Last week at the Battery & Energy Storage Exhibition in Hong Kong, we walked through aisle after aisle of booths — and one thing became clear: the trade show world is changing.

More specifically, portable trade show materials are becoming increasingly popular among exhibitors. Especially for first-timers, it’s clear that booth design is often an afterthought. We noticed many standard booths (the typical 3x3m shell scheme) looked almost identical: a few posters taped to the back wall, a meeting table, and a basic front counter provided by the organizer. That’s it.

And the result? They were easy to walk past. In a crowded hall with hundreds of booths, these setups simply didn’t stand out.

What Made Our Client’s Booth Different?

Now, let’s look at one of our own clients. Same shell scheme booth size. Same hall. But the difference in visibility was night and day.

Here’s what we did:

• We added a portable backlit lightbox to the back wall
• We installed a custom-designed LED lightbox header sign (the fascia area)

That’s it — no complex structure, no wooden framework, just a simple lighting upgrade. And guess what? It immediately drew attention. Even in a sea of booths, their space popped out clearly from a distance. You really need to be there in person to feel just how big a difference this makes.

Better lighting = more visibility = more foot traffic.
It’s really that simple.

Portable, Easy to Set Up, and Reusable

The best part? All these materials were modular and portable. The entire booth could be packed down into compact cases, making it easy to ship or check-in on flights.

Plus, these displays are:

• Easy to install (no tools required)
• Lightweight and space-saving
• Fully reusable across different shows
• Much more affordable than traditional wood booths

This makes them perfect for exhibitors who participate in multiple trade shows a year and don’t want to rebuild everything from scratch every time.

Budgets Are Changing, and So Is Booth Strategy

Another interesting trend we noticed? Budgets are shifting. Many exhibitors — especially in the energy and tech sectors — are becoming more conscious of spend. Instead of going all-in on big custom booths, they’re now looking for cost-effective and scalable booth solutions.

That’s where our materials come in. More of our clients are asking for portable modular displays, and they’re relying on us not just for printing and shipping, but for complete booth design and pre-show support.

What About Non-Shell Scheme Booths?

Of course, not every booth was a shell scheme. Some brands went all out with island-style booths and full custom structures. And yes — they looked incredible and drew crowds. But naturally, these come with much higher costs (both time and money).

So if you’re a growing brand, a startup, or simply testing a new market, starting with a well-designed standard booth using portable elements is a smart strategy.

We’ve helped hundreds of clients do exactly that.

Want Help Preparing for Your First Trade Show?

If you’re preparing for your first exhibition and don’t know where to start, we’ve got something for you:

Add us on WhatsApp and reply “ppt” — we’ll send you a free “First-Time Exhibitor Trade Show Prep Guide” that covers everything from timelines to budgeting.

Want a free custom booth design concept?
Just message us “booth design” with your basic requirements — we’ll send you a design draft within 24 hours!

Final Thoughts

Seeing the booths in person at the Hong Kong show confirmed what we’ve been observing for a while: portable exhibition displays aren’t just a trend. They’re a smart, efficient, and flexible solution — especially for brands who want to stand out without overspending.

And with our help at QuicklyShow, standing out is easier than you think.

We provide one-stop booth design services worldwide and have been rooted in the industry for 18 years.If you need contact us.

WhatsApp：+8615220114725  Quicklyshow Alice
WhatsApp：+8613380363717  QuicklyShow Helen