Backwall — Panel arrangement at rear of booth area, typically made of cloth, plastic, or other materials.

Banjo (Fabric) — Type of lightweight cloth used for backdrops.

Bill of Lading (B/L or BOL) — A document that establishes the terms of a contract between a shipper and a transportation company under which freight is to be moved between specified points for a specified charge. Usually prepared by the shipper on forms issued by the carrier, it serves as a document of title, a contract of carriage, a receipt of goods, and that the carrier has assumed responsibility for the cargo until it is delivered.

Boneyard — A facility storage area where empty crates are stored during exposition. This area may be located within the exposition hall in an unused portion of the floor. Also known as DUMP.

Booth — One or more standard units of exhibit space. A standard unit is generally known to be a 10’ by 10’ space. However, if an exhibitor purchases multiple units side by side or back to back, the combined space is still referred to as a “booth”.

CAD — Computer-Aided Design. This program is used to draw floor plans to scale.

CWT — Abbreviation for hundred weight. A weight measurement for exhibit freight (100 pounds). This is the unit of measure used for on-site freight handling.

Common Carrier — An individual, partnership, or corporation that transports persons or goods for compensation. For exhibit materials, usually accepts only crated or cased goods and consolidates freight of more than one customer into one shipment headed for a particular location.

Consignee — Person to whom goods are shipped.

Consignment — Delivery of merchandise from an exporter (the consignor) to an agent (the consignee) under agreement that the agent sell the merchandise for the account of the exporter. The consignor retains title to the goods until the consignee has sold them. The consignee sells the goods for commission and remits the net proceeds to the consignor.

Consignor — Person who sends freight.

Consumer Show — An exposition, of what are generally known as consumer products, that is open to the public. Typically, an admission fee is charged. Also known as PUBLIC SHOW or GATE SHOW.

Corner Booth — An exhibit space with exposure on at least two aisles. Some shows charge premium prices for these booths.

Corporate Show — A show produced by a corporation that is not a show management company. Exhibits are limited to products and services of that corporation or its marketing partners; no competitors participate. Also known as a private show.

Crated Exhibit — An exhibit that is transported from show to show in crates (small to huge wooden boxes). Crates make handling the exhibit easier, and minimize damage during material handling. In most cases, individual pieces are jigged in place within the crates. Make sure all jig material is left in the empty crates.

Decorating — Dressing up a facility or exhibit with carpet, draping, plants, etc.

Decorator — The skilled craftsperson that provides installation and dismantle of exhibit booths and hall dressing services for a trade show and/or its exhibitors.

Drayage — Delivery of exhibit materials from the dock to assigned space, removing empty crates, returning crates at end of show for re-crating, and delivering materials back to dock for carrier loading. NOW KNOWN AS MATERIAL HANDLING.

Exhibition — Preferred term which refers to an event at which products and services are displayed. ALSO KNOWN AS EXPOSITION, TRADE SHOW.

Exhibition Manager — Preferred term for a person responsible or all aspects of planning, promoting, and producing an exposition. Also known as show manager and show organizer. ALSO KNOWN AS EXPOSITION MANAGER, SHOW MANAGER

Exhibitor — One who displays in an exposition.

Freight — Exhibit properties, products, and other materials shipped for an exhibit.

Freight Contractor — The show –designated company responsible for handling exhibit properties from the dock to the exhibit space.

Freight Desk — At a show, the freight contractor’s service area for handling inbound and outbound exhibit materials.

Freight Handling Form — Form for exhibitor requesting handling of materials. Not to be confused with long haul shipping forms, or bills of lading.

General Service Contractor — An organization that provides show management and exhibitors with a wide range of services, sometimes including, but not limited to, installation & dismantle (I&D), creating and hanging signage and banners, laying carpet, material handling , and providing booth furniture. ALSO KNOWN AS OFFICIAL CONTRACTOR. SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS “DECORATOR”.

Hardwall — A type of exhibit construction in which the walls are of solid material, rather than fabric.

Installation & Dismantle — Also referred to as I&D. The set-up and teardown of exhibits.

Island Exhibit — A three-dimensional display exposed to aisles on all four sides.

Material Handling — Services performed by General Service Contractor that includes receiving of exhibit materials at the advance warehouse or the loading dock, then deliver the materials from the dock to assigned space, removing empty crates, returning crates at end of show for re-crating, and delivering materials back to dock for carrier loading. It is a two-way charge, incoming and outgoing. FORMERLY KNOWN AS DRAYAGE.

Move-In — Dates set for installation. ALSO KNOWN AS SET-UP.

Move-Out — Dates set for dismantling. ALSO KNOWN AS TEAR DOWN.

Net Square Footage — The amount of space occupied by exhibits in a facility, not including aisles, columns, registration areas, etc.

Pipe and Drape — Pipe material with fabric draped from it to make up side RAILS and BACKWALL of a trade show.

Pop-Ups — Lightweight displays normally shipped in molded plastic crates. ALSO KNOWN AS PORTABLE EXHIBITS.

Poster Board — A stiff-weight art board usually used for printing and/or presentations.

Poster Session — An area set aside with poster boards on which presenters can mount information about their research or other projects and explain their work to those who stop. A cross between the meeting and trade show formats of presenting information.

Rail — A low divider between exhibit spaces. ALSO KNOWN AS SIDE RAIL.

Registration Area — Designated area, usually outside the exhibit hall or meeting room, where exhibitors and attendees are badged.

Service Desk — A central location to order or reconfirm the functions provided by general service contractor or exposition management.

Service Kit — Packet for exhibitor containing information and forms relating to the exhibition. Also called an EXHIBITOR MANUAL.

Sign Hook — Piece of S-shaped metal for hanging signs. ALSO KNOWN AS S-HOOK.

Trade Show — An exposition held for members of a common or related industry. Not open to the general public.