Let’s not sugarcoat it—tariffs are back in the headlines, and whether we like it or not, they’re inching their way into every corner of business. For those of us in the trade show world, that includes exhibit design, materials sourcing, shipping, and even the giveaways you toss on your counters. If you’re a marketing manager, trade show coordinator, or exhibit lead, this isn’t just economic noise. It’s the kind of ripple that can mess with your timeline, budget, and strategy.
So what exactly is happening, and why should you care? Let me explain.
The Tariff Tug-of-War: A Quick Refresher
At its simplest, a tariff is a tax placed on imported goods. Governments use them for all sorts of reasons—protecting domestic industries, retaliating against trade imbalances, or making political points. And while these moves play out on Capitol Hill or global summits, the impact lands squarely on your trade show budget spreadsheet.
Many key exhibit components—aluminum framing, LED lighting systems, printed graphics, and certain flooring materials—are sourced from overseas. That’s not a shortcut; that’s just how the supply chain evolved over decades of globalization. But throw a tariff into the mix, and suddenly, what used to be a $15K booth element might cost $18K. Multiply that across a 30×30 island build, and you’re looking at real pressure..
Price Hikes and Project Pivots
You know that carefully balanced trade show budget you finalized three months ago? Yeah, tariffs don’t care. And what’s tricky is that these increases can hit mid-project.
Here’s where it gets even stickier: some vendors will absorb the cost to keep clients happy; others will pass it along in the next invoice. That unpredictability can lead to:
- Last-minute material changes
- Postponed builds
- Rushed reengineering to meet new price points
- Or even scaled-down creative concepts (a painful decision for any brand team)
The impact isn’t just financial. It adds stress. It chews up lead time. It forces you to scramble.
Domestic Sourcing: A Silver Lining?
Now, not all news is grim. One upside is the renewed push toward sourcing materials domestically. More exhibit houses are expanding their network of U.S.-based suppliers, which can reduce both risk and shipping time. And while domestic doesn’t always mean cheaper, it can help you sidestep surprise tariffs and minimize supply chain disruptions.
But let’s be honest—that shift doesn’t happen overnight. If your booth design is heavily reliant on specialty components, you may still be navigating a hybrid supply model for a while.show quality control is so critical.
What About Rentals?
If your team is considering rentals to ease budget pain, you’re not alone. The rental side of the exhibit industry is seeing an uptick for exactly this reason.
Rental exhibits—especially customizable ones—offer a buffer. Many rental elements are already in the U.S., stored in warehouses, and ready to ship. That means fewer surprises, fewer freight headaches, and usually more predictable pricing.
Plus, if you’re only attending one or two shows a year, why invest in a booth that might cost more than expected just to maintain?
Planning in the Tariff Era: What You Can Do
So, what now? How do you stay ahead of this unpredictable landscape?
Here are a few strategies we’re seeing smart teams lean into:
- Stay in the loop. Subscribe to trade publications or economic updates related to manufacturing and logistics. (Yeah, it’s not exactly beach reading, but it pays off.)
- Work with your exhibit partner early. The more lead time they have, the more flexible they can be in finding cost-effective alternatives.
- Ask direct questions about sourcing. Don’t be shy about asking where materials are coming from and if they’re subject to tariffs.
- Consider modular builds. These can be reused and reconfigured, which stretches your investment across multiple shows.
The Big Picture
Tariffs might feel like a nuisance now, but they’re also a chance to rethink how you approach your exhibit strategy. Flexibility, smarter sourcing, and open collaboration with your exhibit house are more important than ever.
Because while we can’t control global trade policy, we can control how prepared we are when those policy changes show up on our quote sheets.
And who knows? This shake-up might just lead to leaner, smarter, more resilient exhibiting across the board.
So the next time tariffs start trending on your newsfeed, don’t just scroll past. Pause. Adjust. And plan smart.