SPACE RENTAL GUIDE

Click below for more information about Space Rental:

The information gathered in this booklet has been compiled to serve as a guide.

Space rental rates vary depending on location and products. The words “concession” and “exhibit” may vary in usage from one Fair or trade show to another. At the Iowa State Fair, a commercial exhibit denotes “for display only” of products, services or concepts and taking leads for later follow-up. Merchandise sales and Food vending are referred to as “Concessions”.

Pricing

Exhibit Space

• Varied Industries Building - $20.00 per square foot, 10’X10’ booth size
• East Grandstand Exhibit Hall - $10.00 per square foot
• Agriculture Building - $10.00 per square foot
• Cattle Barn Foyer - $5.00 per square foot
• Machinery Grounds - $50.00 per front foot
• Northern Outdoor Exhibit Area - $50.00 per front foot

Merchandise Concession Space:

All Locations: Space rent is equal to 15% of gross sales after sales tax has been deducted. A minimum for the total percentage has been established at $80.00 per front foot for regular merchandise concession space and $110.00 per front foot for pitch merchandise space.

Food Concession Space:

All Locations: Space rent is equal to 17.5% of gross sales after sales tax has been deducted. The minimum total percentage for all locations is equal to $80.00 per front foot.

Put The State Fair In Your Marketing Mix!

Exhibiting at the Iowa State Fair offers you an unequaled opportunity to make direct, person-to-person contact with prospects on all levels. No other single event in the state offers you as much potential as the Fair because no other event attracts as many people... more than a million. Exhibit areas are traditionally one of the most popular attractions of the Fair. Most visitors make it a point to find out what's new, interesting and innovative in the agricultural, industrial and commercial areas. The following information will be helpful in planning a Fair promotion or sales campaign for your products.

How to Exhibit

• Purpose - decide what you want to do and establish exhibit objective (sales, add dealers, introduce new product, improve public image, etc.).
• Budget - Establish your budget. The low cost of space and the huge attendance are two important factors which make the Fair such an attractive venture. A small investment can reap a lot of profit!
• Space - Get the best space you can afford. You should be able to accommodate visitors in your booth without blocking the aisle or crowding other exhibitors.

Booth Design

• Use a professional designer if possible
• Determine specific sales points. Present them simply and directly. You have about six to eight seconds to actually stop a potential customer.
• Some type of on-the-spot demonstration is more effective than an elaborate, costly, static display.
• Try to have the brightest booth in the area.
• Plan re-use of the exhibit with minor modifications at next year's Fair. Make enough significant changes to your booth to provide a fresh look each year.

Staffing

• Insist your employees be well-groomed and courteous.
• Be sure they are fully informed.
• Plan to have an adequate number of staff to allow periodic breaks and maintain an open booth.
• Make sure your staff has the booth open all hours required in the exhibit contract.