When setting up for an exhibition, the initial thing on your plate to figure out is: Do you go for a shell scheme, or a bespoke exhibition stand? Each has its pros and cons. However, the correct choice will depend on your budget, branding, lead goals, venue constraints and other factors. In this guide, we will provide invaluable information in making these budget decisions work for the long-term success of your business.
A shell scheme, sometimes called a “shell stand” means a prefabricated, modular or basic exhibition stand package provided by event organizers or contractors. It includes things like wall panels, basic lighting, and sometimes flooring and signage.
For furniture, some shell schemes have only the most basic accessories such as counters or display racks. A shell stand is the right choice if your budget is limited and you have limited marketing resources. Some reasons to choose a shell scheme:
The advantages of a shell scheme are that it is lower-cost at the outset, sets up faster and gives you some idea what will happen. The downside is that you have less room for maneuver. It might conflict with your branding, and there’s the danger of becoming standardized.
A bespoke exhibition stand is a special design and unique architecture just for your show brand, with made-to-order furniture, unique graphics and lighting, interactive features in the interior or even tech integrations.
The same is true for long-term use: bespoke designs can be reused or modified for multiple events and thus spread the cost over a longer period of time.
Estimate the value of leads and brand exposure you will get. If a bespoke stand helps you attract more high-value clients, perhaps this additional cost might be justified.
Think also in terms of differentiation: In a crowded show, standing out can help you attract visitors rather than being one among many.
There are practical, logistical and operational issues to consider:
Flexibility/adaptability: If you expect your needs to change in future (e.g. you may want to modify your stand for different size or layout shows) custom stands are modular, while shell scheme layouts are usually cast in stone.
Visual Impact: If you want strong graphics, lighting, architectural shapes or interactive zones, custom will allow for much more scope. To have real effect with a shell scheme stands may involve extra expenses such as buying graphic panels and so on.
User journey & space design: Custom stands mean you can arrange different areas such as product display, meetings, demos, and lounge in an optimum flow. Shell schemes have a rather more rigid layout.
Brand consistency: If your brand has a specified look or feel, or you have environmental (materials, lighting etc.) considerations, then custom means exact match.
Perhaps the shell scheme will make it hard to reach consensus? How to make the best choice for your business here are some central questions to answer:
Whether you end up with a shell scheme or a custom exhibition stand will depend on a combination of money, branding, targets, logistics and visitor experience priorities. If you’re short on time or money and require something quick to put in place, a shell scheme may be an ideal choice.
If your exhibition presence needs a sense of identity, reflects high-end branding or meets specific engagement objectives then bespoke will be worth the extra investment. At Avondale Exhibitions, we can help every client find out how to enhance their stand with additional shell scheme features.
Contact us by calling us 01495 271150 or email us ian@avondaleexhibitions.com or fill out our online contact form to know how we can help you with your choice between bespoke stand or shell scheme.
It’s best to start at least 3-6 months ahead depending on complexity. Budget time for design proposals, approvals such as graphics, health & safety, fabrication, shipping, and building setup are some factors to consider.
Yes, good bespoke designs are often modular or partially reusable. Components like lighting, furniture, structural frames, and graphic panels can get reused or reworked for different sizes or venues, reducing cost over time.
Definitely. Bespoke allows you to choose environmentally friendly materials, use LED lighting, modular components, reusable graphics, and designs that minimize waste. Shell schemes are often more “one-off” and constrained, though you can still implement sustainable upgrades.
There’s no fixed multiple, but bespoke stands can often cost 2-3× (or more) what a shell scheme with basic graphics costs because of custom design, fabrication, transport, lighting, and sometimes custom materials. But if you reuse the stand or get high returns, the cost per show decreases because you can amortise the initial costs across multiple installations/exhibitions.
Not necessarily. You can enhance a shell scheme with upgraded graphics, lighting, branding, furniture, flooring, or audio-visual features to give it a polished look. The trade-off is balancing added costs vs. how far you can move away from the standard visual.
