Portability can be one of the most important aspects to weigh when researching a new trade show display. If you have a small team of one or two people, assembly and transportation are two variables you'll likely need to consider.
While having a portable display will save you time at the event and money in shipping, you don't want to settle for just any lightweight display. You still need a booth that is professional and functional, allowing you to capitalize on your show investment. Additionally, many premium portable displays come with a kit option which includes a hard shipping case that also doubles as a custom branded counter.
Below we will look at popular portable display styles that are both lightweight and high-quality.
Tension Fabric Displays
Easily one of the biggest innovations in trade show displays in years, tension fabric displays hit a sweet spot for many companies. They’re lightweight, portable, durable, and relatively inexpensive. Due to the lightweight aluminum frame, these portable displays can easily be setup and taken down by one person. Assembly is obviously even faster with two people.
Portable tension fabric exhibit options like Waveline offer large, essentially wrinkle free, graphic areas to showcase your branding message. Generally, these displays come in 8ft wide and 10ft wide options. This is one of the most popular display styles being used today by both small and large companies.
A similar portable display option are the Waveline Media exhibits. Typically this style has smaller panel widths but come with the option to hang a monitor from the frame. One huge benefit of the Waveline Media kits is that the smaller panels are even easier to assemble with one person than the larger Waveline panels. Additionally, these portable exhibits have additional value as the smaller exhibits can be used as a single panel or easily added onto to fit in different size booths or event spaces.
The fabric graphics are vibrant due to the dye-sublimation printing process, and the stretch fabric is machine washable providing longevity to the visual. Because the fabric graphic is independent from the frame and relatively inexpensive to print, they’re also ideal for storing multiple graphics for use depending on what type of event you’re exhibiting at.
Swapping out graphics allows your company to switch messages depending on the target audience you’re marketing. The pillowcase style graphics make assembly quick and straightforward.
The latest inventive evolution of the tension fabric display is the backlit version. Columns of LED lights hang from the aluminum frame providing consistent top-to-bottom, left-to-right illumination of the fabric graphic from within.
Here at MODdisplays, tension fabric displays are the most popular display systems that we produce year round.
Advantages of tension fabric trade show displays
- Machine-washable graphics: The polyester stretch fabric can simply be cleaned with soap and warm water in a home washing machine or can be taken to a dry-cleaner.
- Easily Exchange or Swap Graphics: Because the fabric graphics are independent of the frame, multiple graphics can be utilized to mix-and-match messages to target depending on time of year or event. (many graphics can also be printed double-sided)
- Highly Portable: Nearly all tension fabric displays from MODdisplays come with a shipping case that converts into a counter, so the entire booth can pack down into an easy to wheel or ship case.
Pop-Up Displays
Pop-Up displays are the practical solution for companies looking for a portable booth display with the absolute fastest setup.
Generally speaking, Pop-Up exhibits are built using an accordion style frame with the graphic attaching to a Velcro strip lined along the outside edges. These systems quickly expand open to their intended size, then get latched into place on the backside. While they are fast to setup, some care must be taken into account to maintain its structure.
The Pop-Up style is a more traditional display build. While this portable exhibit offers the fastest set up, you will loss some of the streamlined look that the pillowcase and SEG styled displays offer.
Displays like the OneFabric are commonly used for their portability and quick setup for interviews and press conferences as well large backgrounds for event booths.
Again, if speed is your greatest pain point in searching for a trade show display, then a pop-up display is an ideal solution. Because of the way in which the graphic attaches to the frame and the way in which the graphic is stored, there is a tendency for this style of display to occasionally have puckers or wrinkles on the edges of the graphic. However, this is a trade-off for the ease of setup and take-down. One person can easily manage to transport, setup, and dismantle the display.
Advantages of Pop-UP trade show displays
- Graphics can stay on the frame: Once the graphic is installed, it can fold down with the display itself.
- Easily Exchange or Swap Graphics: Similar to the tension fabric displays, swapping out graphics is simple to do.
- Ultra Quick Assembly: A full back wall display can be completely assembled in less than 2 minutes.
Banner Stands
Perhaps the lowest tech yet most versatile option for portable trade show displays is the workhorse banner stand. It provides a quick and portable solution for many different event spaces.
The traditional retractable banner stand displays pull up out of a floor base and can quickly be assembled by one person in less than minute. These stands are a popular pairing with a branded table throws and are often used as a bonus panel to highlight a product or feature in larger booths. Many companies will also repurpose their trade show banners as signage in lobbies and atriums or reuse them for special events such as fundraisers, open houses, receptions, conferences, and conventions.
If you want to fill a standard 10x10 space, there are banner stand kits available for this. Typically, banner stand walls come in sets of three and many people will order extras so they can swap the panels around depending on the event and audience. Even with three banner stands to setup for a banner stand wall, one person can carry all three bags and setup the entire booth on their own within 5 minutes.
Another, more modern, take on the banner stand displays are the Waveline Banner Stand which combines the banner stand size and the tension fabric look. While these displays are not as easy to assemble as the retractable banners, they are still very simple and easy to use with one person. The trade-off for a little longer assembly is a clean and streamlined display.
Advantages of Banner Stand trade show displays
- Versatility: The slim profile of banner stands allows you to use them in nearly any event space.
- Maximum Portability: These displays have been a staple for years, in part to their easy to manage, light weight build.
- The Fastest Assembly: Retractable banner stands are can be assembled in under 30 seconds.
Regardless of the solution you choose for your next trade show booth, knowing that there's a range of options for portable displays is key. Additionally many people don't take into consideration the added value of being able to use these portable displays outside of their trade show. Finding the best display fit for your and your company is key. Reach out to our experienced sales team if you need assistance navigating the options available.
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