A
• A/V (Audio/Visual): Refers to equipment and services related to sound and visual presentations, such as microphones, speakers, projectors, and screens.
• Advance Order: An order for services (e.g., shipping, labor, rental equipment) placed before the trade show starts, often at a reduced rate.
• Advance Rates: Rates offered for early payments for goods or services at a discounted rate.
• Advance Warehouse or Advance Receiving: A facility where exhibitors can ship their booth materials before the trade show for storage and later delivery to the exhibit hall.
• Aisle Carpet: Carpeting covering the trade show area’s walkways.
• Aisle Sign: Signage hanging above the aisle that indicates aisle numbers or letters, helping attendees navigate the show floor.
• Attendee: An individual who attends the trade show, typically to gather information, network, or make purchases.
B
• Backlit: A display technique where light is directed from behind the graphic panel or exhibit structure, enhancing visibility and attractiveness.
• Back Wall: The rear part of a booth, often used for displaying graphics or signage.
• Backwall Exhibit: An exhibit placed against a structure wall or another exhibit. Most pop-up exhibits fall into this trade show exhibit category.
• Banner Stand: A portable, retractable trade show display used to showcase graphics or branding.
• Bill of Lading (BOL): A legal document issued by a carrier to acknowledge receipt of cargo for shipment. It outlines the terms for transporting exhibits and other event supplies to the trade show venue.
• Booth Area: The designated space where an exhibitor displays their products or services.
• Booth Number: A unique identifier assigned to an exhibitor’s space on the show floor, used for location and navigation purposes.
• Booth Staff: Personnel assigned to manage the trade show exhibit space, all attendee traffic, in-booth event technology, and support materials. Usually staffed by well-trained Sales and/or Marketing employees of the exhibiting company but can include specialty event support contractors.
C
• Call to Action (CTA): A statement or button that encourages attendees to take a specific action, such as visiting a booth or scheduling a demo.
• Carpet Rental: A service provided by the trade show or a third-party vendor for renting carpet for your booth space.
• Cartage: The fee associated in transporting freight or moving displays.
• C.I.F. (Cost, Insurance, Freight): A term used to show prices included in the cost of shipping.
• Collateral: Marketing materials such as brochures, flyers, business cards, and promotional items that you distribute at your booth to provide information and reinforce your brand.
• Cubic Content: The measurement that allows displays, exhibit materials and products to occupy 100 percent of the purchased exhibit space (up to the exhibition’s height restriction). International exhibitions commonly allow for full use of cubic content, however U.S. exhibition producers are divided on the idea of full cubic content usage.
• Custom Exhibit: A trade show booth designed specifically for a company, reflecting its unique brand identity and tailored to meet specific marketing objectives.
• Custom-Modular Booth: A trade show exhibit design combining key elements of a fully custom and fully modular trade show booth, maximizing the benefits of each approach including flexibility, flash, cost effectiveness, and reusability.
• Cut-Off Date: The last day to submit orders for services at the advance rates or to complete certain preparations without incurring additional fees.
• CWT: Or hundred weight. The measurement used for shipping exhibits and displays. Typically, 100 pounds.
D
• Decorator: A company or individual responsible for the design and decoration of exhibit spaces, including drapery, signage, and floor coverings.
• DIM Weight: Formula established for shipping. Domestic shipments - length x width x height divided by 194; International shipments - divided by 166.
• Dismantle: The process of taking down and packing up an exhibit after a trade show concludes.
• Drayage: The service of transporting exhibit materials from the shipping dock to an exhibitor’s booth, storing empty containers during the show, and returning them after the show ends.
• DT Labor: Twice the established rate paid to workers for overtime hours.
E
• Early Bird Discount: A discounted rate offered for services or products, such as booth space, when booked or purchased well in advance of the event.
• Empties: Containers used to store an exhibitor's booth materials during the show, which are then returned after the event for repacking.
• End Cap: An exhibit with access to visitors on three sides.
• Exhibitor: A company or organization that rents a booth space to showcase their products or services at the trade show.
• Exhibit Designer: A professional who specializes in creating designs and CAD layouts for trade show booths and displays. A blended skillset of artistry, engineering, and marketing.
• Exhibit Hall: The main area of the trade show where exhibitors set up their booths.
• Exhibitor Manual or Kit: A comprehensive guide provided by trade show organizers that includes all rules, regulations, services, deadlines, and forms related to the event.
F
• Fabrication: The process of constructing an exhibit, including carpentry, painting, and electrical work.
• Fire Retardant: Term used to describe a finish which coats materials with a fire-resistant, but not fireproof, cover.
• Floor Manager: An individual appointed by the show organizer to oversee the exhibit floor, ensuring rules and regulations are followed and assisting exhibitors as needed.
• Floor Order: An order placed while exhibit installation is still in process.
• Floor Plan: A detailed layout of the exhibit hall, showing the locations of booths, entrances, exits, and other facilities.
• Freeman: A major contractor in the trade show industry, providing a wide range of services, including drayage, exhibit rentals, and labor. The term is sometimes used generically for any trade show contractor.
G
• Giveaway: A promotional item given to attendees who visit an exhibitor's booth, often branded with the company's logo.
• Graphic Production: The creation of visual materials for use in an exhibit, including banners, signage, and digital prints often referred to as Graphics.
• Green or Sustainable Exhibiting: Practices that reduce the environmental impact of trade shows, such as using sustainable materials, recycling, and minimizing waste. Often described as eco-friendly.
H
• Hardwall: A type of booth construction using sturdy, prefabricated panels for a sleek, professional appearance.
• Header: Signage or other fabrication placed across the top of an exhibit.
• Hybrid Event: Combines both live (in-person) and virtual components to create a unified experience for attendees, regardless of their physical location.
I
• Infringement: Encroachment on floor space not leased by the exhibitor.
• Inline Booth: A standard booth space with neighboring booths on either side. An exhibit that is arranged in a continuous line, sometimes referred to as a Linear Display.
• Install and Dismantle (I&D): The setting up and tearing down of an exhibit before and after a trade show.
• Island Booth: A freestanding trade show exhibit with aisles on all four sides, allowing access from multiple directions and offering high visibility.
L
• Labor: The workers responsible for setting up and dismantling booths, as well as handling other tasks during the trade show.
• Lead Capture / Retrieval: Process and mechanism employed by booth staff to easily note essential information during prospect interaction. A system used to collect and follow up on sales leads generated at the trade show. It often involves scanning badges or business cards to capture attendee information. Can include automatic synchronization with Salesforce and other CRMs.
• Light Box Exhibits: Trade show booths that use LED lighting to illuminate graphics from behind, making the visuals pop with vibrant colors and high visibility. Their blend of aesthetics, functionality, and innovation can significantly contribute to a successful exhibition experience, attracting more visitors and effectively communicating brand messages.
• LTL (Less Than Truckload): The charge incurred for shipments weighing less than the capacity of a truckload.
M
• Material Handling: The process of receiving, storing, and delivering an exhibitor's freight to and from their booth space.
• Modular Exhibit: A trade show booth constructed from pre-designed, interchangeable components, allowing for flexibility and reconfiguration for different show sizes and layouts. Also, a common, economical and highly effective exhibit rental solution.
• Move-In: The date on which exhibits are to be installed.
• Move-Out: The date on which the exhibits are to be dismantled.
O
• On-Site Order: An order placed for services directly at the trade show venue, typically at a higher cost than advance orders.
• OT Labor (Overtime Labor): Labor performed at the overtime rate.
• Overtime (OT): Work performed beyond normal working hours and paid at a higher rate.
P
• Panel System: Prefabricated panels designed to be assembled at the trade show.
• Perimeter Booth: A booth placement along an outside wall of a trade show venue.
• Pipe and Drape: A system of poles (pipe) and fabric panels (drape) used to create partitions, backdrops, or booth dividers on the trade show floor.
• Pop-Up Display: A lightweight, portable display that can be easily set up and taken down, commonly used for smaller booths or as a component of larger exhibits.
• Post-Show Marketing: Follow up activities after the show is over to fully capitalize on Leads generated during the event to maximize conversion.
• Pre-Show Marketing: Promotional activities conducted before the trade show to attract attendees to an exhibitor's booth. Can include email campaigns, social media, and phone work.
Q
• Qualifying Questions: A set of questions you ask attendees to determine if they are a good fit for your products or services and to gauge their level of interest.
R
• Rental Booth: A fully prefabricated or modular exhibit rented from the trade show organizer or a third-party supplier.
• Return Panels: Panels forming the side walls of the exhibit.
• Rigging: The process of hanging large or heavy items from the ceiling of the exhibit hall, such as banners or lighting fixtures, requiring specialized labor and equipment.
• Return on Investment (ROI): A measure of the financial return you gain from your trade show participation, calculated by comparing the cost of exhibiting to the value of the leads and sales generated.
S
• Scissor Lift: A motorized vertical lift to aid in construction.
• Show Contractor: A company hired by the show organizer to provide services to exhibitors, including booth construction, electrical needs, and furniture rental.
• Show Lead: A potential customer (prospect) who has shown interest in an exhibitor's products or services.
• Show Services: Refers to the wide range of services and support provided to exhibitors and organizers to ensure the successful execution of a trade show, exhibition, or convention. Can include, in part, booth construction/rental, labor, logistics and material handling, electrical and plumbing services, audio-visual and tech services, furniture and accessory rental, security, catering, and cleaning and waste management.
• Silicone Edge Graphics (SEG): A high-resolution printed fabric graphic finished with a thin silicone strip (or welt/gasket) sewn directly to the edge of the graphic. Popular in retail environments, trade shows, exhibitions, and anywhere that requires an eye-catching visual presentation. The benefits of using SEG include the ease of graphic change-outs, the durability and washability of the fabric, and the ability to create large, seamless images that can be easily transported and installed.
• Space Only: A type of booth space that comes without any furnishings or fixtures, allowing the exhibitor to design and build a custom exhibit from scratch.
• Sponsorship: An opportunity for exhibitors to gain additional exposure by sponsoring events, items, or areas within the trade show.
• ST Labor (Straight Time Labor): Work performed at the standard rate.
T
• Tabletop Display: A small display setup on a table, typically used in smaller exhibit spaces or for presentations.
• Time and Materials (T&M): Billing based on hours worked and materials purchased.
• Trade Show: An event where companies in a specific industry gather to showcase their products or services, network, and generate leads.
• Trade Show Marketing: All activities involved in the transfer of goods or services from the producer or seller to the consumer or buyer through trade shows, conferences or other face-to-face promotional events.
• Truss: Structure hung above an exhibit from which lighting equipment can be attached.
• Turnkey Booth: A package offered by organizers or contractors that includes everything needed for the exhibit, such as structure, furnishings, and graphics, simplifying the process for exhibitors.
U
• Union Steward: A union representative on the work site to oversee the facility work area and to resolve any disputes within union jurisdiction.
V
• Vendor: A company providing products or services to exhibitors, including booth design, construction, logistics, and promotional items.
• Virtual Event: An online-based exposition where businesses and professionals within a particular industry or across multiple industries gather to showcase and discover the latest products, services, and innovations. Hosted on a digital platform, enabling attendees and exhibitors to interact from anywhere in the world through computers or mobile devices.
• Visqueen: A protective plastic sheeting placed over the exhibit carpeting until the show opens. It allows exhibitors to easily slide their components into place.
W
• Walk-Through: A final inspection of the exhibit by the exhibitor and contractor to ensure everything is set up according to the agreement and ready for the show opening.
• Wharfage: A pier charge for handling cargo.
