The benefits of renting versus buying an exhibit stand

When it comes to deciding to rent or buy your trade show booth, the truth is there is no right or wrong answer. Both options offer benefits. The right decision is what aligns best with your marketing and organizational goals.

Understanding the benefits of renting versus buying an exhibition stand is essential to make an informed decision and get the most out of your investment. To help guide business owners, executives, and marketing managers, we've listed the advantages of both buying and renting an exhibition stand.

The main benefits of buying an exhibition stand:

• The freedom to build your dream booth  
• Maintain a consistent presence  
• Make a cost-effective long term investment  

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Buying your dream exhibit booth sets you apart  from your competitors

A well-seasoned exhibitor may know exactly what they want and need when it comes to booth design — interior and exterior. Or years of experience attending trade shows has inspired your company to invest in building a custom-designed booth. Going all-in on buying your dream exhibit stand offers significant benefits.  

• Get noticed with a showstopper exhibit booth. Custom, unique, innovative design turns heads, more importantly, drives traffic to your booth.  
• Reap the benefits of a great concept. When you rent, you have to think of a new design concept, again and again, a time-consuming and costly task for your team.
• Create an award-winning trade show booth. Eye-catching designs get media coverage and publicity at live events, increasing visibility.  
• Personalize your trade show experience to the detail. For example, custom-designed booths offer an authentic brand experience versus rentals.  

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Buying a trade show booth helps maintain a consistent presence

If creating brand awareness and visibility is part of your marketing strategy, you will benefit from a consistent trade booth design. Companies with a big trade show presence travel the world to attend industry-specific events; it’s essential to create strong brand recognition in all markets. So how does buying an exhibit booth keep you consistent versus renting?  

• Customize your stand without any restrictions or limitations. The design can evolve with your brand from the paint color to the graphics when you own it.
• It’s cost-effective to buy an exhibition stand if you have a regular show calendar and a similar floor plan. You’ll be happy to maintain a consistent look throughout your trade show program versus renting a new booth every time.  
• Owning your stand means managing expectations. You know exactly what you have and what it looks like to avoid surprises, such as ensuring color matching to have the same branding and look at each event.  

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Buying a trade show booth is a cost-effective long term investment

If you plan to participate in several exhibitions over a few years, then investing in a trade booth stand once rather than renting every time will be more cost-effective over the long term. But, of course, the best option depends on your marketing strategy and resources planning. Here are a few frequently asked questions to help clarify the buy versus rent debate.  

• How often do you participate in trade shows? If the answer is 3-4 times a year, buying your stand will lower your cost in the long run. If less, see the rental benefits below.  
• How does your company handle budgeting? If you manage a yearly budget or more, you can more efficiently plan your trade show presence.  
• Does your business thrive on marketing flexibility? Owning a stand means you’re ready to attend live events with short notice.  
• Have you found the right exhibit house partner? Reduce your design and service costs when you commit to a long-term contract with an exhibit house.

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The key benefits of renting an exhibition stand:

• Flexibility to experiment
• Less responsibilities
• Budget friendly options  

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Renting a stand offers flexibility to experiment

Renting a trade show exhibit can save considerable time and corporate resources. With a rental exhibit booth and a professional installation team ready to go, you'll have more time to focus on business opportunities and your pre-event promotion. So, how does a rental booth offer your business marketing flexibility?  

• Test new branding concepts with portable, modular, and customizable rental exhibits.
• Evaluate the results of attending an event before purchasing an exhibit booth.  
• Reduce the decision, production, and turnaround time working with prefabricated customizable designs.  
• Adapt your aesthetic and messaging to connect with different markets, cultures, and audiences.

Renting a booth means less responsibilities

Your financial responsibilities don't end once the show closes when owning an exhibit. Your booth's setup and teardown process are part of the responsibilities you need to budget ongoing. In addition, renting your exhibit stand means avoiding certain costs.

• Storage  
• Maintenance services    
• Kiosk disposal  
• Asset management programs  

Renting a stand offers budget-friendly options

If you’re new to live events or still developing your trade show program, a turnkey rental package might be the perfect commitment-free option. Renting an exhibition stand in combination with complete services is budget-friendly and hassle-free. Exhibit renting packages include:  

• Design model options  
• Furniture and accessories  
• Floors and the covering (carpet, laminate, PVC)
• LED screens/monitors
• Project management
• Installation and dismantling services

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So, which is the right option for you?

Buying an exhibition stand is a better option if your trade show presence fluctuates or is undetermined. On the other hand, renting an exhibition stand is perfect if you are exhibiting in a foreign country or unsure what works best for your needs. If you have a well-established trade show program, prefer custom designs, and work with larger budgets, choose the buying option.

Still undecided?

With over 25 years of experience, accordex understands the importance of offering custom and rental solutions true to your brand. If you need some help, contact us for a consultation. We’ll discuss your event goals and needs to help you decide what’s best for you, buy or rent.  

Contact us for your next business event.

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