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Choosing the portable booth for your company’s upcoming trade show can be a real headache but it doesn’t have to be. With a few simple suggestions in mind, the selection process gets a lot easier.

That big trade show is coming up fast there’s so much to do: print brochures, finish that PowerPoint presentation and wait - you also need a trade show booth! But what kind of booth should you choose? Do you want to go understated or do you want to make a splash? You want to impress the people attending the trade show - chances are, they’re the important folks in your industry, the decision makers. And you know what they say: You only get one chance to make a good first impression.

But with so many options to choose from, how do you choose which booth is right for you? There are so many sizes, so many details to consider counters, workstations, display areas, banners, wings how do you decide? Consider these three details: size, style and price.

The range of sizes for trade show booths nowadays is incredible! You can get something from as small as 10×10 feet to as grandiose as a hulking 50×50-foot display. You can even get a 30×100-foot trade show booth that simulates actual office space. The type of booth you choose ultimately depends on your business needs, your style and your budget constraints.

The style of your portable trade show booth depends largely on the image you wish to present. Are you looking for a simple backdrop with a few countertops for table-top displays? Or are you in the market for something really elaborate maybe a booth with shelving and partitions and small meeting and display rooms? Overhead banners? Large signage? The style options are practically endless!

You’ll want to configure your trade show booth to be inviting and approachable - but you also want it to appropriately characterize your business. Make sure the style of your booth suitably represents the company, its products and goals.

Portable trade show booths come in an enormous range of styles, sizes - which means they also come in a wide range of prices. You can get a perfectly serviceable trade show booth for well under $500.

On the other hand, you can go all out and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a custom-built bi-level trade show booth with dozens of options and features. Of course, unless you happen to be in charge of marketing for Microsoft or Ford, that might not be an option you can consider.

Ah, here’s a nice middle ground! Consider a nicely appointed portable trade show booth that won’t put a permanent dent in your marketing department’s budget. If you’re willing to spend a few thousand dollars (to upwards of $15 or $20,000), you can get a really nice trade show booth that will showcase your company and its corporate image in a positive light.

And whatever size and style you go with, the one thing you want to do is ensure your trade show booth meets your needs and represents your firm well within your particular industry. If you choose wisely, you’ll have a portable trade show booth you can be proud of for years into the future.

The idea gallery at Expo Marketing (www.expomarketing.com) should be your first stop when looking for a trade show booth. Expo Marketing’s design pros will work with you to develop the ideal booth for you and your company.