16 Trade Show Terms You Should Know About

Is your business new to the exciting world of trade shows? These events offer so much potential for business owners when it comes to gathering leads, showing off products, and forging relationships with potential customers. Still, unless you’ve been studying trade show publications around the clock, confusing terminology is bound to make an appearance.

Below, you’ll learn about some of the most important trade show terms so that your business can leverage the opportunities.

Basic Exhibition Terms for Trade Show Beginners

Whether you’re a total trade show beginner or a seasoned pro, it’s always good to brush up on basic convention terms like the following:

1. Exhibit hall: Where all the action happens. Set up your booth here and mingle.
2. Exposition: Showing off your services or products to attendees at trade shows.
3. Hospitality suite: A separate room where attendees can enjoy drinks and snacks.
4. Breakout session: A smaller gathering that allows groups of trade show participants to focus on specialized topics.
5. Sponsorship: Financial compensation from a company in exchange for product placement at a trade show.
6. Seminar: Similar to a college lecture, one or more seminar leaders present information and take questions from the audience.

That’s trade show talk in a nutshell, but what about the booth itself?

Trade Show Terminology for Booths

Your business’s trade show booth is where the magic happens. Here’s an explanation of some common booth terms you might hear as you prepare to wow the crowds:

7. Modular Booths

These displays come in separate components that you can arrange however you like.

8. Portable Displays

Typically, portable displays weigh less than 100 pounds. They’re easy to transport and set up.

9. Perimeter Booths

Trade show layouts locate perimeter booths along the outer walls of the exhibit. They can attract lots of foot traffic.

10. Island Exhibits

Also called free-form exhibits, these booths have aisles on all four sides.

11. Peninsula Booths

Also known as end caps, peninsula booths serve three aisles.

12. Frontage

This measurement depicts the width of your exhibit space across the front.

Your Event Marketing Glossary for Planning and Trade Show Setup

So, you’ve secured a spot at that must-attend trade show. Now what? Your business will need some trade show jargon to make it through the planning stage unscathed – start here:

13. Drayage: The transportation of your trade show materials from the warehouse to the exhibit floor.

14. Advanced receiving date: The date by which you must transport your materials to the warehouse to avoid an extra charge.

15. Prospectus: The promotional materials to encourage businesses to sign up for the trade show and relay information.

16. Traffic flow: How guests will move through the event.

Still can’t make heads or tails of trade show terminology? Reach out to Oser Communication Group for a helping hand.

Ace Those Trade Show Terms and More With Our Industry Experts

At Oser Communications Group, we’re experts at exhibit advertising, trade show etiquette, and everything you need to make sure your event goes off without a hitch. To learn more about marketing event vocabulary, give us a call at (520) 721-1300!