Exhibiting at the Phoenix Convention Center — or another Valley trade show — takes more than a reserved booth and a hopeful smile. You need a graphics plan, a staff apparel plan, and art that’s actually ready to print. Think Pro in Tempe can help with all three: design, large-format print, and custom apparel, so the booth and the team look like the same brand walked in together.
We’re brand friends. Let’s make sure you show up looking good.
Start with the exhibitor kit, then build the graphics list
Before you design a single banner, open your show’s exhibitor kit. That’s the source for your booth size, height limits, and whether hanging signs are even allowed. Those details change from show to show, so confirm the space you’ll actually occupy.
At the Phoenix Convention Center (100 North Third Street), exhibit halls are scored on a 10-by-10-foot grid, and trade shows are inspected by the Fire Marshal before the floor opens to the public. Official facility policies also require flame-retardant display and drape materials, and they require aisles and exits to stay clear of obstructions — show aisles are planned at a minimum of ten feet. Keep retractables, signs, and product inside your space. PCC also limits combustible paper handouts to a one-day supply and does not allow storage behind the booth. If you want to hang a sign or attach anything to the building, check the kit and get approval first rather than improvising on move-in day.
Then decide what needs to work from the aisle. A strong setup usually includes:
- A retractable banner or large-format sign with your logo, a plain-English line about what you do, and a way to follow up
- A backdrop or banner that still reads from ten feet away — your name, not a novel
- An A-frame if your kit allows one in or near the booth
- Leave-behinds people will actually keep: business cards, postcards, brochures, stickers, or magnets
Many exhibitors also use a branded table cover or other booth furnishings. Ask us what Think Pro can print for your space, and measure it against the kit.
The goal is simple: someone walking the show floor should know who you are before they know what to say.
Dress the team like the brand showed up
Your people are moving billboards. A sharp banner next to a random polo from the back of the closet is a mixed message, and attendees notice.
Plan staff apparel the same way you plan the booth: same logo, same colors, and enough sizes for the whole crew. Hats and bags are easy add-ons when you want the brand in the aisle, not just on the back wall.
Think Pro can decorate that gear a few different ways:
- Screen printing for team runs. Our minimum is 12 pieces.
- DTF when you need full-color art on a mix of fabrics — it works well on almost all of them. No minimum on DTF.
- DTG for direct-to-garment printing. No minimum on DTG either.
- Embroidery when you want that stitched, client-ready look on polos and hats. It takes a little longer than a week. Ask us about the minimum.
No-minimum DTF and DTG is a useful fact when you’re filling a size or adding a late teammate, not the reason to start the conversation. The real win is a consistent look that still works after the show, when those same shirts go back to the office or the job site.
Get the art ready for prime time
Let’s face it: sometimes the logo that looks fine on a website is not ready for a big banner. Low-res files, colors that shift, type that’s too shy to read from the aisle — that’s normal, and there’s no judgment in our shop.
At Think Pro we check the art, fix what isn’t ready, and bring in design pros when you need more than a cleanup. We’ll make sure the banner and the shirts are pulling from the same mark, so the next show can be a reorder, not a scavenger hunt.
If you’re not sure what to send, send what you have. We’ll tell you if it needs a little help.
Start early — and ask about rush if the date is already close
Typical turn time is about a week, and it depends on the product. Embroidery takes a little longer than a week. If you’re up against the move-in date, ask about rush — it depends on our queue.
Holiday weeks and busy show seasons are the same advice in two words: start early. Give the art check enough room so you’re not approving a proof in the parking garage.
You can order online, call us at (480) 966-0030, or walk in at our Tempe shop. Think Pro has been helping Valley brands grow since 2006 — 4.8★ from 300+ Google reviews — and we’d rather get you show-ready than leave you squinting at a fuzzy logo the night before.
Think Pro
1415 E University Dr, Suite A108, Tempe, AZ 85288
(480) 966-0030 · Orders@thinkpro.net
