The National Restaurant Association Show is a prime opportunity to highlight your business and connect with key industry professionals. Whether you’re unveiling the latest food service technology, showcasing culinary innovations, or presenting hospitality solutions, this trade show serves as a valuable platform for networking and brand growth. However, preparing for the event involves extensive planning, including coordinating the logistics of getting your booth and materials to the venue.
If you're unfamiliar with trade show shipping, you may find that transporting materials to the National Restaurant Association Show presents its own set of challenges. This guide will walk you through the process to ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience.
When organizing your shipping,, it's important to consider key players such as the general contractor, the convention center, and specialized trade show shipping companies that manage logistics.
Freeman typically serves as the general contractor for the National Restaurant Association Show, handling logistics from setup to teardown and functioning as the event’s "official carrier." Exhibitors have the choice to ship their materials through Freeman or partner with a specialized trade show shipping provider like Diversified Transportation Services.
This is where the event takes place and where your materials will be delivered. The National Restaurant Association Show is usually held at the McCormick Place Convention Center.
These companies focus on transporting trade show materials and managing the logistics of delivering your items to and from the event. They also act as your primary contact for all shipping-related matters throughout the show.
Proper preparation is key to ensuring your materials arrive on time and in perfect condition. Below are some important tasks you’ll need to handle, including packaging, labeling, and reviewing key details in the exhibitor manual.
Before sending your materials to the National Restaurant Association Show, it’s essential to pack everything securely. Check that your pallets and crates are sturdy and well-maintained to protect your items during shipping.
Also, don't forget the smaller essentials. It’s a good idea to create a checklist to ensure you have everything you’ll need once you arrive at the event, such as:
When preparing your shipping labels, ensure they include the following details:
You can generate your shipping labels in two ways:
Before attaching your labels to your items, make sure to remove any old ones and place the new labels on all sides of your shipment.
You can find the official exhibitor manual for the National Restaurant Association Show on Freeman’s website. This manual will provide you with vital shipping information, including:
When shipping, you must choose between sending your materials to the advance warehouse or shipping them directly to the venue. Each option has its own advantages and considerations.
An advance warehouse is a storage facility provided by the event organizers. It’s typically open 6-8 weeks before the event, and you can ship your materials there in advance. Once the move-in period begins, the organizer will move your items to your booth for setup.
With direct-to-show shipping, you send your materials closer to the event start date. This is a good option if you want to minimize the time your materials spend in transit or if you’re making last-minute changes to your booth setup.
Here’s a quick comparison of each option’s benefits and drawbacks:
This guide has outlined key steps to streamline your shipping for the National Restaurant Association Show. At DTS, we specialize in trade show logistics, managing shipments to and from any location in the United States. From planning your move-in to managing move-out paperwork, our concierge-level customer service helps ensure a seamless and efficient experience.
For more information on trade show shipping, check out our Guide to Trade Show Shipping.
Call us today at (310) 521-1200 or click the button below to get a shipping quote.
Whether you're a company looking to improve one facet of your supply chain, your entire supply chain, or simply looking for a transportation and logistics consultation, we can help.
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