It is both the simplest and most complex thing you can do all at the same time.
Picking the date the truck leaves and arrives at a trade show.
On the surface, this seems like a simple thing. However, you must know several things first:
- Are you going to the advanced freight warehouse?
- Are you shipping straight to show site?
- If you ship straight to show site, what’s your targeted move in day, date and time?
- Is your shipment crated or packed loose?
- How big is your shipment?
- Is it going by van line, common carrier or other freight service?
- Does the shipment require special handling (forklift, et al)?
Granted most of these questions relate to larger shows and larger exhibits, but you need to consider them even with smaller shows. Many cities are in union environments as well as having special considerations about how freight is handled and delivered.
First and foremost, consult your exhibitor’s service manual that comes from your show management team. Advanced freight means that you are going to a warehouse operated by the general contractor in the show city anywhere from 2 months to 2 weeks before the show starts set up.
Shipping to show site allows you to ship right to the booth space on the show floor and probably within a week of the show.
But before you can consider either of the former shipping options, you need to know when freight will be accepted into your part of the hall and placed aroudn your booth. Targeting freight allows organizers and general contractors to control the ebb and flow of materiel on the show floor.
How your shipment is packaged with determine not only what kind of carrier you should hire but also how it will be handled and how much it will cost to ship.
Considering any and all of these things will determine when and who you will ship your exhibit materials to the show. The outbound from the show is a topic for another post.
TTSG
