You are planning to exhibit in a very important trade show – one that will help launch your company's exciting new product with lots of pizzazz. Now you have a dilemma. Your company's trade show booth is already engaged in another show overseas and you will not be able to ship it back in time for the upcoming Las Vegas trade show.

Here is your best solution: rent a custom exhibit. You can successfully exhibit in two shows simultaneously when you secure a trade show display rental with your company's branding and unique design elements. But, before you begin, you will want to make sure to avoid the major pitfalls of exhibit booth rentals.

This is probably the biggest mistake you can make and often your most costly one. Never choose booth rental exhibits based exclusively on how it looks rather than its practicality. There is a treasure trove of hidden cost savings you can take advantage of when you reduce your freight, drayage, installation and dismantling costs.

With that in mind, don't rely on looks alone. Rather, consider the weight of your exhibit booth rentals, how easy it is to ship, and how many shipping crates it requires.

If you are on too tight a budget, you will not only be at risk for making design mistakes, but also for incurring unnecessary rush charges and losing the early discounts offered by show management. Don't miss the cut off dates for discounts on carpeting, drayage, lighting and other show services.

Be sure to work with a designer specially trained and experienced in billboard- sized graphics that are utilized at the show. Your designer needs to work with very large graphic files that have the capability to translate artwork into clear, crisp graphics on a grand scale.

In order to build a booth with accurate dimensions, it is critical to have the correct show space size as well as a true knowledge of any obstacles that may be lurking in your show space. Be very thorough when you check the size specs of your assigned show space number.

Is it a peninsula or an island space? If it is an island, all four sides will have entry, whereas if it is a peninsula there will be entry from only three sides. Look for obstructions such as columns, archways and beams that will prohibit a hanging sign.

Create a proper budget for your trade show display rental. Remember your competition and space requirements when calculating costs. Check out industry standards when preparing your budget.

The Exhibit Designers and Producers Association (EDPA) does a yearly survey for trade show rentals of various size spaces and outlines a price range based on these space requirements. Ask your exhibit house to help you keep your exhibit within these recommended guidelines.

By selecting a professional trade show exhibit house that knows the industry inside and out, you are well on your way to building a trade show display rental that will succeed in every category, whenever and wherever you exhibit.