Exhibitions – A Glossary of Common Terms
Application: The form you need to complete to apply for an exhibition stand. Once accepted by the organiser the application normally becomes your contract.
Corinthian: A form of exhibition walling made up of wood (corinthian doors) panels covered in velcro-compatible fabric. Has the advantage of providing a flat and durable surface.
Custom Stand: A unique stand in an exhibition which has been designed and built specifically for an individual exhibitor
Floorplan: The layout of an exhibition or event showing all the stands and major venue features.
Late Fee: A fee applied to the exhibitor when they place orders with suppliers after the due date for the exhibition.
Loading Dock: The area normally located at the back of the venue where goods may be unloaded and brought into the venue. Normally there is a wait during peak times. Forklift services or trolley hire may be available for a small charge. Check with the organiser.
Manual: Most organisers issue an Exhibitor Manual to each exhibitor once they have contracted to an event. The manual will generally include an information section, checklists, order forms and catalogues for additional services.
Octanorm: An internationally recognised modular construction system for exhibition stands. Comprised of aluminium poles, flat panels and other accessories for flexible yet affordable stand design.
Organiser: A company who puts events together. Some organisers own the events they run while others organise events on behalf of industry associations.
Registration: The process of collecting visitor details before they enter the show. Common at trade shows but not public exhibitions.
Rigging: The process of hanging lights or banners from the ceiling of a venue. Generally allowed above your own stand at an additional cost.
Shell scheme: Exhibition Space supplied with a basic stand. Often includes carpet, walls, lighting and a name board or fascia. Sometimes includes a power point but not always.
Space only: Exhibition stand supplied as bare floor-space, used in conjunction with a custom stand builder to design and build a stand specific to the exhibitors’ requirements.
Supplier: A company who provides services to the exhibition industry. Items such as shell scheme, furniture, custom stands, signage, AV, electrics & lighting.
Tracker: Refers to a machine which scans visitor name-badges and prints to an address label or floppy disk. Normally available for hire at larger trade shows.
Venue: The building where events are staged.
