These rental or purchase exhibits are fabricated from a variety of materials, based upon the design and needs of the exhibitor. These exhibits often incorporate hard wall panels to create rooms and separated spaces, stages, large metal structures, display and workstations, and other display components. Custom exhibits cannot normally be set up by the exhibitor without utilizing the services of an on site labour source (show general contractor, or a labour contractor approved through show management). Large companies often buy a custom exhibit to be used at different shows in different countries all over the world – a concept similar to the set of sound and stage equipment that accompanies world famous music groups on their tours around the world. Rules for construction of custom exhibits vary from country to country and even show hall to show hall.

Current thinking in the exhibit industry often treats rental and purchase as alternative financial strategies aimed at accomplishing different ends. These days virtually any trade show display of any type or quality can be rented or purchased. In some markets (such as North America and Europe) rental provides lower initial (and even lower overall costs due to costs of trade show exhibit ownership while delivering greater flexibility) whereas purchase provides certain undeniable accounting benefits. Consumers of trade show displays in these markets must weigh their options to determine what works best for their situation. In other markets (such as most of Asia) raw materials and labour are priced such that rental is rarely competitive. This is due to the disposable Build and Burn approach, which is so prevalent.

These exhibits are properties owned by an outside vendor (either the show general contractor, or an outside rental exhibit company), which are stock properties that are rented to the exhibitor in a standard configuration, or a modified version thereof. Rental exhibits use these stock properties to provide a basic structure for the exhibitor, which can then be augmented by custom graphics, easily applied and removed finishes, and other cosmetic augmentation. Inventory rentals normally require the services of an on site labour source (show general contractor, or a labor contractor approved through show management) to set up, and often the rental exhibit provider can provided those services as part of the rental package to the exhibitor.

There is an entire industry built around the design and sale of trade show displays. Many companies that sell trade show displays have elaborate showrooms in major cities, and other companies sell displays over the Internet without a showroom. Typically a trade show display company will specialize in one type of trade show display. Internet companies tend to specialize in modular, portable, and hybrid trade show displays, while companies with large showrooms typically specialize in custom exhibit booths. To cut the costs of the exhibits, display manufacturers often use what is known as “exhibition systems” to build walls of the booths and add tailored elements manufactured from plastic, wood etc. to create a unique look of display.

Differences in how trade show displays are approached vary with the location: in South America, Europe and Asia it is much more common to have what is known in the industry as “build and burn” exhibits, which are exhibits which are fabricated and set up just for the life of the one show. In North America it is more common to have exhibits that are purchased, and then used many times for different shows before they are either re-purposed, or disposed of. In Europe, trade shows have much longer hours, and are more about having longer meetings and actually closing deals than in North America, therefore displays are built more to facilitate longer meetings, including more comfortable seating and hospitality such as food and beverages.