Whether you exhibit once a year or every week, you may be using display stands. You may also find yourself wondering whether it is wiser to rent your display stands or buy them. The answer may be simple for you, but before you come to your conclusion, read about some of the factors to consider in each scenario so that you can make an informed decision.

Rent

There are several different situations in which renting display stands just makes more sense than purchasing them. Below are some scenarios where renting display stands may be the right option.

- For example, if you are attending an exhibition internationally, it may be more cost-effective to rent display stands locally than it would be to ship them overseas. In this situation, care must be taken to rent from a reputable source.

- Another situation in which renting display stands is the better choice is when you're trying exhibition as a new marketing technique or are just getting started. In this case, you may not be ready to invest in your own display stands. If this is the situation you find yourself in, you may decide to rent display stands until you're sure the commitment will be worth it.

- You may already own a display stand or even multiple stands. However, a particular event may come up where you have the opportunity to exhibit in two places at once and you may not have enough display stands. In this case, renting one or more display stands can allow you to maximize your exhibitions in a cost-effective manner.

Buy

Other circumstances definitely warrant investing in your own display stands. Even if you begin by renting display stands, you may soon realize that the frequency with which you find yourself renting them makes purchasing your own permanent ones the wiser choice.

- If your business model includes selling mostly at trade-show or exhibition style outlets such as flea markets, swap meets or other such venues, you are probably using display stands very often. In this scenario, it is wise to invest in your own display stands, as the cost will be made up in what you would have otherwise spent in rentals.

- If most of the exhibitions you participate are local and you are able to transport them, or if the cost of shipping them to the exhibitions you exhibit at is reasonable, then buying may be a good option for you.

- If trade show marketing is a large part of your overall marketing plan, then hopefully you will find yourself participating in several trade shows over the course of a year. If trade show marketing is integral to your business, then chances are that you will be participating in trade shows for several years and can definitely benefit from investing in display stands.

The Verdict

Basically, to rent or buy display stands is a matter of circumstance. It all depends on circumstances such as how often you would be using them, how near or far they would be transported, etc. These circumstances would determine whether the investment and commitment of purchasing your own display stands is warranted, or whether renting the display stands is smarter for your purposes. No matter which route you end up deciding is right for you and your business, make sure you do your research. Whether you rent or buy display stands you will want to be sure to deal with a reputable dealer. You should also be a smart consumer and shop around to ensure you get the best value and most reasonable pricing available.