| In my past two articles on cutting your trade show | | | | that preferred cost trickles down in savings for the |
| cost, I discussed the high cost of drayage and labor | | | | client. |
| on the trade show floor. In this part of my article | | | | Your exhibit booth should be kept as light as possible |
| there are pointers on the best way to ship your | | | | not only to keep the drayage cost down (please |
| exhibit booth to and from the show. | | | | read previous article where I discussed this in depth) |
| Most people feel that the cheapest price is the best, | | | | but also helps in shipping cost of your booth. Keep |
| well not so. Some carriers specialize in transporting | | | | you crate or packages as small as possible and on |
| furniture; some specialize in food product, and some - | | | | skids. Never ship items loose. Most shows charge a |
| trade show exhibits. It is for you the exhibitor to | | | | special rate for loose items. Once one item is shipped |
| choose the best one for your product...trade show | | | | loose you will be charge for the whole load special |
| booth. Some carriers do charge more than others. | | | | handling charge. This is usually much more that the |
| You want a carrier which has the expertise to | | | | typical drayage cost. To To prevent loss or damage |
| transport your trade show display safely to and from | | | | make sure all items are packaged neatly. Do not allow |
| the convention. They should know about the | | | | items to overhang skids or pallets. Make sure all |
| particular show, where is the drayage yard, are they | | | | containers are closed properly. |
| going direct to the convention center. Most trucking | | | | Another bit of advice re cutting costs -In keeping |
| companies quote a figure that is just to transport. | | | | your costs down if you have fairly large booth and |
| You should get the total cost for fuel, and wait time. | | | | would need a great deal of time to set up your |
| Sometimes the wait time can be 2 hour or it can be | | | | booth make sure and ship your booth to advance |
| 8 hours. Someone has to pay for this time, guess | | | | shipment. This will allow your booth components to |
| who ...that's right the client, you. Make sure all this is | | | | be placed on the exhibit floor first or if you have a |
| clear before using any shipper. Most exhibit house will | | | | target move in date, it will be one of the first on the |
| ship your booth to and from the convention hall; this | | | | floor on that target date. Make sure all crates, |
| can be very good because you get the best of both | | | | containers or skids carry label in large and clear print. I |
| worlds - reduced cost and quality. Exhibit house at | | | | have known shipment to get lost after being |
| times get preferred rate simply because they use | | | | delivered to the convention hall because of poor |
| the same shipper over and over again; and generally | | | | labeling. |