There’s no better feeling when setting up at a trade show and being prepared. Knowing you’ve avoided panic and you have successfully set up your booth without having to put out fires. The best way to dodge the chaos is to carefully plan ahead of time to make sure not only is your trade show booth in good shape with all the parts and pieces accounted for, but also bringing some tools with you they you may need and some that you have ‘just in case’.
What is the saying… “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?” Well that’s certainly true for when you’re at the show and you’re up against the shot clock with a limited amount of time before your show begins, so here is a checklist I put together that will give you a good reference guide for the different tools and supplies that will get you through your next show with flying colors.
Checklist for Setting Up Modular Trade Show Displays
This is a list that was put together for those that have a Moduar Trade Show Display. It might be a little ‘over-kill’ for your standard pop up display (let’s hope you don’t need this many tools!) and this list of tools would probably grow larger for the full Custom Trade Show Displays that require a more elaborate set up. With this in mind, let’s talk about good tools and supplies to bring with you:
Specialty Tools Unique to Your Display
If you have a modular trade show display like a SEG Display or another type of frame system that comes with it’s own tools when you purchased it, these need to be the first on your checklist to bring. Some examples of these might include:
- Allen Wrench
- Star Tool
- Other specialty tools unique to your booth
It is a good idea to take a photo of these tools so you and your team know what they look like and you can easily use this photos to request to buy more from your trade show display supplier if you start running low on them or just need several more as back up.
Now that we have addressed the necessary specialty tools for your booth, here is a list of some other tools that might come in VERY handy. Remember, this is an overly generalized list and includes some that are worth taking and some that aren’t:
List of Suggested General Tools
- Extension Cord
- Power Strip
- Tape Measure
- Pen or Pencil
- Knee Pads
- Ladder (step or full size)
- Hand-Held Steamer (great for getting wrinkles out of fabric)
- Utility Knife
- Screwdrivers (phillips and flathead)
- Level
- Compact Ratchet and Tool Set (Good Resource Guide)
Here is a list of Supplies that are very useful to have:
- Zip Ties
- Drop Cloth (great for keeping graphics from getting dirty)
- Gaffer’s Tape
- Duct Tape (hey, you never know!)
Here is a list of Tools/ Supplies for Trade Show Exhibits that are Backlit:
- Electrical Tape
- Soldering Iron
- Wire Stripper and extra wire
- Wire Caps
- Volt Meter
As you can see, there are a lot of items to remember. Some of these you might find very useful and others you can leave behind. Take into consideration your unique situation and display to determine the best preparation strategy. Add this Checklist to your other Exhibit Documents and share with your team. This may prevent a malfunction at your next show and in the very least could save you a trip to the hardware store while you’re busy preparing for an important show.
Did we miss any items? If so, leave us a note below and we’ll add to the list.