6 Benefits of Custom Trade Show Displays

6 Benefits of Custom Trade Show Displays

6 Benefits of Custom Trade Show Displays

Custom trade show displays can help you stand out and make people remember your business.

Learn about the six benefits here.

Zirmed Custom Exhibit from Nimlok Kentucky

In 2023, there are 6,970 businesses in the trade show and conference planning industry. 

Trade shows are a big deal for a reason, and if done right, exhibiting at them can make a significant impact on the success of your business.

Although many businesses that exhibit at trade shows keep their booths simple and use basic designs, there’s a lot of value to using a custom trade show display. A custom display will attract attention and will give a better impression of your brand than an off-the-shelf display will.

If you’re wondering whether you could benefit from a custom trade show display, keep reading.

Here are the 6 top benefits of custom trade show displays:

1. Get Your Display Needs Met Exactly

One of the biggest advantages of custom trade show displays is that you can get the exact functionality and design that you need. Custom trade show displays can serve many purposes and can be as simple or complex as you desire.

Our team of sales reps and designers will sit down with you to discuss your brand and your needs for your upcoming show. You will discuss your goals for the show and specify the features you need in your trade show display. Do you have massive outdoor machinery that needs to be showcased, not a problem. Or maybe you do a live cooking demo, we can help with that. You have a software company that needs to showcase live walkthroughs of your programs, we can do that in our sleep!

We recently completed a custom design for a local company that needed space for cooking demos, food, and dish storage, and monitors for information, all with their brand design in mind. The customer said the greatest part was that we took into account their exact needs and set the space up efficiently and beautifully.

An off-the-shelf display can come with some limitations. By designing a custom display, you’ll be able to get the exact design that you need. You can ensure that your display has the functionality you need and offers additional features such as extra storage space or meeting areas.

2. Be Sure Your Booth, and Your Brand, Stands Out

Trade shows can be a sea of sameness, and in a busy trade show, it can be tough to attract the attention that you deserve. A custom display can really help you here.

While an off-the-shelf display can still be nicely designed, a custom trade show display will do an even better job of grabbing the attention of attendees that are walking by. Imagine a tower jutting above the crowd, or arches to enter the booth, or whatever you’re thinking, we can make it happen! Even a lifesize horse sitting 16’ in the air, we’ve done it. You’ll set your booth apart from the others around yours and will help ensure that attendees look twice at your display.

A custom display will entice more people to enter your space to start a conversation and learn more about what your business or organization has to offer.

3. Give a Great First Impression

It’s important to remember that first impressions matter a lot in the world of business, so make sure that yours counts.

Since your trade show booth will serve as a first impression of your business for a lot of key decision-makers, it’s important that it is impactful. A custom-designed trade show display allows you to make a lasting impression on important prospects and tells your company’s most important stories.

When attendees return home after the trade show, you want to make sure you had a space that will stick in their minds. By ensuring that the first impression you make is professional, you’ll ensure that they’ll remember your first meeting positively as they continue to do business with you.

4. Influence the Behavior of Attendees

A great trade show display design won’t just help encourage attendees to come up and talk to you. It can also inspire them to take other actions regarding your business products and services as well.

A great design can help to foster engagement and help inspire attendees to take a specific action. This could include signing up for an email list, buying a product, or spreading the word about your booth.

5. Align Your Display With Your Trade Show Goals

Exhibiting at a trade show can feel overwhelming, but it’s important to set goals to get the most out of your event. Your trade show design should reflect the goals you set for the event.

If you’re launching a new product or service, then you’ll want a custom trade show display that will highlight whatever it is. If your goal is to consult with prospective customers one-on-one, then you’ll want a design that includes a conference area. And if you still aren’t sure how to go about the planning and execution for your upcoming show, we can help with that too! Download our Comprehensive Trade Show & Event Checklist here.

6. Spread Brand Awareness At the Trade Show

Your brand is important, and a custom trade show display will help you to better represent your brand to attendees.

Showcasing your brand colors, graphics, and personality in your trade show display makes your business more recognizable and approachable.

When there are other businesses offering the same goods and services as yours, effective branding can serve as a secret weapon. It will allow your business to stand out and be remembered more easily.

With a great custom design, you’ll build more trust, rapport, and credibility with your attendees. You can ensure that the trade show display that you have lines up with your brand in a big way.

Understanding the Benefits of Custom Trade Show Displays

To have the best time at your next trade show event, consider using custom trade show displays. The right display can attract more attention to your exhibit and can help your business be memorable and engaging.

Looking for help with your custom trade show display design? Click here to see examples of our trade show designs and exhibits.

spacia group: trade show display

spacia group: trade show display

VisitLex, Custom Trade Show Booth Design by Nimlok-Kentucky

spacia group: trade show display

case study

About

Spacia Group is in the business of defining unique spaces. They provide custom framed art, art consulting and sourcing, decorative and backlit mirrors, and barn doors to the hospitality, healthcare, and corporate markets.

Problem

Getting in front of these key markets is important for their business. Spacia Group came to Nimlok Kentucky with a need for a new trade show display that would showcase their artwork, mirrors, and barn door products. Previously they had always rented displays, but they were looking to upgrade their investment with a quality, custom design that would be usable for several years.

Solution & Impact

To get started, Spacia Group sent Nimlok Kentucky images and examples of their previous displays, and we used those to formulate a new design. We made the display a little larger than the initial design to accommodate all of the items that needed to hang on the structure. Being such a creative, artistic company, their visual presence and aesthetic is very important. The display itself is a simple design, but the wow factor comes through the graphics and the art that is being displayed.

We met with Spacia Group multiple times to determine the best layout and placement for their products, as well as devise a solution for a smaller version of their sliding barn door for the purposes of the display. Once we had the design we customized all of the set-up instructions, modified the shipping crate to meet their needs, and provided a case for additional items to be shipped.

The result is an on-trend, simple design with bold graphics meant to stand out on the show floor and draw people in for conversation.

VisitLex, Custom Trade Show Booth Design by Nimlok-Kentucky

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Immanuel Baptist Church: Experiential Environment

Immanuel Baptist Church: Experiential Environment

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VisitLex: Trade Show Booth

VisitLex: Trade Show Booth

VisitLex, Custom Trade Show Booth Design by Nimlok-Kentucky

VisitLex: Trade Show Booth

case study

About

VisitLEX is the convention and visitors bureau for Lexington, Ky., the Horse Capital of the World. Known for its Thoroughbreds, bourbon, and beautiful rolling bluegrass hills, Lexington is emerging as a vibrant, growing city, welcoming guests of all walks of life to enjoy the scenic beauty, creative culture and history, and state-of-the-art conventions and meeting spaces. VisitLex attends trade shows around the country to attract people to Lexington for conventions and events.

Problem

Nimlok Kentucky previously designed a reconfigurable trade show display for VisitLex, and it won several Best in Show awards from various trade shows. When VisitLex was ready to design a new display, they reached out. They wanted to have a multi-sensory booth that showcased the best of Lexington; horses, bourbon, and nightlife.

Solution & Impact

As with their last display, flexibility in size is important as they attend several shows throughout the year with different requirements. We knew that we needed to design a 20×20 space that could also work as a 10×20. The 20×20 display includes two, double-sided, backlit walls with a 10’ tall tower in between them. One side of the display showcases horse farms in daylight, while the other side captures the thrill of the nightlife.

Atop the tower sits Big LEX, VisitLex’s blue horse logo, on a backlit base. It was important for them to be easily located on the show floor, so the addition of the tower and the horse gave us the visibility they were looking for. To complete the experience there are acoustic wood beams and canopies that soften the sound within the space and add one more element of design.

The 20×20 display provides a fully immersed experience for visitors to stop at several counters with video and information about Lexington, and end at the “sniffer” display where they can smell various types of Kentucky bourbon. The 10×20 display utilizes one of the backwalls with a kiosk and TV monitor.

The design for this display began in January 2022 with the first show date being in August of that year. The addition of the noise-absorbing felt product added some additional discussion to ensure the hanging system operated properly. The display was completely designed and engineered in house – tower, hanging structures, counters and “sniffer” display, wooden brochure holders, and the system for display of the horse. The graphics were provided by Team Cornett.

The booth was long anticipated and very much worth the lengthy design process to end up with a product that the entire team was excited about. We were pleased to partner with VisitLex and Team Cornett on another outstanding display.

VisitLex, Custom Trade Show Booth Design by Nimlok-Kentucky

VisitLEX has worked with Nimlok on two major trade show booth projects and both of the experiences have been outstanding.

The team listens to what our vision is and then they deliver great options to make this dream come true. They are flexible; professional, timely and fairly priced for everything that was delivered to VisitLEX.

The latest trade show booths have received so many compliments during our first two trades shows. Big LEX, our blue horse sits 16 feet in the air and is easily seen when you enter the trade show floor. The displays are bright; inviting; interactive and inspiring. I would highly recommend Nimlok for your next design needs.

— Marci K., VisitLex

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Immanuel Baptist Church: Experiential Environment

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Asbury Theological Seminary: Alumni Center

Asbury Theological Seminary: Alumni Center

Asbury Theological Seminary: Alumni Center

case study

About

Asbury Theological Seminary was founded in 1923 by H.C. Morrison. Today it is a multi-denominational graduate school committed to teaching the unchanging truth of orthodox Christianity, enrolling more than 1,800 students and representing more than 80 denominations and 50 countries.

Problem

In 2023 Asbury Theological Seminary celebrates their 100th anniversary. To mark this momentous occasion, they reached out to Nimlok Kentucky to renovate their Alumni Center. The project consisted of transforming 2 hallways, a stairwell, and a training room into a historic timeline. Nimlok Kentucky was tasked to bring to life the extensive history of Asbury Theological Seminary and their alumni.

Asbury has such a rich history and global outreach, and the team was very passionate about telling that story. Our team was tasked to provide a graphic timeline, as well as multiple alumni stories, and a global map highlighting the reach of the seminary.

Solution & Impact

The focal point of the space, however, is the alumni wall. It is a comprehensive list of each graduate of the seminary over the span of its existence, compiled of more than 13,000 names. This wall resides in the renovated training room, which is now an Executive Boardroom, fully equipped with a 30’ conference table, new technology, and seating areas for conversation and viewing of the graphic elements.

This project was in the works for two years thanks to delays from COVID, but the wait was well worth the finished product. The result of the project is overwhelming satisfaction. From the president of the seminary to supporters of the institution, to staff, to the students and alumni who pass through the space, there is consensus of how well all the displays have turned out. Each area tells a story, capturing the imagination and emotion of the viewer. To walk into a space such as this and not be blown away by the depth of history and pride is next to impossible.

The outpouring of appreciation for this space has been non-stop! Thank you for making a dream come true in such a beautiful, outstanding way. My heart is overflowing with gratitude for your commitment and partnership.

— Tammy C., Director of Alumni and Church Relations

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Immanuel Baptist Church: Experiential Environment

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Farm Credit Mid-America: Rural 1st Summit

Farm Credit Mid-America: Rural 1st Summit

Farm Credit, Rural 1st Summit Booth by Nimlok-Kentucky

Farm Credit Mid-America: Rural 1st Summit

case study

About

Farm Credit Mid-America (FCMA) is a member of the Farm Credit System, which exists to secure the future of rural communities and agriculture as a leading provider of reliable, consistent credit and financial services to 135,000 farmers, producers, agribusinesses, and rural residents in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Task

Every year FCMA hosts an annual meeting at the Omni in Louisville, the Rural 1st Summit. They look to transform the Omni each year into a completely branded event space for the summit. This year, as in previous years, we quickly got to work to create a branded environment, repurposing what we could from their existing display materials.

Solution & Impact

Upon entering the space, guests were immediately greeted with Rural 1st branding on the floors, mirrors, and escalator, landing in a registration area with a 30’ wall. The registration counter was custom made and is able to be reconfigured into many different sizes, with graphics that can easily be replaced for future events. In addition to the welcome signage we also created directional signage, meeting table centerpieces, additional backwalls, and large Rural 1st logos.

By investing in our extensive line of display products, FCMA was able to greatly reduce their overall budget by simply refreshing the graphics.

Farm Credit, Rural 1st Summit Window Decals by Nimlok-Kentucky
Farm Credit, Rural 1st Summit Window Decals by Nimlok-Kentucky

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Immanuel Baptist Church: Experiential Environment

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PRORUN: 20X30 Equipment Expo Exhibit

PRORUN: 20X30 Equipment Expo Exhibit

PRORUN custom trade show booth by Nimlok-Kentucky

PRORUN: 20X30 Equipment Expo Exhibit

case study

About

PRORUN is a vertically integrated outdoor power equipment manufacturer of both gas- and battery-powered chainsaws, blowers, trimmers, augers, mowers, and more. PRORUN equipment is built for power and reliability and delivers the ultimate yard care solution for both homeowners and professionals and has for over 25 years. When they needed to modify their 20×30 exhibit for the Equipment Expo, they contacted Nimlok Kentucky to collaborate and produce a display that would showcase their extensive line of products and enable access for potential customers to physically handle the equipment on the show floor.

Problem

This being their first show post-COVID, PRORUN needed to ensure they made a positive impression in the marketplace. They partnered with Nimlok Kentucky on not only the modifications and production of the display, but also used our Trade Show Logistics services to provide installation and show management of their new exhibit.

Solution & Impact

When PRORUN first contacted the Nimlok Kentucky team they had initial design drawings for their exhibit. We were able to discuss their needs in detail and provide recommendations on how best to produce this design. Ultimately, PRORUN decided to modify their existing kiosks and create a new product wall to hold their smaller pieces of equipment. Each product also included an individual product descriptor that was placed next to each piece of equipment.

The hanging structure quickly identified where PRORUN was located on the
show floor to draw attention to customers familiar with their expert products.
The display itself had plenty of room to display each piece of equipment and signage to explain the details and specifications. There was a counter for space to consult a sales expert and the display was clearly labeled with gas and battery options to quickly identify individual needs. The client was happy with the results and the seamless trade show services provided by Nimlok Kentucky.

PRORUN custom trade show display by Nimlok-Kentucky
PRORUN custom trade show display by Nimlok-Kentucky

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