Trade Show Shipping & Freight

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Startup Cost
$20,000-$100,000
Difficulty
Intermediate
Time to Profit
8-15 months
Profit Potential
$80,000-$400,000/year

Overview

Trade show shipping specialists handle logistics, freight, and transportation of exhibit materials, booths, and promotional items to and from trade shows.

With exhibitors needing reliable shipping and show deadlines critical, trade show shipping generates revenue of $130,000-$460,000 with 30-50% margins through freight markup and logistics fees.

The business requires freight carrier relationships, understanding trade show shipping requirements and deadlines, advance warehouse and direct-to-show shipping knowledge, tracking and coordination systems, and white-glove handling capability.

Services include booth and exhibit shipping to show venues, advance warehouse coordination, direct-to-show floor delivery, return shipping and storage, promotional material and lead box shipping, and international trade show logistics.

Revenue through freight fees and logistics coordination.

Success factors include carrier relationships and competitive rates, understanding show timelines and advance warehouse requirements, tracking and proactive communication, white-glove handling and specialized equipment, and building exhibitor relationships.

Marketing focuses on exhibitors, exhibit houses, marketing agencies, and frequent trade show participants.

With trade show shipping specialized and deadlines critical in 2025, logistics businesses offer essential services serving exhibitors with reliability and show expertise as major differentiators.

Required Skills

  • Freight and logistics coordination
  • Trade show shipping requirements
  • Advance warehouse knowledge
  • Carrier relationships
  • Tracking and communication
  • White-glove handling

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Trade show shipping specialized niche
  • Show deadlines create urgency
  • Recurring exhibitor clients
  • Freight markup and coordination fees
  • International show opportunities

Cons

  • Freight carrier relationships required
  • Show deadline pressures
  • White-glove handling expectations
  • Advance warehouse complexity
  • Damage liability and insurance

How to Get Started

  1. Build freight carrier relationships
  2. Learn trade show shipping timelines
  3. Understand advance warehouse process
  4. Set up tracking systems
  5. Market to exhibitors and exhibit houses
  6. Provide proactive communication
  7. Offer international logistics

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