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What Does Install & Dismantle (I&D) Mean for Trade Shows?

Your event freight reached the booth. Now someone has to build the exhibit, and when the show closes, take it apart and pack it up again. That work is called install and dismantle, or I&D.

What I&D means

Install and dismantle is the labor of setting up your exhibit on the show floor before the show opens, and tearing it down and repacking it after the show closes. Depending on your booth, it can include:

  • Uncrating and assembling the exhibit structure
  • Hanging graphics and signs
  • Placing furniture, monitors and product displays
  • Dismantling and repacking everything at the end of the show
  • Getting crates and cases ready for the outbound shipment

Who can do the work

Show rules decide who's allowed to set up a display, and they vary by venue. There are generally three options:

  • The official contractor. The show's general service contractor provides I&D labor you can order through the exhibitor kit.
  • An exhibitor-appointed contractor (EAC). An outside I&D company you hire yourself, often one that knows your exhibit. Shows usually require advance notice by a set deadline, plus proof of insurance.
  • Your own team. Many shows let exhibitors set up small displays, such as pop-ups and tabletop exhibits, themselves. Larger builds, power tools or ladders often require contracted labor. Check the exhibitor kit for the rules at your venue.

How I&D is billed

  • Labor is usually charged by the hour, per worker, often with a minimum charge.
  • Rates are higher on overtime, such as evenings and weekends.
  • Ordering labor before the advance order deadline is usually cheaper than ordering on site.
  • Some shows offer supervised labor, where your team directs the crew, and unsupervised labor, where the crew follows your setup instructions without you there.

How to plan I&D

  1. Read the labor rules in the exhibitor kit as soon as you register.
  2. Decide who will set up, dismantle, and submit any EAC paperwork by the deadline.
  3. Send clear setup instructions, drawings and photos with the exhibit.
  4. Pack tools and hardware in a clearly labeled case that's opened first.
  5. Make sure your freight arrives in time. Labor can't start until the crates are at the booth, so plan for the advance shipment deadline.
  6. Coordinate your dismantling service and your outbound pickup together, so your freight is packed and ready when the carrier arrives. Freight left on the floor can become forced or rerouted freight.

How NorthStar helps

Your Shipping Coach plans your return shipment with you around your I&D schedule, so your exhibit is dismantled prior to our driver arriving for the pick up. That reduces the time the driver needs to wait and gets your freight home without delays.

Have a show coming up? Request a quote, or reach a Shipping Coach at 703-532-0520 or shippingcoach@northstarexpress.com.