Learn how to decrease your labor expenses and avoid headaches with these simple tips for setting up your display

By Daniel Chaddock, President of E&E Exhibit Solutions

From shipping and set-up to show fees and travel costs, attending a trade show can easily add up to a big expense for your company. One way to help trim your costs without sacrificing anything is by reviewing your trade show labor expenses. Left unchecked, labor costs can quietly devour your budget – and cause you a headache.

Luckily, there are many ways to efficiently manage your labor crew that will help you save time and money – and maximizing these efficiencies is actually easier than it seems. Try it for yourself at your next event with these key tips:

Save Money…Time it Right:

• Check your show book regularly and keep track of move-in and move-out dates and hours.
• Schedule your crew between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Starting set-up on a Friday afternoon is usually a bad idea, as any unplanned delays will force you into overtime charges.
• Schedule labor so personnel spend their time on the clock working, not waiting. For example, if your freight is scheduled to arrive at 8:00 a.m., schedule labor for 10:00 a.m. – this gives show management time to transport crates to your trade show booth space and also gives you a buffer in case your freight is late.

Save Time…Pay Close Attention:

• Have electrical and floorplans ready to provide to the labor company.
• Make sure to send in your Exhibitor Appointed Contractor (EAC) form so you can work with a preferred company that is familiar with trade show exhibits like yours.
• Pay attention to how your booth was packed so that you can easily direct repacking after dismantle.

Save Headaches…Be the Boss:

• While supervising the trade show labor crew, be available for questions and to provide directions – this will help keep your labor crew on task and avoid confusion or improper setups.
• Visit the exhibitor services desk regularly to check on orders you placed or last-minute items you may need.
• Record any damage that occurs during installation and setup, so that you can recoup repair costs from the labor company if necessary.
• Talk to your trade show display company, which may provide services to supervise your booth installation so you don’t have to.

Attention to detail, timing and simply making your presence felt are some of the most basic solutions to dealing with labor crews – but they’re often overlooked. But by keeping a close watch on these little details, you can make a big impact on your bottom line – giving you a little extra budget for trade show exhibit upgrades or extras.

Check out our other tips for maximizing your trade show ROI or contact us today for more.

Since 1994, Daniel Chaddock has consulted on the effective design and use of custom exhibits for trade show marketing. He is currently President of E&E Exhibit Solutions, a custom exhibit rentals and custom exhibit rental designs company offering expertise in portable exhibits and modular trade show displays. To discuss custom exhibit rental options reach Daniel via email Daniel@exhibitsusa.com or contact us at E&E Custom Exhibit Rentals at 800.709.6935.