Summary:
- Your trade show booth display is the perfect opportunity to impress and attract attendees. With the right print essentials, you’ll have an eye-catching yet engaging display that will stand out in a crowded room.
- The key print products that you should have around your booth are banners or banner stands and signage, along with business cards and brochures to hand out.
- Look for durable, easy-to-transport materials when deciding which print essentials to use. Vibrant, waterproof vinyl is best for banners, while signs and table displays utilize lightweight coroplast or foam board. Thick cardstock is ideal for business cards and brochures.
- Use consistent branding across all your print materials to help establish your brand identity. Make sure all materials have your company logo, the same colour palette and typography and relevant imagery.
- Hierarchy is just as important as visual impact: focus on readability, high-contrast colours and using charts or bullet points for quick scanning. Lead with your benefits and give the customer a call-to-action to encourage next steps.
Read More: Create a Cohesive Branding Identity By Matching Business Cards, Brochures & Stationery
Trade shows are a golden opportunity to get your business in front of a targeted, engaged audience; but in a crowded expo hall, how do you make sure your booth stands out? The answer: well-branded print materials—from eye-catching banners to professional brochures.
When designed thoughtfully, these marketing tools not only attract visitors, but also communicate your values while leaving a lasting impression. The Little Rock Printing experts break down all the print essentials you’ll need for your trade show booth and how to make the most impact across your marketing materials.
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Must-Have Print Materials for Your Booth
To create a complete, engaging presence at your trade show booth, these are the key print products you should prioritize.
Banners and Banner Stands
Banners are the visual anchors of your display—they’re often the first thing attendees see and should immediately convey your brand identity and core message. You have a few different options to choose from:
- Retractable (Roll-up) Banners: Portable and easy to set up.
- Hanging Banners: Great for visibility across a large convention floor.
- Step-and-repeat Banners: Ideal for photo ops and branding backdrops.
When designing your banner, make sure your logo is prominent and your tagline is clear and compelling. Stick with one strong call-to-action to avoid visual clutter.
One of the most convenient options for a trade show is to use a banner stand or X-banner stand. These options are sturdy and adjustable and can be designed similar to a retractable or hanging banner. At Little Rock, we offer a variety of premium options for our banner stands, plus a carrying case for easy transport.
Signage
Signage plays a big role in directing and educating attendees, and there are many different signs that can be used at your trade show booth.
- Counter Cards: Use these tabletop signs to highlight product features, services or other offerings.
- Poster Boards: A perfect amount of space to detail case studies or testimonials.
- Floor Decals: These are super helpful if you’re in a large or multi-section booth setup.
Business Cards
Trade shows are perfect for networking, so having sleek, professional business cards on hand is a no-brainer. This also allows you to reinforce your brand and give contacts a way to follow up. Consider premium touches like soft-touch finishes, embossing or die-cut shapes to stand out among other business cards.
Read More: What Information Should You Include When Designing a Business Card?
Brochures
A brochure provides in-depth information that visitors can take with them. The most-effective brochure introduces your business, services and products and answers common questions. It should also include contact information and your company’s website and/or social media handles.
To ensure your content is digestible, use clear images and infographics. You’ll be able to fit the most amount of information in a tri-fold or half-fold brochure.
Choosing the Right Print Materials
While trade shows are a great place to showcase your business, it can be physically demanding—you’re hauling, setting up and breaking down your booth setup. That’s why it’s critical to use durable print material that is easy to transport. This also allows you to reuse materials for multiple shows—saving you time and money.
For banners, vinyl is your best material option since it’s durable, vibrant and waterproof. Signs and table displays are typically made of lightweight coroplast or foam board and are very cost effective. Backdrops and step-and-repeat banners typically utilize wrinkle-resistant fabric since it’s easy to pack.
There are a variety of paper types for brochures and business cards, but thicker cardstock material is your best bet. Adding a matte or gloss finish to your business cards can add a professional look and help resist creasing. Laminating your brochure can help the print material last longer and avoid tearing or ripping when shuffled around in a bag.
To help prevent any disruptions to your print materials during transport, always store your items in a bag with shoulder straps—this helps with the heavy lifting as well. Pack any signage in flat storage containers to prevent bending. You should also keep smaller print items like business cards and brochures in an easily-accessible pouch or folder.
Keep It Cohesive: Consistent Branding Across All Materials
The goal of your trade booth materials is for them to work in harmony under a single visual identity. Consistency builds credibility and helps visitors remember who you are.
Here are some of the core elements that all of your print materials should have:
- Your Logo: Be sure to place it prominently on all materials.
- Same Colour Palette: Use brand-approved colours for backgrounds, text and accents.
- Same Typography: Stick with 1–2 fonts across all designs to maintain readability and unity.
- Similar Imagery: Use branded photography or consistent illustration styles.
Visual Impact vs. Information: Finding the Right Balance
It’s also important to provide just the right amount of information without overwhelming your visitors. Focus on key facts while drawing attendees in with compelling visuals.
For visual impact
- Readability is a priority. Use large, bold headlines to draw attention and keep text blocks short—bullets or icons help with quick scanning.
- High-contrast colour combinations improve visibility from a distance.
- Use charts or product photos to replace long descriptions.
- QR codes can link to detailed online content (demo videos, landing pages, etc.)
For prioritizing your information
- Lead with your benefits—what you can do for your customers.
- Give your visitors a next step with a call-to-action: “Visit our website”, “Scan to enter our giveaway” or “Schedule an appointment today”. Your print materials should guide them through the experience.
Aligning these elements across your print materials will give your booth a polished and professional appearance. It’s also helpful to create a brand kit (in Canva or another design platform) ahead of time, so all designers and printers work from the same set of assets.
Read More: How to Build a Brand Kit For Your Print Materials in Canva
Use Your Booth To Help Represent Your Brand
A successful trade show presence is about more than just showing up—it’s about standing out. By choosing the right print materials, maintaining brand consistency and balancing content with visual appeal, you can maximize engagement with potential customers and clients.
Need help printing your signs or brochures for your next trade show? Our Little Rock print experts can help you create the best print materials that make an impact. Contact us today to get started!
