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Understanding
Carpet Rentals
The show manual sits on your desk with what seems to be 42 choices for carpet and padding. What do you really need? The base grade of carpet for most shows is fuzzy cardboard do not even consider it. It is a minuscule 16 ounces and you might as well spray paint the concrete. The next choice is 28 ounces show services offers this, we offer this, everyone offers this it seems. However we offer full sizes 10x10 is our standard not 9x10 like the show. An exhibit booth that is 20x20 becomes an 18x18 with show carpet. However they do have other offerings that will cover the whole booth for more money. Lastly there is 40 ounce carpet and it is great but very expensive.
Carpet padding is pretty simplistic it seems everyone uses 1/2 foam. The other option is double padding but dont get caught with double padding and an exhibit that can not be leveled. Best bet for the money 28 ounce carpet with 1/2 pad.
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Online Store ...
open for business!
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We have recently opened our online store - this is an extension of our online store tab within the Absolute Exhibits website and can also be reached directly - www.displaysandexhibits.com. If you are a true shopper and in todays marketplace there is no reason not to be then take a look. This is competitive pricing at its finest. Now you can buy an exhibit, or a banner stand, or a table throw at your leisure. You know, your free time from 11pm to 5 am, when you can wrap up what you started at 7:30 that morning. Seriously take a look and of course, if you have questions call Nate Tieman at 888-282-8858 or email him at ntieman@AbsoluteExhibits.com.
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Everyone wants to get the best deal -- or at least, to feel like we made every effort to get the most for our money. That is human nature. Getting the best deal may not be as obvious as it sounds. First, you need to decide what constitutes a best deal for your company, since it is rarely just the lowest purchase price. To be effective, negotiation needs to begin at the earliest stages of exhibit purchase or rental, and carry through until a final decision is made. A classic mistake is to make the decision and then begin to work on getting a deal.
The purchase or rental of an exhibit is more than a matter of soliciting and comparing multiple bids. Getting the
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best deal in any negotiation process requires creative thinking and strategizing. Its what differentiates getting the best value for your money from mere bargain hunting and we all know that in the long run, bargains can sometimes end up costing rather than saving money. Too many companies come to the bargaining table focused on how little they want to spend rather than on what they need.
A common pitfall in signing with an exhibit house that offers the lowest price is finding out that they do not have the capacity or capability to do what you need. This is key. Can they handle your business? You need to be able to make some tradeoffs. Maybe a lighter weight wall construction will work and afford you room in the budget for a sign 20 in the air. You need to be able to negotiate and say this is where I need to be monetarily and this is what I will and will not do to get there. We have had far too many clients tell us of the nightmare of taking the least expensive bid only to get post-billed for thousands of dollars that were never even alluded to in the proposal.
Know your costs. If you have a history of going to the same show for the last five years you will know if the proposal you are looking at is justified. Does every proposal quote shipping to the show? How much will your material handling bill be do you know the exhibit weight? It is your right to ask for itemized pricing so that a fair comparison can be made. Ask for references and call them. Anyone can print a list of references
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take the time to call and speak to current clients. Most rentals include a price point for installation and dismantle. However, knowing who is doing that work is a key factor on the show floor. While the exhibit price can be nearly the same if your exhibit house is not actually supervising your installation and dismantle with, in many cases, union contracted builders a two day install can easily become three days for 12 guys many at overtime.
Absolute Exhibits initiated a three-price cost structure over the past 18 months. This is a discount price for early orders that affords us the ability to construct, pack, and ship your exhibit to the advance show warehouse when we have down time. Our express price still allows us to get your exhibit to the advance warehouse with a quick turnaround time to build. And lastly, our rush price that ships directly into the show of course at a premium. This pricing matrix allows our clients to determine their best price upfront and takes much of the sting out of negotiations. After all, the ideal negotiation ends with a deal thats best for both parties.
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