Exhibitors taking part in an exhibition for the first time are often surprised to receive two different prices for the same floor area, the gap coming from choosing a shell scheme or space only. So what is a shell scheme? It is more than a cheaper booth. It is a package that includes the basic build, while space only is just empty floor area and the exhibitor must handle everything else.
What a shell scheme includes
A standard shell scheme booth usually has aluminum partition walls, floor carpet, a company name board on the front, and sometimes basic tables and chairs and a power outlet. The exhibitor only needs to bring standees, materials, display products and extra decoration if desired. It suits companies joining an exhibition for the first time or with limited budgets.
The limits of a shell scheme
Because the walls and dimensions are fixed to a common spec, a shell scheme booth struggles to express a distinct brand identity without extra decoration. Some organizers also restrict drilling or sticking things directly onto the walls provided.
What Space Only allows
With space only, the exhibitor rents a completely empty floor area, then hires its own contractor to build the booth to its own drawings, from wall height, materials and lighting to the aisle layout. It is the choice of brands that want a standout booth or need special display space, such as a product experience zone or a private meeting room.
Hidden costs of Space Only
Beyond the rent for the space, space only brings additional costs for design, construction, dismantling, construction insurance, and sometimes a separate construction permit fee under the exhibition center's rules. For a company that has never worked with a booth contractor, the real total easily exceeds the original estimate if you don't ask for an all-in quote from the start.
Is there a middle option
Many exhibitors don't know there is an option between the two extremes: an upgraded shell scheme, keeping the standard frame but adding printed brand-graphic walls, spotlights, or a separate reception counter. This option keeps most of the cost and time advantages of a shell scheme while still having some distinct identity, and suits companies that have exhibited a few times and want to upgrade gradually instead of jumping straight to space only.
Build time differs between the two
A shell scheme booth is usually set up before the exhibitor arrives, needing only a session to add decoration. A space only booth needs two to five days of construction depending on how complex the design is, and the exhibitor must also schedule the dismantling time after the show into staff planning, since many exhibition centers set strict dismantling windows so the venue is handed back on time.
Who in the company should decide
For a shell scheme, the marketing or events lead can usually decide alone, since the risk is low and there are no construction drawings to approve. For space only, someone with construction or design knowledge should also review the drawings before signing with the contractor, because errors in the drawings (dimensions that don't match reality, materials that violate the exhibition center's fire rules) are only discovered once the booth is built, when it is very hard to fix them before opening day.
Which one to choose
If this is the first time joining an exhibition, or the booth budget is below a certain level compared with the whole event budget, a shell scheme is the safer choice. If the brand already has a clear design direction and needs a space that stands out from competitors in the same industry, space only is worth the extra investment.
If you are weighing the two booth types for an upcoming exhibition, send me the area and your expected budget and I will work out the real cost of each option. Send a quote request