It’s been only a few weeks since the EXHIBITOR2008 Show, and since memories are still fresh, this is the time to think about some of the great booths we can learn from. The majority of booths this year were really quite good; many were creative and some were downright exceptional.

The showfloor is extremely competitive, and as I walked the aisles, I could hear attendees discussing which booths they liked best. In my monthly column further back in this issue, I talk about frequent mistakes made with exhibits, but here are the booths that made my personal “TradeShow Teacher’s Top 10 EXHIBITOR2008 Exhibits List” – and why.

Note: The list is in alphabetical order rather than order of preference: All 10 did a great job!

TradeShow Teacher’s Top 10 Favorite Booths of EXHIBITOR2008

Cort Tradeshow Furnishings; www.corttradeshow.com

Cort offers upscale tradeshow rental furniture. What impressed me when walking by the booth is that it made me want to come in, sit down, hang out and learn about the products and how they can be used in a wide variety of booth styles and sizes. The massive chandelier in the center of the display was striking, adding additional character, class and attractiveness to this booth.

Creatacor, Inc.; www.creatacor.com
While this booth was a repeat from last year, it deserves kudos for its stylish look and creativity. With its tagline, “Be a Trade Show Big Fish,” Creatacor used a theme that was skillfully and consistently applied throughout the booth and cleverly carried through to the corporate Web site. The height of the structure helped draw attention to the booth, but it was the brilliant sea of blues, the bright tropical colors and the underwater theme that delighted the senses and lured you inside. Hiring the informative, engaging and entertaining presenter was another smart decision.

Fabric Images; www.fabricimages.com
This booth’s exterior was so unconventional and stunning that it compelled me to find out what treasures might be waiting within. Stepping inside was like being transported to a hip, trendy lounge. The exterior’s red theme and imagery carried through to accent pieces within, where there was a respite from the noise and chaos of the showfloor. The overall effect made a big, bold and remarkable impression while showing how very versatile fabric structures can be.

Gallo Displays; www.gallodisplays.com
Those wooden figures climbing the stairs are what did it for me, plain and simple! This booth was fairly neutral and simplistic, yet the striking “wood people” grabbed my attention and gave insight into this company’s creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. The originality and openness of the floor space made me take an even closer at this booth and add it to my Top 10 list.

Hadley Exhibits Inc.; www.hadleyexhibits.com
The cheerful, slate blue, light yellow-green and hint of red color combined with the light wood floor and flat-screen monitors displaying company information suggested the reception area of a modern TV Station. The wraparound seating cornered on the side of the exhibit showed how a cleverly crafted design can maximize the footprint and impact of a fairly small booth. This is a great example of how you don’t always need a big booth to make an impact on the showfloor; just a good and space-conscious design.

Live Marketing; www.livemarketing.com
For starters, you couldn’t miss the bold red, black and white color combination Live Marketing used for its booth and materials. Though I was rushing through the showfloor to get somewhere, this booth stopped me in my tracks. I was fascinated by its use of the words “stretch the experience” in combination with a sizeable hand that appeared to be pushing through the fabric.  I was also impressed by the energetic presenter and by the information illustrated on the screens. Effective use of many techniques to attract and captivate attention is what got Live Marketing on my Top 10 List.

MC²; www.mc-2.com
The design approach MC² took for its display was entirely focused on providing attendees with the ability to sit down and talk to the long list of company speakers presenting EXHIBITOR2008 sessions. Use of touch screen displays containing the presentations combined with the availability of the various experts made for a truly interactive booth experience. It was also fun and interesting to learn about the many display options this company has to offer.

Nomadic Display; www.nomadicdisplay.com
The bold color and lighting combined with the neutral wood paneling inside, cream carpet and wood chairs presented a lively expression, yet had composed elements that pulled this booth together so the brilliant colored items are dramatic, but not overwhelming. This booth made the Top 10 list for using the variety of components mentioned which lets you as attendees grasp how to pull such a look together; to present a striking, yet controlled image.

Phoenix FORMations, Inc.; www.phoenixformations.com

The bold, vividly colored (to some, it even seemed fiery) centerpiece of this booth immediately attracted my eye. Phoenix FORMations, Inc. cleverly integrated its logo into the display to make a dramatic statement. The brand was well incorporated throughout an open booth, making it inviting to visit. This was a pleasant place for attendees to rest their feet by sitting on curved couches inside while chatting with a representative about the company’s offerings.

Wise Industries, Inc.; www.wiseindustries.com
Management of Wise Industries, Inc., made a “wise” decision (sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun) in having Caroline Fisher design the company’s booth. As a former interior designer, Fisher, now vice president of the firm’s flooring division, was able to combine her considerable experience in that profession with impressive tradeshow design skills.

The displays’ charming wild zebra theme was well carried from the floor to an impressively large and compelling graphic, not to mention carefully executed details that included zebra print-covered chairs and the top of an eye-catching column. This booth was strikingly different and attention grabbing, and also radiated an animated warmth (again, those zebras!). Ample open space invited attendees to drop by for a chat to learn more about the flooring products.

Interestingly, I later learned that the large, mirrored column of this booth – an appealing part of its overall design – was added deliberately after such a feature had to be incorporated at Surfaces 2008, where the exhibitors were confronted with an unsightly column sitting in the middle of the assigned booth space. Turning the lemon into lemonade, Fisher and Robert Wise, the company’s president, converted the eyesore into a reflective surface that provided great visual interest by amplifying the floor pattern. This booth therefore wins kudos not only for being in the Top 10, but for using ingenuity to turn a potentially detrimental eyesore into winsome eye candy.

Something tells me that these exhibitors always have a backup plan – something I’m fond of recommending – and they seem to do everything right. Hmm…..perhaps they’ve been reading my ECN column!