What good planning looks like
Strong exhibit programs treat each show as a project with a charter, a budget, and named owners for design, marketing, logistics, and lead handling. The guides below operationalize each of those workstreams.
Planning by show
Planning by booth size
100 sq ft — costs, design & options
200 sq ft — costs, design & options
400 sq ft — costs, design & options
600 sq ft — costs, design & options
900 sq ft — costs, design & options
1600 sq ft — costs, design & options
Frequently asked questions
When should I start planning a trade show booth?
12 months out for custom 20x20+ builds; 4–6 months for rentals; 8–12 weeks minimum for portable 10x10 displays. Earlier always saves money on rush fees and freight.
What goes in a vendor RFP?
Show + booth size + height limits, in-booth requirements (meeting rooms, demo stations, storage), brand guidelines, target budget range, key dates, and a single point of contact.
Who owns trade show planning internally?
Marketing usually owns the program; sales owns lead targets; product owns demo content; ops/finance owns budget and freight. A named program manager bridges all four.