Trade Show Glossary

Trade Show Floor Terms A-E

By Sandy Flom
CEO, Extraordinary Show Productions Ltd.
April 2005

Accessible Storage – an area provided by show contractors that is accessible during trade show hours for storage of collateral, giveaways, and other items that cannot be stored in the booth but to which an exhibitor needs access

Aisle - a walkway for visitors through a trade show or exhibit hall

Exhibitor crates and carpet on the first day of move-in on the trade show floor.

Aisle Carpet - carpet installed in trade show aisles

Aisle Signs – signs identifying trade show aisle numbers or letters; usually hung from the ceiling

Boneyard - a trade show storage area for empty exhibit crates and show contractor materials

Booth Space / Booth Area - the area of the floor in the exhibit hall assigned to an exhibitor for the setup of their trade show display

Cherry Picker – equipment with a manoeuvrable boom with an open bucket or cage used to lift a worker to a given height to perform aerial work such as rigging hanging signs from the exhibit hall ceiling

Column - a pillar in a trade show exhibit hall that supports the ceiling, roof, or other overhead structures; usually indicated on a trade show floor plan as a solid square

Contractor - an individual or company that provides services or materials such as furniture rental, cleaning, utilities, drayage, rigging, etc. to a trade show or its exhibitors; also referred to as Official Contractor or Exhibitor Appointed Contractor

Corner Booth / Exhibit - an exhibit space with aisles on at least two sides

Cross-aisle - An aisle that crosses a main aisle at a right angle

Decorator - an individual or company contracted to provide services for a trade show or its exhibitors.

Display Rules & Regulations - specifications for exhibit construction that are endorsed by major exhibit industry associations; rules & regulations specific to an exposition

Dolly - a low wheeled platform used for conveyance of heavy or cumbersome objects.

Draper – a skilled craftsperson who installs drapes, fabric, and special décor for a trade show

Drayage - a service that includes moving exhibit materials between the loading dock and an exhibit space, removal and storage of empty crates during the trade show, return of crates at show closing, and loading exhibit materials onto the carrier vehicle for shipment.

Drayage Contractor - a company responsible for unloading and loading exhibit materials from transport vehicles at a trade show and conveyance of exhibit materials between the exhibit hall loading dock and exhibitors’ booth spaces

Electrical Contractor – an individual or company hired by show management to provide electrical services to exhibitors at a trade show

End Cap or Peninsula Booth Space - an exhibit space with aisles on three sides

Exclusive Contractor – an individual or company contracted by show management as the sole provider of specified services for a trade show

Exhibit Hall – the room or area within an exposition venue where exhibits are located

Exhibitor Appointed Contractor (EAC) – any company other than the designated official contractor hired by an exhibitor to perform trade show services such as display installation and dismantle, rental plants, photography, audio visual rental, etc.

Exhibitor Service Desk – a location in the trade show hall provided by show management or the show contractor at which exhibitors can order services

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