Good Day – I have just returned from The Exhibitor Show and while the show floor seemed much smaller this year, and there were no resounding must-sees – it was still, a great time to talk with old and new friends and experience the initial upswing most exhibitors seem to be seeing. What did we see? New technologies at reduced pricing. In fact if I walked away with any one great feeling it was that manufacturers have come to our party – we all must lower pricing in order to challenge our clients to change their exhibitions.
The other note – as we are primarily (90%) a rental house – many more companies have joined our bandwagon. If you are an exhibit house or broker and do not offer rentals … you are in trouble. Rentals are the way of the world, owning your exhibit is a thing of the past. Not your small exhibits – but certainly your larger builds. Many of the portable modular exhibit manufacturers are offering rentals, as are the custom houses. Now is the time to make an alliance with a rental builder – there are many of us out there. Here are some prime questions to ask a new resource:
- Where do you deliver in the country?
- Will your company include the Installation & Dismantle supervision and labor as part of the billing?
- What is included in my rental package:
- Design?
- Fabrication?
- Project Management?
- Flooring?
- Furnishings, AV, Silk Plants?
- Graphics? And are they done in-house??
- Installation and Dismantle?
- Shipping Costs?
- What is my discount?
- Is everything listed above in one price?
This is a very important group of questions. Many rental houses do the build only and then you are on your own. Coordinating everything else or paying allot more money to have the rental builder to complete the rental service. Think about this.
I have personal relationships with rental builders in Chicago, Orlando, and New York – and I am very willing to share their names. They perform as an extension of my company – as they will for you. A division of our company, www.WholesaleExhibits.com, rents in Las Vegas and southern and northern California + + +. This is a very important aspect of your company’s offerings – a rental resource will make you full service.
Jan Koren – jkoren@AbsoluteExhibits.com