Buying guide
Exhibition stands: choose a system around the job it needs to do
An exhibition stand should help visitors understand who you are, what you offer and where to start a conversation. A large printed wall alone is not the whole layout. Consider the allocated space, sightlines, furniture, product demonstrations and the people who will assemble the display. This collection brings together several formats so you can compare those practical differences.
Compare portable exhibition display formats
- Fabric displays: printed fabric graphics over a tubular frame, with straight and curved shapes for different layouts. See tension fabric displays.
- Pop-up stands: a separate display system with its own graphic arrangement. Review the 3×3 pop-up stand and its included components.
- LED lightboxes: illuminated graphics with an electrical supply requirement. Compare widths and printed faces in our lightbox collection.
- Printed gazebos: a branded structure for suitable outdoor event pitches, with a different setup and securing process from an indoor backdrop.
Map the usable floor space before choosing the width
Start with the organiser's floor plan and height limits. Note which sides are open to visitors, where services enter the stand and whether the plot is a shell scheme or an open space. Measure the complete assembled display footprint, including feet and curvature. Leave working room for staff, customer conversations and any furniture.
A straight fabric display may suit the rear of a narrow pitch; a curve can create a different shape but also occupies depth. A product name such as “3×3 pop-up” can refer to a frame configuration rather than a three-metre square room. Use the actual assembled dimensions when planning.
Build a message hierarchy for the stand
Visitors should recognise the main offer from the aisle. Put the brand and headline where people, tables and products are least likely to obscure them. Use supporting panels or literature for detailed specifications. A wall covered in small paragraphs is difficult to read from the approach and gives staff little room to start a conversation.
For a display made from several panels, use the exact templates and check the joins. Avoid placing a face, logo or important word across a join without checking how it will align. A fabric tube display and a pop-up panel system need different files even if their assembled widths are similar.
Plan transport, assembly and power
Check packed dimensions and the components included with the chosen product. Consider who will transport and assemble the stand, the venue access times and where cases will be kept during the event. For an illuminated system, confirm access to a suitable power supply and the organiser's cable-routing requirements. Separate display purchases do not automatically form a connected modular system.
Artwork approval and event deadlines
Send the product choice, artwork files and event date together. Our free artwork service can help prepare the print layout. Confirm timing for each product: production options vary across fabric displays, lightboxes and gazebos. Allow for proof approval and delivery, plus time to check the assembled stand before travelling.
Complete the stand without overcrowding it
A branded tablecloth or roller banner can support the main backdrop. Choose complementary jobs for each display rather than repeating every message. Read the exhibition stand planning guide and send your floor plan for help choosing a system.