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The small-company booth field guide

Make your next conference booth ridiculously simple.

Practical advice for people running a booth without a dedicated event team.

Find a place to start ↓

Browse by job

Start with what you need to do.

01Make a decision

Guides

Clear recommendations for the choices that shape a small-company booth.

80 starter entries →02Remember the details

Checklists

Practical lists for planning, packing, setup, show days, and follow-up.

1 starter entry →03Test the options

Experiments

Repeatable tests that turn booth assumptions into useful observations.

1 starter entry →04Reuse the work

Resources

Templates, worksheets, and references you can take into your next event.

1 starter entry →05Plan the numbers

Tools

Simple planners for equipment, staffing, power, and preparation.

1 starter entry →

Browse by topic

Start with the booth problem.

Not sure whether you need a guide, checklist, or tool? Choose the area you are working on and see every useful format together.

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012 entries
Set the plan

Planning & Budgeting

Set objectives, build a realistic budget, and make the early decisions that keep the event manageable.

020 entries
Make it clear

Booth Design & Messaging

Create a booth layout and message that visitors can understand quickly without crowding the space.

033 entries
Keep it playing

AV & Screens

Choose, transport, install, and run booth displays with fewer surprises on the show floor.

042 entries
Get it there

Logistics & Shipping

Pack, label, ship, store, set up, and return booth equipment without losing control of the details.

050 entries
Prepare the crew

Staffing & Training

Choose the right booth team, build a workable schedule, and prepare people to represent the company well.

060 entries
Run the show day

Booth Operations

Use clear routines for setup, opening, handoffs, issue response, closing, and teardown.

070 entries
Start useful conversations

Demos & Visitor Engagement

Plan demonstrations and visitor interactions that work in a noisy hall without becoming pushy or complicated.

080 entries
Keep the context

Lead Capture & Follow-up

Qualify visitors, record useful context, and turn booth conversations into timely next steps.

090 entries
Stay connected

Connectivity

Keep demos, lead capture, screens, and staff devices useful when venue internet is limited or unreliable.

101 entry
Power the equipment

Power & Electrical

Estimate electrical needs, order the right service, and connect booth equipment within venue rules.

1176 entries
Make materials earn their place

Giveaways & Printed Materials

Choose giveaways, handouts, and QR-code materials that support a clear objective instead of adding waste.

120 entries
Improve the next show

Post-event Review

Review useful evidence, document what happened, and decide what should change before the next event.

Latest articles

Fresh from Booth Lab.

Guides5 min

Are AirPods cases good conference swag?

AirPods cases are compact and inexpensive, but exact-generation compatibility sharply limits the audience and makes model identification essential.

Guides5 min

Are beanies good conference swag?

Beanies can be excellent seasonal swag, but climate, material comfort, fit, and embroidery matter more than their apparent one-size simplicity.

The Booth Lab newsletter

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Start here

Useful before your next show.

The foundational decisions and lists that prevent most avoidable booth-day problems.

Guides

How to choose conference swag that earns its place

A practical method for choosing, sampling, distributing, and reviewing conference giveaways without buying clutter.

Guides

What size TV should you use at a trade-show booth?

A renter-first way to choose between a 43-, 55-, or 65-inch TV for demos and aisle-facing booth content.

Checklists

Conference booth packing checklist

A field-ready checklist for assigning, testing, packing, shipping, and returning a small conference booth without losing critical equipment.

How Booth Lab works

Built around real booth jobs.

Get the answer early

No long preamble before the practical recommendation.

See the trade-offs

Advice is shaped for small teams, tight timelines, and real constraints.

Reuse the process

Take checklists and templates into the next event.