The Ultimate Guide to Reusable Exhibition Stands

Reusable exhibition stands are transforming the way people approach exhibiting. Designed to be used time and time again, they have become the cornerstone of modern exhibitions, offering eco-friendly, consistent and powerful branding across entire event calendars.

In the past, to make an impact in the show hall, businesses had to invest in a brand-new exhibition stand for every event, which was both expensive and unsustainable. Early reusable solutions were not as palatable as custom-built alternatives, as they were falling short on design freedom.

That’s now changed. In response to this industry issue, reusable, modular exhibition stand providers have developed advanced systems, enabling businesses to exhibit sustainably without sacrificing impact on the show floor.

Now, alongside the panoramic graphics that beautifully capture brand stories and messaging, products can be mounted on or integrated into the stands, and structures can host impressive custom features and bespoke elements, rivalling even the greatest custom-builds.

In this guide, we share everything you need to know about reusable exhibition stands. Follow along for all the details.

Reusable exhibition stands come in all shapes and sizes to cater to all budgets and requirements.

• Modular Exhibition Stands – A flexible and versatile exhibiting solution, made of separate components that connect to make the unified stand structure. These can be reconfigured for different stand spaces and sizes.
• Single Set-up Stands – Many of the stands made with stretch fabrics are reusable without being modular. This is because they utilise large expanses of fabric, which overlay a set structure. As the fabric is one piece, these can only be used in that one layout.
• Hybrid Stands – Hybrid stands combine modular and custom structures. These are not collapsible for compact storing, as typical modular solutions are, but can be stored in their larger units for reinstallation.
• Banners – A simple, collapsible, and reusable display solution that is ideal for start-ups, small conferences and events.

Reusable stands are often renowned for the cost savings they provide; however, they also play a significant role in reducing the environmental harm of in-person marketing activations, building a more sustainable events industry for the future. For perspective on the scale of the industry, there were 1,100 exhibitions in the UK just last year, and over 178,000 exhibitors. Without reusable stands and strong sustainability initiatives, the industry would struggle to justify its environmental impact. This is why reusable exhibition stands are so important. They allow businesses to reap the benefits of these face-to-face activations while significantly reducing environmental harm.

The “reusable vs recyclable” debate has been a popular topic in the events industry. It’s generally understood that reuse trumps recycling. While recyclability is good as an “end-of-life” feature on a reusable product, it shouldn’t be the sole basis of a sustainability claim. A familiar example is recyclable water bottles. You wouldn’t claim a plastic bag is sustainable, because they’re one-use, and don’t measure up to the aluminium options, which are far more sustainable. The same applies to exhibition stands.

Recyclable exhibition stands are undeniably more sustainable than disposable, non-recyclable alternatives, and they can serve as a good transitional solution for exhibitors who are not in a position to commit to a fully reusable option, i.e., mid-brand refresh or exhibiting with a one-time product. However, on their own, they are not a genuine sustainable model.

Reusable, modular exhibition stands are widely recognised as the most sustainable option on the market. They’re flexible and versatile for reuse across and beyond an entire calendar, keeping exhibiting practices circular. Once the system eventually reaches the end of its lifespan, it can be recycled. And, unlike plastic, which can only be recycled once or twice, aluminium, which forms the frames of the stand, can be recycled indefinitely without losing its quality.

Reusable exhibition stands allow businesses to minimise their environmental footprint, using one stand for a full exhibition calendar and beyond, rather than employing a new exhibition stand for each event.

As well as reducing the environmental footprint, reusable exhibition stands enable businesses to position themselves as a sustainable player in their respective industry. In the current market, budget-holders are often charged with sourcing from supply chains that are sustainable from start to finish. This means not just creating a sustainable product, but acting sustainably as a company – a reusable exhibition stand proves commitment to these credentials.

This benefit is particularly pertinent for businesses that exhibit multiple times a year. Reusable exhibition stands are an extremely cost-effective solution, particularly modular, reusable stands. Instead of buying a new stand for each event, businesses can use one stand, in various reconfigurations, across multiple events.

The stands can be employed on a hire or purchase basis, both offering great cost savings.

This point is more specific to modular, reusable stands that can be reconfigured to suit different stand spaces and sizes. This particular type of reusable exhibition stand is very useful, as it saves exhibitors from having to book the same stand space or layout for every event. Some contractors will offer free reconfiguration designs alongside their stands – Quadrant2Design, for example, offers Lifetime Free Design!

The importance of consistent branding is sometimes overlooked as a key benefit of modular stands. By using the same panels and contractor, branding and exhibition stand styles look professional, consistent and recognisable. While this is beneficial for all companies, the value is most noticeable for SMEs, as it increases brand recall!

Some companies are concerned about the storage requirements for reusable exhibition stands, so we wanted to clarify that this is not often an issue for genuinely modular solutions. While some of the modern hybrid solutions require a larger footprint of storage space, true modular solutions do not. For example, Quadrant2Design stands pack neatly into small carry cases for easy storage. On the Free-Hire Pro plan, the stands are stored in our own unit, at no cost to the exhibitor.

While the bespoke design opportunities might be limited for off-the-shelf, cheaper modular solutions, custom-designed modular stands, like those built within the Prestige Events System, are extremely customisable, both structurally and aesthetically. Bespoke and custom features can be integrated for a complete one-of-a-kind look.

We wouldn’t say that there are drawbacks to reusable exhibition stands; however, there are some scenarios where their use may not be appropriate. Let’s discuss some of the common concerns.

Some businesses are concerned with the initial investments for reusable exhibition stands, as there is a lot of information on the web that suggests modular stands are more expensive than one-use stands.

While a high-quality modular exhibition stand may be more than an off-the-shelf, one-use stand, it is very uncommon for modular exhibition stands to be more expensive than a custom-build one, even as an initial investment. Moreover, during reinstallation, the prices of the stands usually decrease by approximately 60%.

For more pricing information, view our virtual showroom tour, which showcases investment prices and reinstallation costs for four exhibition stands.

This point is true, as reusable exhibition stands are designed for multiple uses, which is why they require a little more design strategy than a typical one-use exhibition stand.

This is not a concern for most businesses, as branding is usually designed to last, and temporary add-ons like product launches can be strategically narrowed to just one or two panels to keep costs low.

This does make reusable stands unsuitable for businesses approaching a rebrand.

Some companies are nervous about the storage requirements for reusable exhibition stands, so we wanted to clarify, this is not often an issue for genuinely modular solutions. While some of the modern hybrid solutions require a larger footprint of storage space, true modular solutions do not. For example, Quadrant2Design stands pack neatly into small carry cases for easy storage. On the Free-Hire Pro plan, the stands are stored in our own unit, at no cost to the exhibitor.

While the bespoke design opportunities might be limited for off-the-shelf, cheaper modular solutions, custom-designed modular stands, like those built within the Prestige Events System, are extremely customisable, both structurally and aesthetically. Bespoke and custom features can be integrated for a complete one-of-a-kind look!

Reusable exhibition stands are a very worthwhile investment for your company, not only for sustainability credentials, but also for the aesthetic of the stand.

Here at Quadrant2Design, reusable exhibition stands are not a sideline to custom-builds; they are our entire focus. We have spent over 25 years developing the Prestige Events System to make it the most versatile modular solution on the market – completely custom-designed, and 100% reusable.

If you would like to see how your brand would suit a custom-modular, reusable stand, get in touch with our design consultants. Email design@quadrant2design.com or call +44 (0)1202 723 500 for a free, no-obligation design proposal.