For most exhibitions you need a backdrop, a counter or table, and one or two banners or flags. The size of your stand and how often you exhibit decide which system does each job. At trade shows, conferences and exhibitions around Ireland, a small set of portable exhibition display stands covers almost every layout: pull up banners, tension fabric walls, lightboxes and counters. They are all designed to travel and to be put up by your own team. That leaves three questions: how much floor space you have, how the stand is laid out, and whether you will use the kit again.

Exhibition display systems compared

We'd start any stand plan with this comparison. Pick the system for the job it has to do, and only then think about size.

System	Sizes	Set-up and transport	Best for
Pull up banners such as the Economy Roller Banner	850mm x 2000mm	One person; the graphic rolls into the base; carry case with shoulder strap	Table-top spaces, flanking a larger stand
Wide Pull Up Banners	1.2m, 1.5m or 2m wide, 2m tall	Bulkier than a standard stand	A backdrop behind a table without a full wall
Eco Friendly Straight Zipper Wall	85cm to 6m wide, 2.3m tall	Tool-free frame with numbered poles; padded carry bag	The back wall of a shell scheme
Curved zipper wall or S Shape Zipper Wall	Curved 2m to 6m wide; S shape 3m wide; both 2.3m tall	As above; larger sizes are easier with two	Depth, viewing from several angles, dividing a space
C Booth Zipper Wall	Two sizes, three double-sided walls	Easier with two people	Meetings and demos
Tension Fabric Banner Stands or Snake Stand	Banner stands 85cm to 6m wide; both 2.3m tall	Tool-free frame; carry bag	A sharper alternative to a roller banner, a feature piece
Lightboxes	1m x 2m, 2m x 2m, 2m x 3m	Indoor; needs mains power	A backlit wall that stands out in a busy hall
Counter stands	Several styles	Fold into their own cases or bags	Greeting visitors, demos and sampling

Which display suits your stand

Once you know your footprint, the choice gets simple. This is what we'd put on each kind of stand:

Table-top space at a conference: one pull up banner behind you, with a printed tablecloth or a stretch fabric table cover on the table.
A 2m to 3m shell scheme: a straight zipper wall matched to the back wall width, with a counter at the front.
A corner or island stand open on two or more sides: double-sided pieces such as the S shape, a snake stand, Double Sided Pull Up Banners or a lightbox. Nobody should walk past a blank back.
A stand where you hold meetings: a C Booth, which gives you a semi-enclosed space to talk.
An outdoor show: branded gazebos, an outdoor pull up banner and feather flags, with the organiser's permission.

Measure the space and read the organiser's rules first

Before you order anything, get the exact floor area and height limit from the exhibitor manual, and find out whether you're in a shell scheme or on open space. A 3m back wall needs a 3m graphic, and a 2.3m zipper wall needs a hall that allows that height. Leave room for your team, for visitors to step in and for people to move through easily.

The manual also says whether you need fire-rated materials, whether you can rig a hanging banner above the stand and how to book power. If a lightbox is on your list, book power early. Our tension fabric graphics come in fire-rated versions too. Tell us what the hall requires when you ask for a quote.

Buying for one show or a full season

If you exhibit once a year, a pull up banner and a tablecloth may be all you need. If you do several shows, a frame you can reuse earns its place. With a zipper wall, you keep the aluminium frame and order a new fabric graphic when your message changes. Interchangeable Pop Up Banners work the same way: you keep the stand and swap the graphic cartridge for each event.

Our advice is to buy the frame for the biggest stand you book regularly, then use pull ups for the smaller events. Between shows, keep fabric clean and dry, let banners roll back slowly into the base, and store everything away from a damp shed or a hot car.

Counters or tables

We'd choose a counter over a table almost every time. Standing at a counter feels more approachable than sitting behind a table. People looking at your stand from the aisle can stop for a quick word without feeling they have to queue for you. The automatic pop up counter needs no assembly and folds into a hard-shell case. The heavy duty counter stand is a lockable carry case that becomes the counter, with a wooden top and storage inside. The round counter goes up without tools.

If you're handing out samples, the promotional demo counter is built for it. It has an 875mm counter height and shelving inside for stock, so the top stays clear and people can try your product at their own pace.

Finishing touches and stand design

If you do use a table, cover it. A bare trestle table lets a good backdrop down, and a tablecloth in 1.5m x 3m or 1.8m x 3m pulls the stand together. On the graphics, keep to one clear message, with your logo high enough to be seen over people's heads. Anything below counter height will be hidden. There's more on exhibition stand design, branding your stand and keeping your branding consistent. Our in-house design team can also design or adapt the graphics for a whole stand.

FAQs

What does trade stand management involve?

Running a stand means booking and measuring the space, ordering your kit in time, and drawing up a rota so the stand is never left empty. During the show, keep the stand tidy and the counter stocked. Afterwards, pack down carefully and store the kit properly. Our trade show logistics post covers the full plan.

What are conference stands?

A conference stand is often just a table or a small footprint near the registration area or the main room. A pull up banner, a tablecloth and a counter if there's room usually do the job. See our pick of the best display banners for networking events.

What display do I need for an exhibition?

Plan for a backdrop, a counter, banners or flags, and lighting where power is available. Our portable trade show booth kits combine these, and there are more trade show backdrop options.

How much do exhibition display stands cost in Ireland?

We quote each job individually. The price depends on the system, the size, whether the graphics are single or double sided, and whether you need hardware or only a new graphic.

How far in advance should I order?

Next-day delivery is available on many orders, and most are produced and delivered within a working week. We'd still order a few weeks before the show, so there's time to adjust the artwork.

Get a quote for your stand

Send us your event date, stand size and delivery address in Ireland, and we'll recommend the right kit. Contact us for a quote.

Display Exhibition Stands for Conferences & Tradeshows