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My Trade Show Is In 30 Days — What Do I Need To Order Right Now?
Feb
A last-minute exhibitor checklist (and how to avoid expensive convention center mistakes)
Your trade show is a month away.
At first it sounded like plenty of time…
Now suddenly you realize:
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You don’t have a booth setup
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Marketing hasn’t sent artwork
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Shipping deadlines are approaching
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And you just discovered something called drayage fees
Don’t panic — 30 days is actually the perfect window to still create a professional booth without rush charges or overnight shipping disasters — if you order the right things first.
Below is the exact priority checklist we use for exhibitors at LAPrintandDesign.com.
Step 1 (Day 30–25): Order Your Booth Backdrop FIRST
This is the biggest mistake exhibitors make:
They print brochures and business cards first…
Then, scramble to figure out how the booth will actually look.
Your backdrop display determines everything:
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Brand visibility across the aisle
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Whether people stop or keep walking
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Your credibility in the first 3 seconds
What to order now
You should immediately secure:
Primary Display
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8ft or 10ft fabric backdrop (most common booth size)
Why first?
Because it requires design approval + printing + shipping time.
If you only order one item today — order your backdrop.
Pro Tip:
Fabric displays look significantly more expensive than vinyl and travel easier.
Step 2 (Day 25–20): Add Eye-Level Attention Grabbers
Your booth needs multiple stopping points.
People don’t read walls — they scan.
That’s why high-converting booths always include standing signage.
Order these next
These create “entry points” that pull visitors toward your space from the aisle.
Without them, your booth becomes a flat wall people walk past.
Step 3 (Day 20–15): Table Branding & Handouts
Now that your booth structure exists, you need visitors to remember you after they leave.
Must-have items
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Branded table cover
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Brochures or sell sheets
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Business cards
Important:
Do NOT design these separately.
They should visually match your backdrop or your booth will look unprofessional.
At LAPrintandDesign, we match all printed items to the booth graphics automatically so your display looks cohesive.
Step 4 (Day 15–10): Shipping Strategy (This Saves Thousands)
Most first-time exhibitors discover this too late:
Convention centers charge handling fees — sometimes more than the printing itself.
This is called drayage.
How to avoid it
Ship your display to:
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Your hotel
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A nearby UPS/FedEx location
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Or bring it on the plane
Portable fabric displays are specifically designed for this.
Heavy booths = expensive mistakes.
Step 5 (Day 10–7): Lead Capture Materials
Now focus on converting traffic into revenue.
Add:
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QR code signage
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Promo cards
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Offer sheets
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Appointment cards
Your booth doesn’t exist to look nice.
It exists to collect leads.
Step 6 (Day 7–3): Final Checklist
At this point everything should already be printed and shipped.
Confirm:
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Tracking numbers
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Setup instructions
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Hardware included
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Spare business cards
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Backup artwork PDF
The Most Common 30-Day Mistakes
Avoid these, and you’ll already look more prepared than 70% of exhibitors.
❌ Ordering small items first
❌ Shipping directly to the convention center
❌ Designing graphics yourself at the last minute
❌ Using low-resolution logos
❌ Forgetting booth lighting contrast
❌ Text too small to read from 10 feet away
What You Actually Need (Simple Version)
Priority Order
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Backdrop display
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Banner stands
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Table cover
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Printed handouts
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Lead capture signage
Everything else is optional.
Need It Fast? We Handle Last-Minute Trade Shows
At LAPrintandDesign.com we specialize in helping exhibitors who are 30 days (or less) away from their show.
We help you:
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Choose the correct booth size
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Prepare artwork properly
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Match all materials
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Ship to hotel or office
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Avoid convention center fees
You send your logo — we handle the rest.
👉 Start here: Upload your logo and tell us your show date
We’ll recommend exactly what you need and prepare your booth layout.
