At Display Gurus, we know that the trade show floor can be chaotic—and our goal is to make your experience as easy and successful as possible. Below, we’ve answered some common exhibitor questions and shared solutions to challenges that might come up along the way. If you don’t see your issue here, don’t worry—reach out to us and we’ll do our best to help!
Planning ahead can save you a lot of time and stress. If you can, have your exhibitor badges mailed to you before the show so you have them in hand when you arrive. If you need to pick them up onsite, we strongly recommend doing so the day before the event opens. On opening day, registration lines often wrap around the building—think Disneyland-style queues. Don’t count on walking in at 8:00am and being at your tradeshow booth rental by 10:00am. Give yourself a head start.
If you pre-ordered a lead retrieval machine, you’ll typically find it at the Lead Retrieval Service Desk inside the Exhibitor Services area of the convention hall. Didn’t order one in advance? It’s still worth checking—there are sometimes extra machines available.
Pro tip: Pay close attention during the training or setup—one wrong button can erase your hard-earned leads!
At large trade shows, freight logistics can be a bit of a gamble. When hundreds of vendors are sending materials—often direct-to-showsite—it’s not uncommon for shipments to be misplaced. That’s why it’s essential your team comes prepared with all the details:
If your setup day falls on a weekend, be sure to bring that info with you—calling the office might not be an option.
If you shipped to the advance warehouse within the timeline specified in the Exhibitor Manual, your materials should already be at your booth. From there, the Display Gurus team can help reposition or set up your items as needed.
However, if you opted for direct-to-showsite shipping, be prepared—it can take a day or more for your freight to arrive at your booth. To avoid last-minute panic, try to have your shipment arrive at least three days before the show opens. If that’s not possible, consider sending your materials to your hotel instead of the venue. Once the show begins, most contractors will not deliver packages to booths during open hours.
Here’s how to track down your missing freight:
Shipments often get held up in the marshalling yard, at the docks, or in storage somewhere on-site. Eventually, they do get delivered—but having the right info speeds up the process dramatically.
Whether you’re managing a large-scale convention booth rental or working with more compact display booth rentals, Display Gurus is here to guide you every step of the way. We specialize in creating seamless experiences for trade show booths rentals, and that includes helping you prepare for the little things that make a big difference.
Need help planning your next event? We’re just a call away.