When you live near an ocean, you likely spend a lot of time on the boardwalk. Your company may even have a shop or perhaps a stand on this popular stretch. If so, you understand how harsh the sea air can be on your materials. Although it feels pleasant, the air is humid and the sun relentless. Add in the salty sea breeze, and you've got a very difficult environment for typical trade show displays. Most portable displays are designed for indoor use only and can't handle normal outdoor exhibiting, let alone the hazards of a seafront life. If you know that your booth will see outdoor use, you need to prepare ahead of time.

Why Weatherproofing Your Portable Displays Matters

If you've never lived by the ocean, you might not understand the severe conditions that arise. It's easy to picture the boardwalk as an easy and calm place, and to most observers, that's what it is. Beneath that calm, however, there are many hazards facing trade show displays. The potential damage to an unprotected exhibit from a day at the beach is as great as, if not greater than, the potential harm from being left out in a rainstorm. Weatherproofing can protect from rain damage, and it can also protect from damage by salt, sand, and sun at the beach.

Changes To Your Trade Show Displays

The appearance of portable displays need not change dramatically when they are weatherproofed. Although it is difficult to perform a satisfactory job of weatherproofing on a booth that was originally designed for indoor use, most companies can mimic the setup you have currently. However, if you know that your exhibit will be exclusively used at a particular outdoor event, it might be wise to consider customizing a new booth.

The first major change is that all materials used in the booth will be sealed and water-resistant. This may mean that cloth elements will now be plastic, as will anything that was previously made from a cardboard or paper-like material. Anything that was prone to being damaged if wet will no longer be used. In addition, all materials should be tear resistant. When the wind whips, it's easy for weak materials to snap and your booth to be damaged. Likewise, a sturdier frame material is usually advised for an outdoor stand. Even on a nice day by the sea, there will be a strong ocean breeze which can tip over some types of weak trade show displays. Your strong frame will help ensure you stay on the ground.

Setting Up At The Event

The first thing you'll want to do is find your exact spot on the boardwalk. You should call the organizers ahead of time to see what exactly they'll provide beyond a spot. Will there be a water hookup? Will there be places where you can tether your booth into concrete for added security? Keep in mind all the things you need for optimum presentation, and if the organizers can't offer them, ensure that you've got a backup plan to procure them.

Arrive early on the morning of the event, particularly if you've never set up at an oceanfront event before. You should also bring at least two or three additional people beyond the minimum required for typical setup. Even if it's a particularly calm day, having additional hands around should a gust of wind come up makes setup much less hectic. With a proper booth design and a good team to help set up, your boardwalk presentation will be a day at the beach.