Trade show events are one of the best ways to showcase your products or services and get your brand in front of the public eye. The more people you attract to your booth, the more successful your trade show sales and presentations will be.
Standing apart from the hundreds of other exhibits and booths at a trade show is exceptionally challenging. During a trade show, your brand, product, or service has to be impeccable, and your booth has to be perfect in every way, especially the lighting. The lighting in and around your booth can mean the difference between success and failure. Here are a few basics and how and what types of lighting to use for an eye-catching trade show booth.
Lighting Basics
Not all lights are created equal, so selecting the perfect types, colors, and strengths of lamps that suit your brand, products, and booth design is vital. There are three standard lamps used in trade shows: halogen lamps, LED lights, and gas discharge lamps. Each lamp has its pros and cons and offers different characteristics for lighting objects or spaces. Here’s how to use each type:
Halogen Lamps
Halogen lamps provide the brightest light and also consume the most power. These lamps work best for lighting signs, banners, and logos. Halogen lamps are also a good choice for lighting custom backlit exhibit booth displays, which can add eye-catching appeal and a clean and professional look and feel to your booth.
LED Lights
LED lighting and light strips are great for adding a pop of color to your trade show booth. LED lights have a long lifespan and consume very little power. LED light strips and lamps are perfect for decorative purposes and can add the perfect amount of bling to your booth when used correctly.
Gas Discharge Lamps
Gas discharge lamps have high light output with average power consumption. These lamps are an excellent choice for lighting your booth’s floor and interior. You can also use gas discharge lamps to highlight products and displays but make sure the objects are not too bright or overly lit.
Choosing Light Color
Most people don’t know that light is measured in color by the Kelvin scale. A lower Kelvin temperature equals a warmer light, and a colder Kelvin temperature equals a colder light. If you have many bright-colored exhibits and products in your booth, use brighter lights with a color temperature of about 3000. For darker objects, use a color temperature of roughly 2700 degrees Kelvin.
Poor lighting can make your booth and trade show event dull and unattractive. In addition, a poorly lit booth is not only bad for your trade show business, but it’s also bad for your brand. Take some time to properly plan your lighting scheme and booth design well before the event and invest in a high-quality lighting system.
Anica is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. You can connect with Anica on Twitter @AnicaOaks.