What is the advance warehouse? Do you know the difference between a booth space and a booth exhibit? What is pipe and drape? If you’re new to trade shows or confused about all the trade show industry jargon words, save this trade show glossary for later!
ADVANCE WAREHOUSE: where freight can be shipped and stored before the show to avoid any potential issues. For this reason, we recommend shipping to the advance warehouse!
ASSET MANAGEMENT: the storage, tracking, and maintenance of exhibit properties.
BACKLIGHTING: displays that have internal lights to make the graphics ‘glow’.
BOOTH SPACE: The physical, empty floor space you rent from show organizers to exhibit in at shows. There are different types of booth spaces, including but not limited to inlines, peninsulas, and islands.
BILL OF LADING: a shipping document that lists critical details like carrier name, pick-up and delivery addresses, and piece count/weights/dimensions.
CADs: a 3D, black and white drawing used to visualize an exhibit.
CUSTOM MODULAR EXHIBIT: a structural, custom-designed display built from reconfigurable, scalable, and rentable.
DISCOUNT DEADLINE: the date you must submit show service orders to secure a ‘discount’ rate. Often about 1 month before the show installs.
DOUBLE DECK EXHIBIT: a two-story exhibit structure.
EXHIBITOR APPOINTED CONTRACTOR: a professional labor team contracted by the exhibitor to provide services on the show floor.
ELECTRICAL DROP: a designated point where power is delivered to your booth via extension cord.
ELECTRICAL MAP: a map that shows where power should be delivered to your booth.
EDGE-LIGHTING: displays that have lighting around the perimeter to make the edges glow.
EXHIBITOR KIT / MANUAL: a comprehensive document that provides show details, deadlines, regulations, and service order forms.
INSTALL AND DISMANTLE TEAM (I&D): professional labor contracted to assemble and tear down an exhibit.
LEAD RETRIEVAL: a system used to scan badges and collect lead information.
MARSHALLING YARD: a location near the convention center where trucks check-in and wait in line to for loading/unloading.
MATERIAL HANDLING: fee, based on weight, that the show decorator charges to handle your freight. Including unloading your truck, moving freight to/from your booth, and loading your truck with forklifts. Also called ‘drayage’. This is not the same thing as shipping.
MATERIAL HANDLING AGREEMENT: Similar to a BOL, this document requires completion on the show floor during teardown and submission to the service desk before you are able to load your truck.
PORTABLE DISPLAY: a light-weight display that packs small and is easy to install and dismantle
PIPE AND DRAPE: a framework of metal pipes and fabric that show decorators us in the US to define booth spaces and separate exhibitors from each other.
RENDERING: A 3D, full-color drawing used to visualize an exhibit.
RIGGING: the process of hanging and removing signs or structures from the ceiling.
SHOW SERVICES: services provided by the venue like electricity, material handling, cleaning, etc…
SHOW SITE: the location where a trade show is at.
TARGET MOVE-IN / MOVE-OUT DATE: Some shows assign specific dates and times that freight should be moved in and out to avoid crate/truck congestion. They charge penalties if you move-in off target.
Still have questions? The experts at OnePoint are here to help – reach out and we will guide you through any trade show issue!
