Event Floorplan/Layout

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

I am trying to find some pointers on what is the best way to layout rows at consumer events.

I run a few different types of events, basically table sales, but I have never considered the psychology of whether rows should be laid out vertically or horizontally, based on how the visitor enters the hall.

Taking a note from supermarkets, vertically seems to be standard, however, the newer discounters appear to mainly have vertical, but mix in a bit of horizontal randomly (probably not!) thrown in.

I am looking at a large hall that will have the entrance in the centre of a wall, with rectangular hall, longer than wide (80mx60m) on entry.

What are your thoughts?

 

[HFE Signs]

Some say the idea is to create a flow, generally people will want to explore the whole event so you don't need to overthink it. If you're cramming in as much as possible then maybe the isles is best, I'd prefer around the edges and back to back islands dotted around.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Taking a note from supermarkets, vertically seems to be standard,

My understanding when working in a supermarket many years ago was that the aisles were set so that there was good vision from the checkouts at the front of the store, effectively giving potential shoplifters the feeling of being watched by 20 sets of eyes!

 

[HFE Signs]

Don't compare a supermarket layout to an exhibition, they both have completely different objectives.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Ultimately, people will be paying to come into the event, so there is a natural incentive to visit everywhere, but the more I delve, the more it appears that as long as the aisles are wide and not overcrowded, either direction will work.

I will have a couple signed feature/fair in fair areas and will probably sign those, but, again, there is always a chance that this pulls people away from the other areas and reduces wandering.

 

[BusterBloodvessel]

From experience as both an exhibitor and visitor at trade fair type events (similar but different to yours, I guess) I just want it to 'flow'. As a visitor I want to be able to wander around logically from start to finish up and down and up and down, or left and right and left and right. Perhaps with some gaps so you can "skip" across a row at certain points.

I visited an exhibition recently where the layout was all over the place - you could walk down an aisle part way, then it was blocked off by a double width stand, so you had to veer to one side, but then you were in the next row so as you started walking down that you viewed part of that row, then it was "do I stay and finish this one or double back as I've now missed part of the row I was on". Then some rows ended completely and you had to stop and go back on yourself down a part youd already done. It was mainly rows of stands running in one direction but then occasionally with some stands going off at 90 degrees one way or the other but if you went to view those you ended up back on another row. Honestly it was infuriating and I felt like I was going round in circles!!

On the flip-side as an exhibitor I want to feel like I'm getting an equal share of visitors flowing past me. Again I have paid for exhbition space and been stuck "out on a limb" - I remember one in the USA where we were on an outside aisle, but randomly in the middle of this aisle some walls jutted out that were the entrance to the toilets and the walking section went from say 3m wide to about 1m just where you passed those. The problem is that most people looking down that aisle just saw it appear to "end" as the wall blocked most of it off, so they turned around and sodded off in the other direction! Our footfall was none existent.

As I say appreciate this is exhibitions rather than table sales but I think it's similar logic - probably sounds really obvious, but think it's a case of keep it simple!

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

@BusterBloodvessel your thoughts match mine - keep things flowing.

 

[pentel]

My tactic when going to exhibitions is to turn right (or left) at the entrance, walk all the way round the perimeter and continue past my start point to the next corner. I then walk up and down the isles until the end of the exhibition. Using this method I get to see every stand at most (not all) exhibitions.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

My tactic when going to exhibitions is to turn right (or left) at the entrance, walk all the way round the perimeter and continue past my start point to the next corner. I then walk up and down the isles until the end of the exhibition. Using this method I get to see every stand at most (not all) exhibitions.

I used to visit B2B/trade shows (mainly in Asia) a lot and did this to scan what was there and then return to the ones I really wanted to see.

 

[DontAsk]

I used to visit and exhibit at trade shows that took over the entire Nurnburg Messe. It was a long walk to see everything.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

I used to visit and exhibit at trade shows that took over the entire Nurnburg Messe. It was a long walk to see everything.

Yup - Done Berlin, Cologne & Frankfurt - they are massive!

 

[BusterBloodvessel]

Yes we exhibit (but also wander round) our largest one in Frankfurt every 2 years - I have often tried (and failed) to explain to people just how big it really is and why you're so shattered after a few days there!

Also can be funny when people come for the first time and don't realise - you can be with them in Hall 1 and they'll say "just got to nip across to hall 11, I've a meeting there in 5 minutes"... you don't just "nip" anywhere at Messe Frankfurt