exhibition booth glossary
Key terms for exhibiting in North America
This glossary lists the 20 essential terms to know before exhibiting at a trade show in the United States or Canada: booth, drayage, union labor, lead retrieval, hanging sign…
Booth / (Kiosque in French in Canada)
The English word for “stand.” Absolutely essential to remember: everyone talks about a booth at American and Canadian trade shows.
In Canada, the term kiosque is used.
Advance warehouse
Backwall
Corner booth
Booth located at the corner of two aisles.
It benefits from two open sides, and therefore better brand visibility.
Counter / Reception desk
Reception counter to welcome attendees.
Drayage
Drayage is the internal material handling service managed by the show organizer or its official contractor.
It covers the shipping of equipment from the delivery dock or the show warehouse to your booth, and then its return at the end of the event.
This service is mandatory, fee-based, and often very expensive in North America.
💡 An optimization of deliveries — whether it is the booth itself or equipment sent directly by the exhibitor — often allows for significantly reduced drayage costs.
Electrical order
The electrical order corresponds to the electricity order to be placed before the trade show.
Without this step, no power supply is provided to your booth: no lighting, no displays, no demonstrations.
In North America, the show organizer generally imposes early order deadlines, with preferential rates.
💡 Meeting these deadlines is essential for budget control. A late order can lead to significant additional costs.
Exhibitor manual
The official trade show guide, to be read carefully. It contains all technical instructions, schedules, and order forms.
Flooring / Carpet
Booth flooring, often to be ordered separately from the package.
Graphic
The graphic panel of the booth (in fabric or rigid panel).
In the United States, they will talk to you about “replacing your graphics” rather than “changing the visuals.”
Hanging sign
Sign suspended from the ceiling, often circular or rectangular.
Essential for being visible from a distance.
Inline booth
Booth located between two other booths, on a single aisle.
This is the most common format at trade shows.
Island booth
Booth totally open on all four sides: an island booth
Lead retrieval
Badge scanning system to collect attendee contact information.
An essential tool for following up with your leads and clients after the event and measuring its ROI.
Lighting
Lighting: a crucial key element to highlight your graphic panels.
Move-in / Move-out
Installation and dismantling periods. Must be strictly respected to avoid additional fees.
Modular booth / Modular stand
Modular booth: reusable frame that is adaptable to different square footage.
Peninsula booth
Booth open on three sides, generally backed by another booth.
Pop-up display
Foldable image wall, equivalent to our “pop-up display.”
Portable display
Portable display or pop-up display, easy to transport and install yourself.
Tension fabric display
Tubular booth in tension fabric. Lightweight, elegant, and very popular across the Atlantic.
Union labor
Mandatory union personnel for certain tasks (installation, electricity, rigging) in many American trade shows.
Show services
Show services include all services offered by the show organizer or its official contractors: booth cleaning, internet connection, furniture, storage, handling, security, etc.
These services are often optional but strictly regulated by the show.
💡 Show services are subject to a specific order schedule.
Placing an order ahead of the early order deadlines allows you to benefit from reduced rates and avoid last-minute surcharges.
Show site
The actual location of the trade show. You will often hear: “Your shipment has arrived on show site.”