You’ve studied your target audience. Perfected your product or service offering and even figured out the tradeshow where you’d like to exhibit. What’s next? Selecting the perfect booth space! There are several different types of spaces to choose from, with their own pros and cons (and price tag!). Today we’ll look at one of the most common booth types: the inline booth.
What is an inline booth, and why would I want one?
An inline booth (also called a linear booth) contains one or more 10’ x 10’ booths in a straight line. Inline booths neighbor exhibitors to the left, right, and behind, leaving one side of the booth exposed to an aisle. It is possible to purchase and combine multiple inline booths to create larger inline spaces (10ft x 20ft, 10ft x 30ft, etc.). Inline booths are typically less expensive than other types of booth spaces. This makes them a great option for tradeshow newbies, companies trying out a new show, or those simply needing to have a presence because of competitors or customers.
Inline spaces allow you to cost-effectively explore the benefits and rewards of different tradeshows without the hefty price tag that larger exhibits bring.
Below is an example of an inline booth we created for a client. The back is closed off while the sides and aisle are exposed!
Are there any display regulations for an inline booth?
Yes! In the posted Exhibitor Manual for each event, event staff will provide a list of rules and regulations exhibitors must follow when preparing their exhibits. While each show can vary in the rules that they designate for their event, the International Association of Exhibitions & Events (IAEE) has created a standard set of rules which many events choose to follow.
In inline spaces, the major display regulations support the line-of-sight rule.
Products or services must be easily seen by attendees as they walk the aisles of the show floor. Attendees must also be able to view neighboring booths as they walk the floor. The linear booth line-of-sight setback rule requires the following:
- Backwall height limitation of 8 feet (2.44m): this prevents display materials from imposing on neighboring exhibits behind you.
- Use of space: you can only utilize the 8ft maximum height in the rear half of the booth. A four-foot (1.22m) height restriction applies to the front half of the booth depth.
- Note: if you combine three or more inline booths to create a single exhibit space, the 4ft height limitation is only applicable to the portion of the exhibit space within 10ft of a neighboring booth. For example, in a 10×30 booth space, the center 10ft space is still able to have 8’ fixtures all the way to the aisle. The left and right 10ft sections of the booth can use 8’ fixtures in the back half of the booth. However, the front 5ft of these sections may not exceed a 4ft height to allow for a proper line of sight.
- Hanging signs: hanging signs are a no-go for inline displays!
- Be a good neighbor: no direct signage or unfinished exhibit material should face into your neighbor’s exhibit.
What is an inline corner booth, and why would I want one?
An inline corner booth is a linear booth that is exposed to aisles on two sides. These are highly desirable inline spaces since you can attract traffic to your booth from several directions. All guidelines for linear booths apply. Since additional sides of your booth space are open to the aisle, you are able to utilize additional branding on sides facing the aisles.
What is an inline perimeter booth, and why would I want one?
An inline perimeter booth is a linear booth that backs against an outside wall of the exhibit facility instead of another exhibitor.
While all guidelines for inline booths apply to perimeter booths, perimeter booths have one exception: the maximum backwall height is twelve feet tall rather than eight feet. This extra height can provide an advantage when you’re trying to stick out from the competition.
Feeling overwhelmed?
While these are the standard rules defined by the IAEE, it is critical to confirm the requirements set for your specific event. Perfecting your display while following the rules may seem a little daunting, but OnePoint is here to help! Our team can help confirm booth regulations for your event and provide suggestions to help you maximize your branding and the customer experience.
Contact us today for more information!
