Types of Displays

Before you start shopping for a trade show display, spend a little time getting to know the basics types of displays and the language used to describe their various sections. As with most business purchases, there are some tradeoffs to consider among the different types, and no one answer is right for everyone.

Learn more about:

• Pop-up displays
• Panel displays
• Modular displays
• Tabletop and other types of displays

There are a few major considerations to keep in mind when comparing different styles of display. Price, weight, and flexibility are the most important. Other details to check on include what space there is for displaying your products or marketing information, what types of coverings you can get for the display, and how sturdy the overall display is.

Pop-up displays

For small to medium-sized businesses, pop-up displays are the most popular choice today. Their lightweight folding frames make setup a snap: you just expand the collapsible frame and lock it into place, then attach the magnetic fabric covering.

Popup displays are popular because they are very easy to transport and relatively inexpensive for their size. (See our Trade Show Booth Pricing page for details.) Often, their carrying cases double as tables or podiums you can use in your booth.

There are plenty of variations on the details, but one of the most popular options is to choose Velcro coverings for the frame. The lets you print new graphics and signs for each show and just Velcro them into place. Getting the booth covering printed directly may look more professional — you can get photomurals done that cover the entire wall of the booth — but if your messaging, branding, or products change, you have to replace the whole thing.

Panel displays

Panel displays were the standard for trade shows before the emergence of popup displays. They consist of multiple rigid panels that are joined together to create the booth. Panel booths are heavier and somewhat more expensive than popups, but they do have several advantages.

One is that their construction provides sturdier platforms and more flexibility. A panel display can often be arranged in several different ways, depending on what your needs are for a given show — most pop-up displays are locked into one configuration.

You can choose to have some panels custom-printed, or go the Velcro route as described for pop-up displays. You can also add backlights, windows, curves, and more complex shapes than possible in popup displays.

Modular displays

Companies that have trade show at the core of their marketing plans should consider upping the ante to a custom-designed modular booth. Modular displays are much more flexible than either panel or pop-up displays — they can be built to almost any shape or configuration you can imagine. They can include customized branding elements or product display cases, private discussion alcoves, flat panel displays with seating for viewers, freestanding podiums, and more.

Obviously the main drawback here is cost: at similar sizes, you'll pay far more for a modular display than either panel or popup display. However, because you'll be able to design it exactly to your specifications, it can lead to much better results from your tradeshow dollar.

Other types of displays

If you're just dabbling in trade shows, you may want to look at the extreme low end of the display spectrum: tabletop displays. Basically miniature popup or panel displays: they're designed to let you put your brand on display for a low total cost.

Pipe and drape displays are a good choice if you want to fill more space but still keep a tight lid on the budget. They don't give you many (or any) options on how they can be set up, but they do help passers-by see your branding.

Ready to start talking to trade show display dealers about the right type of display for your business? Submit a free request for quotes and you'll be matched to up to 5 vendors in your area.