Key takeaways
- The priced core of the kit (a tent from $999, a $185 table throw and two $149 feather flags) starts at $1,482.
- Outdoor shows need a tent; most indoor halls give you pipe and drape, so read the exhibitor packet before you order.
- A QR code to a tracked page that feeds your CRM beats a fishbowl of business cards every time.
- Pick one giveaway people keep, print the web address on it, and hand it out after the conversation.
- Matching staff shirts start at 12 garments for one color and take 7 to 10 business days from approval and payment.
- Order 3 to 4 weeks before the show so proofs, changes and shipping all fit with room to spare.
The kit at a glance
Every booth does the same three jobs. It gets seen from the aisle. It gives people a reason to stop. It captures who stopped so you can follow up. Each piece in this kit does one of those jobs.
The table below lists every item, what it does and what it costs. Pieces without a set price are quoted on the ticket, since size and quantity change the number. The priced core (a tent, a table throw and two feather flags) starts at $1,482. Cards, a banner, a giveaway and shirts get added from there.
Start with the pieces you'll use at every show: the tent or backdrop, the table throw and the flags. Those carry your brand for years. Cards, giveaways and shirts get reordered as you go, so you can adjust them after the first show based on what people actually took and asked about.
Tent or backdrop
Outdoor shows, festivals and parking lot expos need a tent. Indoor shows in a convention hall usually give you pipe and drape, and many don't allow tents at all. Read the exhibitor packet before you order anything.
- Outdoor. A 10x10 printed tent with a back wall. Tents start at $999 with free design and free shipping. Our event tent buyers guide covers sizes, walls and weights.
- Indoor. A printed backdrop that fills the back of the booth so you're not standing in front of a gray curtain. Size and frame are quoted on the ticket.
Work both kinds of shows? Tell us on the ticket and we'll quote both setups side by side.
Look at the booth assignment too. A corner booth is open on two sides, so side walls can hurt more than they help. An inline booth sits between two neighbors, and a back wall plus side walls keeps the eye on your table.
| Item | What it does | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 10x10 printed tent | Shade and a billboard roof outdoors | From $999 |
| Printed backdrop | Fills the back of an indoor booth | Quoted on the ticket |
| 6 ft fitted table throw | Logo at eye level, hides boxes | $185 |
| 14 ft feather flags (2) | Easy to find from the aisle | $149 each |
| Retractable banner | Says what you do in five words | Quoted on the ticket |
| Business cards | Leave behind for every talk | Quoted on the ticket |
| Giveaway | Keeps your name on a desk | Quoted on the ticket |
| QR code and tracked page | Sends leads to your CRM | Quoted on the ticket |
| Staff shirts | Shows who works the booth | Quoted on the ticket |
Table throw and feather flags
The table is where every conversation happens. A bare folding table with boxes under it looks like a garage sale.
- Fitted table throw, 6 ft, $185. Fitted means it's cut to the table, so it looks tailored and doesn't blow around outside. Put the logo on the front panel at eye level.
- Two feather flags, $149 each. A 14 ft flag on each front corner. They move above the crowd and help people find you from the end of the row.
Indoor shows sometimes cap display height. Check the limit before you pack flags for a convention center.
Retractable banner and business cards
A retractable banner stands beside the table and says what you do in five words or less. Most stand around 7 ft tall, which puts your message above the heads of people walking by.
- Lead with the service, not a tagline. "Roof repair and replacement" beats a clever line nobody remembers.
- Put the phone number and web address in the middle third, above table height.
- Banner pricing is quoted on the ticket.
Bring more business cards than you think. A busy show can go through a few hundred. Our business card guide covers stock, finish and what to put on the back. Cards are quoted on the ticket.
One good giveaway
A giveaway should be useful enough to keep and match the people you want to talk to. Cheap pens go in the trash on the way to the parking lot. A koozie, a tape measure, a phone stand or a sunscreen stick stays in a truck or on a desk for months.
- Pick one item, not five.
- Print the logo and the web address, not just the logo.
- Hand it out after the conversation, not before. It's a thank you, not bait.
Order enough for the people you want, not everyone who walks by. Keep the giveaway under the table and bring it out when someone stops to talk. Browse our promotional products for ideas. Giveaways are quoted on the ticket by quantity.
QR code and lead capture
Most booths lose their leads in a fishbowl of business cards that sits in a car for a week. Fix that with a QR code that goes to a page built for the show.
- A tracked page. The code points to a short form. Name, phone, email and what they need. Nothing more.
- Straight into the CRM. Every form fill lands in your CRM tagged with the show name, so you know which event paid for itself. We build this with our website, CRM and phone systems.
- A reason to scan. A drawing, a free estimate or a show only offer. Print that reason right above the code.
- Big enough to scan. A common rule is 1 inch of code for every 10 feet of distance. On a table throw, 3 to 4 inches is plenty. On a backdrop, go bigger.
Keep a tablet or clipboard for people who won't scan, and write a note on the back of any card you collect. Follow up within two days while they still remember you. Our print plus digital QR guide walks through the full setup. Tracked pages and CRM setup are quoted on the ticket.
Staff shirts
Matching shirts tell visitors who works the booth. That sounds minor until someone wants to ask a question and can't tell your staff from other shoppers.
- Screen printed tees are the usual pick. The minimum is 12 garments for one color and 24 for two.
- Turnaround is 7 to 10 business days from approval and payment, with rush down to 1 to 2 days.
- Put the logo on the front and the web address on the back. Visitors see your back half the day.
See our screen printing page for shirt options. Shirts are quoted on the ticket.
Packing checklist
- Tent frame, canopy, walls and weights (or backdrop and frame)
- Table throw, plus a folding table if the show doesn't supply one
- Two feather flags with bases or ground spikes
- Retractable banner in its case
- Business cards, giveaways and a backup box to restock from
- QR code sign, plus a tablet or clipboard for leads
- Staff shirts, one per person per day
- Zip ties, tape, scissors, a power strip and an extension cord
- Water, sunscreen and a small cooler for outdoor shows
Pack the same kit the same way every time. By the second show, setup goes a lot faster.
When to order
Order 3 to 4 weeks before the show. That leaves room for a proof, a round of changes and shipping, with a buffer for surprises.
- Proofs on new jobs come back in 1 to 2 business days.
- Tents take 2 to 5 business days after that and ship FedEx with tracking.
- Shirts take 7 to 10 business days from approval and payment.
- Everything else is quoted on the ticket, including timing.
Put the whole kit on one job ticket and we'll build it as one order. Pickup in Hutto, local delivery or shipping all work.