Chicago, officially the City of Chicago, on Lake Michigan in Illinois, is the third largest city in the United States. At a 2017 estimate population of 2,716,450, it is the third most populous city in the United States, and the most populous city in both the state of Illinois and the United States Midwest. The Chicago metropolitan area, often referred to as Chicagoland, has nearly 10 million people and is the third-largest in the United States and fourth largest in North America. It is the birthplace of the “skyscraper” and considered the most influential architectural city of the 20th century. Chicago saw the creation of the first standardized futures contracts at the Chicago Board of Trade; today its successor has evolved into the largest and most diverse derivatives market in the world, generating 20% of all volume in commodities and financial futures.
Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837 near a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed and grew rapidly in the mid-nineteenth century. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroyed several square miles and left more than 100,000 homeless, the city made a concerted effort to rebuild. The construction boom accelerated population growth throughout the following decades, and by 1900 Chicago was one of the five largest cities in the world. During this period, Chicago made noted contributions to urban planning and zoning standards, which included creating new construction styles (including the Chicago School of architecture), the development of the City Beautiful Movement, and the steel-framed skyscraper.
Positioned along Lake Michigan, the city is an international hub for finance, commerce, industry, technology, telecommunications, and transportation. O’Hare International Airport is the one of the busiest airports in the world, and the region also has the largest number of U.S. highways and railroad freight. In 2012, Chicago was listed as an alpha global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network, and is ranked seventh in the entire world in the 2017 Global Cities Index. Chicago has the fourth-largest gross metropolitan product in the world—about $670.5 billion according to September 2017 estimates-ranking it after the metropolitan areas of Tokyo, New York City, and Los Angeles, and ranking ahead of London and Paris. The city has one of the world’s largest and most diversified and balanced economies; not dependent on any one industry, with no single industry employing more than 14% of the workforce.
Chicago was the second most visited city in the United States with 55 million domestic and international visitors, behind the estimated 62.8 million tourists to New York City in 2017. The city ranked first place in the 2018 Time Out City Life Index, a global quality of life survey of 15,000 people in 32 cities. Landmarks in the city include Millennium Park, Navy Pier, the Magnificent Mile, the Art Institute of Chicago, Museum Campus, the Willis (Sears) Tower, the Museum of Science and Industry, and Lincoln Park Zoo. Chicago’s culture includes the visual arts, literature, film, theater (especially improvisational comedy), food, and music, particularly jazz, blues, soul, hip-hop, gospel, and house music. There are many colleges and universities in the Chicago area, of which the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago are classified as “highest research” doctoral universities.
Chicago Trade Show Display Rentals and Sales
At Booth Design Ideas we understand the needs of companies and organizations to stand out from all others. Branding, the practice of building a lifelong preference amongst consumers to choose and patronize your company, is of crucial importance. At trade shows, exhibits and conventions in Chicago, the ability to make an impression that will separate you from your competition is our goal. Booth Design Ideas provides the best physical representation of your brand possible.
In Chicago, as in other cities around the United States, we offer a full complement of trade show and convention services. We will work with you to create and design unique trade show and exposition booths, displays, and corporate spaces.
Whether you need us to deliver and set up existing structures, booths or company displays OR you need our help in designing amazing, eye-catching booths from scratch, Booth Design Ideas has the qualified teams of professionals to make your vision a reality.
Trade Shows in Chicago
Stylemax, n4a Conference and Tradeshow, Hotwheels Show, Chicago Collective, Black Magic Design Conference and Expo, Berta Trunk Show, Midwest Security and Policing Expo, GWA Conference and Expo, Independent Garden Center Show, Chicago Air and Water Show, Body Mind and Spirit Expo, Windy City Wedding Show, Transamerica Chicago Triathlon Multisport anf Fitness Expo, Wizard World Comicon, Chicago Baby Show, The Fabric and Trim Show, The Home Show, International Manufacturing Technology Expo, Franchise Midwest Expo.
Trade Show Rentals and Other Services at Chicago Locations:
- Lighting
- Kiosks
- Video Walls/Centers
- Custom Exhibits
- Rental Exhibits
- Portable Exhibits
- Shipping
- Installation and Break-Down
- Coordination Services
- Multi-Media Coordination and Management
- Graphic Design
- Project Management
- Fabrication
- Large Format Printing
- Warehousing
- Concierge Services
Contact us to learn more about Chicago trade show rentals, sales, and other trade show support services.
8 Reasons to Exhibit in Chicago
• The city contains the largest convention center in North America being the 2.6 million square ft McCormick Place.
• Massive tourist location with over 52 million people visiting the city per year.
• Home to many Fortune 500 companies like Boeing, Walgreens, CAT, Allstate, and Aldi.
• Chicago is one of the largest exhibiting cities in the U.S. with thousands of shows held annually.
• The city is home to some major universities such as Northeastern, DePaul, and the University of Chicago.
• Chicago is home to sports teams such as the White Socks, Cubs, Bears, Bulls and Black Hawks.
• The city also marks the start to the historical highway Route 66, which runs all the way to California.
• Known for its diversified industries ranging from manufacturing, printing and financial and engineering.
Booth Designs Top Show Tips For Beginners
Are you looking to attend a show in Chicago? Not sure how to start or even begin to understand the design for a 20×20 or 30×30?
Here at Booth Design Ideas, we have compiled seven key ways to help you get started.
Budget Based on Usage
Budget, Budget, Budget can’t be said enough. When it comes to looking into buying or renting an exhibit, the first step is always budget. From $10,000 to $60,000 it’s always important to know what you can spend on a particular product. Specifically, if you don’t plan on exhibiting at shows more than once per year, too many times companies end up buying something that is way above what’s needed, or far under expectations, resulting in many customers being upset and wasting their company’s money.
Timeline
Creation of a timeline is by far the most importantly underrated factor for first-time exhibitors. For many first-timers, 8-6 months out is the ideal time to have your booth or exhibit built. Too many times companies attempt to rush production and result in a lackluster product. However, by following this timeline it allows for potential problems to be fixed and creates a better process for production. Additionally, the overall timeline for the actual show itself is key. For first time exhibitors, allowing extra time for set up is highly recommended. Its often possible that equipment is not there on time or the loading dock is backed up. Thus, allowing that extra couple of hours can go along way. In conclusion, timing will be a key factor in having an extremely successful exhibit.
Show Size
This next tip might be simple but is something a majority forget when signing up for a show. Many first-time exhibitors believe that the bigger the show the more people and the bigger the ROI. However, this can be misleading and leave your 20×20 overshadowed by an 80×80 with all the bells and whistles. To understand how to be successful, find a show in which you stand out and have a large enough audience for good return. Attempting to go to big or too small can have negative outcomes.
Placement
This next tip may sound simple but is something that many people largely overlook. Placement of your booth within a show can either be the death or saving grace for many first time exhibitors. Which in turn is why it’s ideal to understand the sweet spots to place your exhibit at your first show. A great example of one of these “sweet spots” is typically on the corners of a row. That can allow you two entrance points for clients and fantastic walk by traffic. Another great option for placement is at an entrance or exit from the show. However, typically these locations are in high demand and difficult to get. Lastly and not often thought of, our locations near bathrooms or food areas. These areas provide great focus points where people are typically waiting and looking for distractions.
Staffing
The next tip we at Booth Design Ideas believe is all about staffing for the show on labor and showtime. For many beginners understanding the labor can be very confusing based on location. From set up times to mandatory break times, labor workers can present a complex problem. Which is why we suggest that people do ample research and consulting before choosing a labor force. Additionally, staffing your booth is just as important at a show. From making sure you’re not over-staffed or under-staffed. Along with choosing the right people to present your product. Research done beforehand is key to having a successful show.
Unions
The next tip is something that varies with state or geographic location. This being the use of Trade Show Unions at your next show. For many first time exhibitors, it can be very confusing and labor unions have very strict policies on what you can and cannot do. One example is with booth set pre-show. Here many union workers are guaranteed mandatory breaks and times they can work. So understanding when those breaks are is key to maximizing your time and money. Finally, understand the additional loading and unloading rates that may come into factor for your show.
Consumer Experience
For your first show, it is important not to only be creative but to also create an active experience. Many exhibitors forget to look at the show from the consumers perspective and create a booth based on what they think is important. However, to really keep the client interested in your product you have to create a consumer experience. This can be done in a number of ways, from giveaways to interactive games and applications. Typically, the more creative the better chance they will remember you!
Major Conventions and Expo Locations
McCormick Place
Known as the premier exhibit center in Chicago, McCormick’s Place is legendary. With over 2.5 million square feet of exhibit space, this location has the title for the largest convention center in the U.S. Additionally, the facility offers four interconnected buildings that offer significant floor, trade show, exhibition and meeting space. The four buildings (North, South, West and Lakeside Center) are all state of the art facilities. Many argue that McCormick Place is THE center of the convention and tradeshow industry in the United States
Contact us today to review your needs for trade show display purchase or trade show exhibit rentals for your next trade show in Chicago. Come check us out!
Some of the other main cities where we operate include New York, Miami, Los Angles, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, Richmond, New Jersey, Anaheim, Dallas, Baltimore, Orlando, Pittsburg