructure to support both SMEs and large corporations. This also allows businesses participating in trade shows in Orlando to generate better ROI and experience success as the attendees here are willing to spend. However, you have to tread cautiously by making the most of your finances.
Your decision to buy or rent a trade show booth will have an enormous bearing on your overall budget. Choosing to rent or purchase a booth is a common dilemma faced by many exhibitors, so it’s something that needs to be addressed exhaustively.
Keep in mind that the basis for making this important choice should not rest solely on your budget. There are many other important factors that need to be taken into consideration. Sadly, many fail to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of both these options and take impulsive decisions.
This often results in negative consequences that render their trade show investment useless. Before arriving at any important decision, it’s necessary to consider how many trade shows you’ll be attending in the foreseeable future. Any option that you select should be sustainable and should provide you with maximum benefits.
There are many important questions that need to be answered before making the right selection. Are you planning on rebranding your company in the near future?
Do you plan on using the same booth for every single trade show you’ll be attending within a given timeframe? What is the specific booth size you are looking for? Even the smallest of details require your careful attention. It is also crucial to consider the advantages and disadvantages of both these options in order to make an informed choice.
Renting
Let’s start by taking a look at what you can achieve with trade show booth rentals in Orlando.
Rebranding Your Booth Is Incredibly Easy
Companies often go through rebranding exercises, which allows them to stay competitive in a market that is constantly evolving and growing. When you opt to rent a booth instead of purchasing one, you don’t have to worry about how to implement any rebranding into your booth design.
Any and all rebranding changes can be made smoothly, without any hassles. On the other hand, when you buy a trade show booth, which is already incredibly expensive, making changes or new customizations to your display can burn a large hole through your pocket.
When you opt to rent a booth, you also have the unique opportunity of choosing to change your booth size or design at every subsequent show that you attend. This could be especially useful if you want to debut your new logo on a larger platform than the regular 8 x 10 or 10 x 10 that you’re used to.
Multiple Shows Become Affordable
At times, organizations may have to attend multiple trade shows simultaneously, or within a very short span of time. It may not always be possible to ship the booth in time or purchase another booth for the second show. This is precisely when renting a booth becomes essential.
Rental booths are affordable and will allow you to attend multiple shows at the same time, without breaking the bank. Additionally, a rental booth will allow you to earn a high return on your minimal investment, so it’s a true win-win situation for your brand.
You Can Experiment with Different Designs
If you’re a seasoned trade show exhibitor, then you may have noticed that different kinds of booths work at different shows in the country. Depending on where you’re headed next, you may want to change your booth’s design or upgrade your booth size.
When you’ve purchased a booth, making these changes becomes nearly impossible. You’re stuck with the same graphics and display for multiple shows. While renting, you can change your booth’s layout and design at every single show, so you always have something new and exciting to show your customers when they visit the trade show.
This allows you to experiment with various graphics, designs and layouts until you find what works for you and your brand.
Storage and Maintenance Are Not Issues
When you opt to purchase a trade show booth, you will also have to look after maintaining the booth over the years and storing it when you aren’t on the trade show circuit. The costs for both of these will add up over the years and could significantly cut into your overall trade show budget.
On the other hand, when you rent a booth, your rental partner will look after maintaining and storing the booth for you.
Increased Flexibility
Trade shows in Orlando happen at a number of venues, some of which have their own rules and regulations. Creating a booth that meets all the regulations at every venue could limit your creativity.
When you opt to rent, you can get a new booth each time that meets the regulations for that particular venue. Rental booths will allow you to be flexible with your design when you require it.
Cons
Despite the numerous benefits that trade show booth rentals in Orlando offer, there a few drawbacks as well.
Limited Customizations
Depending on your trade show rental budget, it may not always be possible to accommodate high degrees of customization into your booth. Some rental companies offer limited design and layout options, which could further damage your customization opportunities.
This is primarily because a number of booth rental companies will use existing designs and graphics to build your display and cut their own costs. So, if you’re after high-end customizations, a rental booth may not be the right fit for you.
Not Sustainable in the Long Term
If you rely solely on trade shows for all your marketing needs, it’s safe to assume that you spend a lot of time exhibiting. Renting a booth for several events through the year over several years may not be feasible, as the cost of the rental will definitely add up over the years.
In such cases, purchasing a booth once and then using it multiple times over a number of years may be the best answer.
Buying
Now that we’ve looked at all the benefits and drawbacks of rental booths, let’s take a look at the advantages of using a purchased booth.
No Customizations Required
If you’re confident about the size and layout of the booth you require, then a purchased booth might serve you well. Once you create the booth based on your requirements, you won’t have to bother with constantly upgrading or updating your booth’s look and feel. Your booth will also be ready for the next trade show.
Complete Ownership
Rental booths are often reused and shared by a number of people. At times, you could run the risk of your booth looking very similar to somebody else’s display. When you purchase a booth, you have complete control over your display, so there’s hardly any risk of a competitor using the same booth at another event.
Cons
But, a purchased booth isn’t always the most affordable or the better option. Let’s take a look at a few drawbacks.
Additional Overheads
Storing and maintaining a permanent exhibit is certainly not cheap. There are a number of expenses associated with maintaining a permanent booth. This includes insurance, maintenance, storage and repair costs.
Limiting
Consider this – your booth will look the same at every show, except for the embellishments that you choose to add. This will make your stall look predictable and boring. Additionally, your booth may not be able to accommodate any new technologies, which could render it obsolete.
Renting will allow you to design your stall around different themes, making it a more flexible option.
Expensive
Purchasing a booth, as we all know, can seriously damage your finances. When you choose to rent, you can get the booth you want for barely one-third the cost of a purchased booth. For SMEs and other organizations with limited marketing budgets, rentals can offer a pocket-friendly solution to all their trade show needs.
Lack of Expertise
Every time you opt to rent a booth, you stand to benefit from the vast knowledge of the trade show rental company. On the other hand, once you purchase a booth, it will be difficult for you to ask trade show experts about the latest trends and modify your booth to meet the market standard.
The Winner?
Buying a permanent trade show booth might seem like an attractive prospect at first, but it’s a decision that could be incredibly costly over time. If you think this is a feasible long-term solution, you might want to think twice since maintenance costs can pose a huge burden on your finances. Plus, if you’re planning on exhibiting at multiple venues, then a single stall won’t serve your purpose.
On the other hand, renting is a much more viable option since it provides of a ton of flexibility. It’s an extremely convenient alternative that will help you save a sizeable amount of money.
Additionally, most companies offering trade show booth rentals in Orlando provide a plethora of specialized services, which can greatly augment your entire trade show experience.
Read here – Your guide to building creative exhibits in Orlando.
