The truest representation any exhibit house can do is to show a side by side of a rendering and the final trade show floor picture.  Maybe they cannot do this every time – but certainly for their most important exhibits.  This is the exhibit house’s portfolio.  And if they do not have one, and all they can send you is rendering after rendering – you need to duck and take cover.

This morning, once again, this analogy rings true.  Two clients over the past weekend have rung our sales people up – one for help!  Because they chose to work with the other exhibit house as they loved the design (understandable, except it was now not sitting on the show floor.  Rather they had a mockery of what was promised.)  And two – a better price.  Well we all know you get what you pay for and if someone offers you a $20,000 exhibit for $10,000 – believe me you are not going to get a $20,000 exhibit.

Then there are the promises, as made to client number two – the full I&D crew – which turns out to be one guy from the exhibit house and three scabs hiding from the union on the show floor.  Or the electrical promise that your chosen house will completely wire and electrify your exhibit – all you have to do is pay for the plug.  Right – yes in some venues, no in almost all of them.  Let’s be honest – do you want Joe Blow next door to wire his own exhibit under the carpet and the next morning you and Joe Blow have had a mutual fire?

Finally – we had an old client going to a show in Orlando – they pay around $20,000 every year and get a beautiful rental.  This year they had a reduced budget of $10,000.  They wanted to work with us as we have had a great working relationship for 7 years.  However, they got a new design, that they really did not care for – for the requisite $10,000, and at the same time did not tell our account executive that their budget was reduced.  Just about to sign they came back to us with the new truthful number – we stopped everything in our design department and created a beautiful , simpler,exhibit for $10,000.  This past Friday, he called, and he wanted it for $7,000.  A slap in the face would have been more agreeable.  We wish him well – but as we all know we are not in this business for cash flow and no profits.

So people, please screw your heads on straight.  Be honest about your budget up front.  Ask for pictures with renderings as proof that you will get what you paid for.  And show services, when included do not cost any less than you see them in your show manual.  We are all in this together – we are not adversaries.  And the truth while painful for some is in fact the truth!

See You on the Trade Show Floor

Jan Koren - www.AbsoluteExhibits.com  or email me at  jkoren@AbsoluteExhibits.com