Before you design a stand, you book a space — and the type of space you book shapes everything that follows. “Booth type” here means the plot and package the organiser sells you, not the stand you build on it. Here are the options and what each means for your stand.
Shell scheme vs space-only
A shell-scheme booth comes with basic walls, a fascia name board and often carpet and a light — a ready-made shell you dress with graphics. Space-only (or raw space) is just the floor; you build whatever you like on it. Shell scheme is cheaper and simpler for small or first-time exhibitors; space-only gives full design freedom and suits a custom or modular build.
Inline plots
An inline (or row) plot has one open side facing the aisle, with neighbours on the other three. It’s the most common and cheapest position, and the design has to work hard on that single open face to pull people in.
Corner plots
A corner plot sits at the end of a row with two open sides, giving far more visibility and footfall for a modest premium. If you can choose, a corner is usually worth paying for over an inline.
Peninsula and island plots
A peninsula opens on three sides; an island stands alone with aisles on all four. Both offer maximum visibility and design freedom and suit larger stands personnalisés, at the highest space cost. They’re for exhibitors making a statement, not testing the water.
Choosing your space
Match the space to your goal and budget. A first or modest show — shell scheme or an inline space-only plot. A serious presence — a corner, peninsula or island with a built stand. The space decision is made at booking and is hard to change, so it’s worth getting right before you think about the stand itself.
En rapport
Foire aux questions
What’s the difference between shell scheme and space-only?
Shell scheme comes with basic walls, a name-board fascia and often carpet and a light — a ready-made shell you dress with graphics. Space-only is just the floor, where you build whatever you like. Shell scheme is cheaper and simpler; space-only gives full design freedom.
Is a corner booth worth the extra cost?
Usually, yes. A corner plot has two open sides instead of one, giving far more visibility and footfall for a modest premium — often a better use of budget than the same money spent on decoration on an inline plot.
