While some basic principles apply to every event stand design, how successful your stand is really depends on how well it suits your industry.

What works brilliantly in one sector may fall flat in another, so a one-size-fits-all approach won’t cut it. You need to focus on your specific audience and tailor your stand around their expectations. By doing this, you create an experience that draws in attendees, holds their interest, and helps convert them into paying customers.

At Extreme Group, we’ve designed, built, and managed bespoke stands for businesses across nearly every sector. In this guide on how to design the perfect event stand for your industry, we’ll explore which types of stands work best in some of the most common trade show environments.

1. Leisure, Hobby, and Entertainment

According to Statista, the entertainment sector hosts more trade shows than any other industry. That means serious competition, so you need to bring your A-game with standout exhibition stand ideas.

The entertainment industry is all about fun. Your stand should reflect that energy with bold colours, striking visuals and engaging, interactive features. Think outside the box; maybe a ball pit, oversized props, or anything else that grabs attention and ties in with your brand.

When we created a custom exhibition stand for luxury yacht company Princess, we knew photos and videos wouldn’t do the brand justice. Instead, we arranged for a fleet of their yachts to be brought in for visitors to see and explore. This hands-on experience made a lasting impact and led to Princess working with us again on future projects.

2. Food and Beverages

The food and beverage sector is all about tantalising the senses. It’s difficult to convey the full appeal of your products through photos alone, which is why great event stand design matters. Use both visual and aromatic displays to bring your offerings to life; think a mocktail bar for alcoholic brands or food samples for potential buyers to try on the spot.

Highlight the quality of what you offer and reflect its distinct character. A rustic, market stall-style setup can be ideal for an artisan feel, while a sleek, futuristic display may better suit bold, experimental dishes. As experienced exhibition stand designers, we know how to tailor each detail to match your brand and make a lasting impression.

woman with colourful hair catering for an exhibition

3. Agriculture

The agriculture industry is rooted in the outdoors, which can make exhibiting indoors a challenge. One of the most effective exhibition stand ideas for this sector is to bring the outside in. By using real plants, greenery, and natural materials like wood, you can create a more organic atmosphere that connects your brand to nature in a meaningful way.

Sustainability is a priority across all industries, but it holds particular weight in agriculture. When thinking about how to design the perfect event stand for your industry, consider using your booth to highlight your commitment to sustainable farming practices and environmental initiatives. This not only informs but also builds trust with your audience.

Adding images of the actual farmers you work with is another powerful touch. It humanises your supply chain and reminds attendees that there are real people behind the products they see.

4. Fashion and Beauty

Glitz, glamour, and eye-catching visuals; that’s what gets fashion brands noticed. Bold, on-trend designs and striking lighting help emulate the catwalk and pull focus. It’s essential to present your brand in an aspirational, lifestyle-driven context that speaks to your audience’s ambitions.

One effective way to do this is by dressing your team in standout pieces from your own fashion line. Another is to include interactive mirrors, product testing stations, or live runway displays to bring your offering to life.

Custom exhibition stands with these features help visitors emotionally connect with your brand and picture themselves living that lifestyle.

When we created a stand for sportswear brand HOKA, our exhibition stand designers put their latest shoes front and centre, ready for visitors to try. We also installed three ScanMate 3D machines at the heart of the stand.

When a visitor stepped onto one, they received a personalised 3D shoe recommendation; a clever, non-intrusive way to engage people and guide them towards their perfect HOKA fit. This hands-on interactivity encouraged product interest and left a lasting impression.

5. Technology

Technology event stand design should be clean, contemporary, and innovative to reflect the cutting-edge products being showcased. White space paired with bold pops of colour and accent lighting helps create a sleek, high-tech look.

Adding interactive product demos nearby brings your innovations to life, giving attendees the chance to experience first-hand how user-friendly and solution-focused your products really are. It’s also essential to have knowledgeable experts at your booth to explain the technology and its real-world applications.

One of our standout exhibition stand ideas was for tech brand HTC. We created a sleek white stand with striking blue accents to deliver an ultra-modern aesthetic. Their VR headsets and phones were available for hands-on demos, giving visitors a chance to explore the technology themselves.

Talk to the Leading Specialists in Event Stand Design

With close to 30 years’ experience, we know more about creating visually stunning, fully custom exhibition stands than most exhibition stand designers out there.

When thinking about how to design the perfect event stand for your industry, we focus on every detail. We consider the sensory experience you want to deliver, how you want attendees to interact with your products or services, and the lasting impression your space should leave.

From there, we create a bespoke stand that brings all this together. We also handle the full build, logistics and management so you don’t have to worry about a thing.

Whatever your business, and whatever your industry, you can count on us to craft the ideal stand for your next trade show. Ready to get started? Book a consultation online or call us on 01202 620550 today.