Spend less on Drayage - But don't compromise Marketing Impact
One of our lovely colleagues brought in a delightful treat today – Paczki’s. Paczki’s, a doughnut/pastry of polish/french origin, are sold only one or two days each year. Apparently, doughnut restaurateurs do have a conscience when it comes to your waistline.
Why is it, then, that some exhibit houses have fewer scruples when it comes to the weight of your exhibit, or the SIZE of your material handling bill? Why is one of the most consistent features of a custom exhibit- heavy, bulky materials – a surefire way to clobber your drayage budget?
A modern exhibit design should be designed around some basic constraints – weight being a significant driver in that equation. When you look at a design, pay attention to materials. You may have to ask some pointed questions to get down to brass tacks on this aspect of a company’s design (sorry for the heavy-handed reference to fabric, one of our favorite weight-loss measures).
While aiming to reduce weight is among the chief goals of an exhibit house’s construction methods, this can become a double edged sword: How does a company reduce the mass of a structure without reducing it’s strength and stability? If I could properly answer that question, I’d be writing articles for these guys. The reality is, our design and engineering teams spend long hours figuring out just that. Some classic names in the exhibit business are long on weight-saving ideas, but short on the ingenuity it takes to make an exhibit feel like a permanent structure worthy of your brand.
While you need to be asking questions about materials, realize that it’s a goal that should not sacrifice the overall exhibit’s integrity.
If you haven't tried one, you might have to wait 'til next year...
Think of it in terms of the Paczki’s again – the anorexic stays away from this Fat Tuesday delight. While “wafer-thin” may appeal to some folks, anorexia does not epitomize health or aesthetic perfection. An exhibit that can still afford to eat a Paczki on a special occasion each year, but does so with a conscience to save you the hefty drayage bill: now that’s perfection. Smart exhibits weigh less, but still look the best.
Tags: budget, Rental Exhibit, trade show strategy
Great article.
Great article.
@Marco I know what your saying there . In the current economy its hard to find a job that pays good and is stable . I have found that if you just work hard and are consistent you can go places . Look at the author of this page , they are oviously hard working and have just been consistent over time and are now enjoying at least what would appear as somewhat of a success. I would encourage everyone to just keep hustling and moving forward.
It is always nice to get a bit of additional information for renovating and designing (or dreaming about it). If you want a few expert tips, I also highly recommend checking Masterrenovator.com, he has great information on things you don’t usually think about.