If you’re like most trade show exhibitors, you’re usually looking for ways to cut costs. The trick is finding cost-saving measures that are worth the time they take to implement. Companies spend the majority of their budget around 28% on virtual reality rental, iPad rental, Macbook rental and exhibit space and this cost is fixed. Because of that your businesses have to look elsewhere for lowering their trade show costs.

One way you can Reduce your trade show costs is by lowering your shipping, drayage and setup fees on Event rentals. Together, these three factors make up around 19% of your trade show budget. Their overall costs, however, are easy to reduce through planning and early preparation.

Reduce your trade show shipping costs

Shipping costs are unavoidable when it comes to trade shows. Even if the exhibit is local, you need a safe and reliable transportation method to deliver your display in one piece. The following tips are guaranteed to significantly reduce how much you spend on your trade show displays, all without costing you a fortune in time and effort.

• Use a shipping case: Protect your virtual reality rental, iPad rental and Macbook rental with a shipping case. This is an ideal investment for your trade show because they’re reusable and ensure your exhibit remains undamaged in a shipping crate.
• Reuse packing materials: Initial packing materials, included with display purchases, are often foam padding or bubble wrap. These materials are generally only usable once, which leaves your company to buy new packing materials.

Reusable packing materials offer the benefit of being reusable, but they also ensure your exhibit remains undamaged and help reduce setup packing times.

• Mark Your Calendar: Trade show organizers provide loads of incentives designed to bring exhibitors on board as quickly as possible. Early bird rates offer amazing saving potential. You also get savings on travel and accommodations, and typically get a better location when you register early. Early registration may also include discounts on show services; it’s almost always than day-of pricing. Between early bird pricing and discounts, you save hundreds of dollars, maybe even thousands.
• Consider Renting Your Exhibit: If you only exhibit once or twice a year, renting an exhibit may be your best option to cut the cost. Not only does renting reduce your upfront costs, it also means you don’t have to pay for storage or repairs.
• Take Control of Your Power: You have a couple of options here. First, you can reduce your electricity requirements with battery-powered lighting. You can also employ a mobile power center to operate small electronics. Second, if you opt for show-supplied power, don’t pay for more than you actually need. Connect your appliances to a power meter to determine their actual needs, and then total it all up. Your estimates will be much more accurate.