Rental Budget, Custom Desires: Have It Both Ways

Niles, IL, March 1, 2005

In a marketplace where doing more with less on a shrinking trade show budget is the challenge facing more and more companies, many are considering going the exhibit rental route. But before you do, take everything you thought you knew about rental exhibits and throw it out the window.

Ten years ago, rental exhibit options were limited to a number of boxy, inflexible, generic kits. A custom look was sacrificed for the cost savings. Not any more. Today's rentals don't have to look like rentals thanks to the dynamic custom modular exhibits that offer cutting edge custom design along with cost savings and versatility. Here's what every exhibitor should know about renting custom modular exhibits:

WHY RENT?

• You need to cut exhibiting costs
• You have two trade shows at the same time
• You want to exhibit internationally
• You use exhibits infrequently
• You need additional components for an existing exhibit for a specific show

These are some good reasons to exhibit affordably yet creatively with a rental custom modular exhibit.

THE NEW CUSTOM-MODULAR RENTALS

The custom modular exhibit, also known as the custom hybrid exhibit, offers the best of both worlds - the high impact, cutting-edge image of a custom display, meets the flexibility and cost savings of a modular display.

Nimlok's custom hybrid solutions offer the ultimate in design flexibility:

• Custom look and high impact branding. When a company wants a superior exhibit to match its image and branding, custom modular exhibits can make a splash.
• Lower shipping costs. Custom modular exhibits are typically one-third the weight of custom exhibits and one quarter the cubic content. That means lower shipping, set up, and storage costs.
• Versatility. These exhibits allow unlimited reconfiguring while maintaining a consistent image. Custom modular exhibits can be continually updated to reflect image changes without large capital expense.

CHOOSE WISELY

Here's a checklist of what to consider when renting an exhibit that will communicate your brand, achieve your marketing goals, and maximize trade show dollars:

1. Expect Customization. Just because an exhibit is rented, don't accept lower standards when it comes to customization. Expect to discuss your goals one on one with a distributor partner who will listen and assess your needs.

   When Debbie Rotolo of Hotjobs.com rented a custom modular exhibit from Nimlok, flexibility was a key consideration. "Ten weeks before the trade show we completely changed the direction and focus of the presence we wanted to have at the show," Rotolo said. "As we went back and forth designing the booth, our minds kept changing just about every ten minutes. But no matter what we asked for, the answer was 'no problem'."

2. Expect Consistency. Choose a company that has an established network of national and international distributor partners, which can offer consistent standards around the world. By renting from a company with depots around the world, there is no need to cut corners on branding or message when costs can be reduced significantly by shipping from a shorter distance.

   Robert Boyd of the Washington State International Trade Fair rented a Nimlok exhibit pavilion for Washington companies to use at the Paris Air Show. "It's very expensive to go to Europe... When you rent a booth at a show, it's quite often unappealing and doesn't meet exhibitors' marketing needs," Boyd said. "We were successful in identifying a turnkey rental property along with delivery, setup, management, dismantling and return shipping services… We just completed the evaluations with the ten participating companies and they rated the whole experience as very high."

3. Expect Service. Make sure global rentals are matched by global services: installation, dismantling, storage, cleaning, repair, reconfiguring for specific venues and show management. Ultimately, all you should have to do is show up.

   Monica Vasques-Guilena of McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners, a planning and design firm took advantage of all the services Nimlok had to offer. "We are novices at trade show exhibits, so the resources and expertise we receive are tremendously helpful," said Vasquez-Guillena. "We take advantage of these additional services; for example, Nimlok is storing our exhibit, preparing it for shipping and taking an inventory of items upon completion of a trade show. They are even building custom packaging for shipping."

With the challenges of today's changing market place, the impact, versatility, and cost savings of the new custom modular rental make it the solution that makes sense for a growing number of businesses.

Since its founding in 1970, Nimlok has grown to become a worldwide leader in the display and exhibit industry. With more than 200 authorized distributor partners in 56 countries worldwide, they offer an extensive Custom Solution product line as well as portable and pop-up displays, visual communication systems and other exhibit accessories. Manufacturing facilities are located in Chicago, Toronto, and the U.K.

Visit www.nimlok.com for more information.